Page 119 of Always You

My mom didn’t give a shit if I visited, as long as she got her damn check in the mail every month, and all our old friends are in college in another state or have moved on from our small hometown. Not to mention, the only reason I still had to come back to the East Coast cut me out of her life.

“I wonder if Joe still works here?” A chuckle leaves my lips, walking toward the entrance of the bar.

“Man, that guy really wasrelentless.”

“Only because you looked like a fourteen-year-old Backstreet Boy.”

Jason gives me a playful shove. “You thinkyourbad boy looks fooled good old Joe?”

“Pff, of course they did!”

“The man could practically smell your immaturity.”

I open my mouth to counter with something smart-ass, but my attention is caught by a voice on my left.

“Hey! You’re Hunter Hansen, aren’t you?” A bulky guy is sitting on his bike, getting ready to leave. The man looks rugged, with his long beard and wrinkles framing his eyes, but his beaming smile makes my mouth curl up in a friendly grin.

“Yeah, that’s me.” He offers me his hand, shaking it firmly as he slams his other hand on my back in a kind gesture.

“Great fight the other night! Next one is for the championship belt, right?”

“That’s the plan.” I smile awkwardly, glancing at Jason patiently waiting on the side. I’m used to the attention by now, having lived in LA long enough to know there’s always someone who wants something. But I didn’t expect anyone back home to be asking for autographs, considering the people in Braeden aren’t that easily impressed in general. Especially since most of them have known me since I was just a kid.

“Hey, man. Do you mind taking a picture with me? My grandson is a real big fan.” He holds up his phone before I nod and hand it to Jason.

“No problem.” I stand next to the guy as he wraps his arm around my shoulder, and we both smile at the camera, giving Jason the opportunity to snap a few pictures.

“Thanks a lot, man! Have a great evening.” He gives me another friendly tap on the shoulder while we wave him off and resume our walk to the entrance.

“Well, you definitely are not Hunter Hansen, thetroublemaker, anymore.” Jason opens the door of the bar, walking in. The smell of booze and smoke hit me in the face when I follow behind him.

“Nah, I still am. The only difference is that I get paid for it now,” I joke, roaming the area.

The wood floor creaks under our feet as we make our way to the bar, ready to take a seat on one of the empty barstools, when Jason pulls my shoulder, holding me back.

“Well, shit.” Glancing at him, I notice his wide eyes staring at something in front of him, and I turn my head to follow his gaze, right until my heart literally stops beating.

Standing like a beacon in front of me, I blink, wondering if I’m imagining shit while she places a drink on one of the tables. Her dark blonde hair looks shiny as always, hanging in waves down her back while her bright eyes seem to light up the room. Green, with blue swirls in the middle that trap your soul if you stare into them too long.

Charlotte.

“What the—” I blurt, my jaw dropping to the floor. Mesmerized, I watch her every move, fighting the desperate ache tingling in my fingers to wrap her in my arms and convince myself she’s real. That she’s standing in the same room as I am, and she’s not some kind of mirage.

She reaches out her hand to grab the twenty-dollar bill from the patron’s hand, shooting him a wink that makes a gymnast out of my stomach when he tells her she can keep the change. She’s wearing a black t-shirt, with tight black jeans, bringing out every curve of her matured figure, and I shake my head at the thought that wanders off to the memories of her skin under my palms.

My heart starts to gallop when she strolls toward us, looking at the work wallet in her hand, before she snaps her head up, givingus a friendly smile like she would greet any other customer. For just a split second, time freezes, just long enough to capture her gorgeous expression and print it onto my membrane for a later moment. But sooner than I want, the blood drains from her cheeks while mine lift into a grin.

“Oh, shit.” Her platter drops from her hands, in shock, her eyes bulging out of their sockets, and I reach down to pick it up for her.

She blinks at me like I’m the devil himself when I take another step forward, handing her the platter.

“Hey, Charls.”

“Hunter.” She swallows hard, taking it from my hand, then glances at Jason, giving him a tight smile.She looks beautiful.Healthy, happy. Like this is where she belongs, and it pinches my heart, because it’s the flip contrast of where I belong. But it makes no sense, considering Braeden is two hours away from Chapel Hill, too long for a side job in the local bar.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were at UNC?” I take another step closer, feeling my hands twitching to touch her.

“Yeah, well, a lot has happened.” She offers me a smile that’s etched with fatigue and doesn’t reach her eyes before she rolls them to the back of her head, and I purse my lips at the sight of it.

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