Page 77 of Educating Arrogant Mr. Hunter

I got out of the car and made my way to the front steps. Zoey hugged me quickly and barely let me kiss the top of her head. She jumped from one foot to the other, telling me just how excited she was to see her grandparents. My anger at having to give them time with my daughter darkened my mood further. It was hard to have kind thoughts for the people who were threatening to take away the most important person in my life.

Marjorie stood inside, eyeing me warily. “Hey, sweetheart. Why don’t you run to the kitchen and help Grandpa set the table?”

Zoey gave her grandmother a quick nod and ran down the hall.

Marjorie stepped outside and shut the door behind her. “I know things have been tense between us.”

I wanted to be the one to roll my eyes this time, but I refrained.

“Glen and I appreciate you allowing Zoey to be here for Thanksgiving.” She crossed her arms and then uncrossed them before finally letting them rest at her sides.

I gave a curt nod. “I would appreciate it if you don’t talk to her about what’s happening between us. She doesn’t know anything, and I’d like to keep it that way. I’ve only said we’ve all been busy.”

Her hand fluttered in front of her before she let it drop. “We want her to be happy, Beckett.”

“And you think I don’t?” Anger and a touch of bitterness hardened my words.

“This isn’t coming out right.” She sighed. “We won’t say anything to her.”

“I’ll be back to pick her up at 8:00.” Before I could turn to leave, she spoke up.

“Do you think maybe she could spend the night? We’ve never gone this long without seeing her.” She twisted her hands in front of her. This was probably the most awkward our time together had ever been. And that was saying a lot. They’d been furious with me when Heather announced her pregnancy.

I glanced at the house, holding back the desire to run in there and grab my daughter. “I don’t know. It was hard enough to let today happen,” I admitted.

She opened her mouth as though to argue with me and then promptly snapped it shut. “I understand. We also wanted to tell you that we’re happy you agreed to the mediation.”

“I’m doing it for Zoey,” I bit out.

“I know. We’ll see you at 8:00.” Marjorie went into the house without a backwards glance.

I took a deep breath and let it go before heading to my car to go home. In the mood I was in, I wasn’t going to be good company. I texted Grayson to let him know I wouldn’t be there. I knew Wren was going to be at the Wolfe’s for Thanksgiving and it was just as well I didn’t have to face her either.

* * *

I sat in my darkened living room staring at the blank television screen and sipped my beer. My head was full of all this dark shit, and I didn’t know what to do with it.

The doorbell rang. There was no need for me to answer. I wasn’t expecting anyone.

It rang again and again.

What the absolute fuck? I plunked my beer bottle down on the coffee table hard enough to hear a thud, and stormed to the door. I ripped it open, growling at whoever was on the other side. “What the hell do you want?”

Wide brown eyes greeted me over a wrapped casserole dish. “Happy Thanksgiving,” she said hesitantly.

“Wren?” I drank in the sight of her. Relief spread through me and the darkness of being without Zoey today, the threat of losing her to her grandparents, and even my anger at her ghosting me faded. She brightened up the dark parts of my life.

“I can just leave this here.” She held out the dish and shifted awkwardly.

Fucking A. My stomach twisted as it hit me why I’d been so angry at her. Without realizing it, my feelings for her had shifted from a simple hook up. I let out a shaky exhale as the weight of my discovery slammed down on my shoulders. I was falling in love with her.

I stared into her concerned gaze, not saying a word. What the hell would I say? There was no fucking way I could let this happen. I didn’t want a relationship or anything that went along with it. I needed to put a pin in this and fast. What I needed to do was close the door and only interact with her as Zoey’s teacher.

“Beckett?” she asked hesitantly.

My hand refused to grab the gold knob and pull the heavy wooden door shut. Against my better judgment and decision to lock down the maelstrom of feelings rioting through me, I narrowed my eyes. “You haven’t returned any of my calls in the past two days.” I should shut my mouth. This would just prolong the inevitable. Our fling was over.

A rosy glow spread across her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I should have…”

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