Page 46 of Moonlight Feels Right
"I want to do right by Olivia. Not only for her, but for Gary and also for Bree. But I can't help Bree if she doesn't come back."
"Hopefully, she will return soon."
Olivia ran back into the room, bringing a piece of blue construction paper to the table. She placed it in front of them. "Is it okay?" she asked.
The drawing was done with the bright, bold strokes of a child's hand. In the center was a building with lots of doors and windows—clearly Ocean Shores—and surrounding it were four figures. A tall man with red hair and black dot freckles stood at the top of the page, surrounded by clouds and a bright sun. Below were three more stick figures: a woman with brown hair, a man with black hair, and a woman with yellow hair.
"That's Daddy," Olivia said, pointing to the figure in the clouds. "He's watching over us from heaven. And that's Mommy. Then you and Emmalyn." She looked at them anxiously. "Is it good?"
His throat tightened as he stared at the simple, heartfelt drawing: Gary watching over the four of them, a makeshift family that somehow made sense in Olivia's eyes.
"It's beautiful, Livvy," Emmalyn said, her voice a little thick. "Thanks for putting me in your family."
"I was going to do everyone, but I ran out of room," Olivia said practically. "Do you like it, Hunter?"
"I love it," he said, impulsively wrapping his arms around her and giving her a hug.
"You're squishing me," she protested.
He laughed, then let her go. "Sorry."
"Can I watch a show now?"
"No. You still have to do your spelling words and your math. Why don't you bring those out here, and we'll do them together?"
"Before you go, Liv, I'm going to say goodnight," Emmalyn said, giving Olivia a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow."
As Olivia went into the bedroom, he walked Emmalyn to the door, opened it, and stepped out onto the landing with her. It was twilight now, the stars just appearing in the sky, the day's temperature starting to cool down. He wished he could spend more time with her. Maybe she felt the same way as she didn't appear to be in a hurry to leave.
"It's a beautiful night," she said.
"It is," he returned, but he was talking about her and not the night.
She flushed under his gaze. "You're staring."
"I know."
"We can't…"
"Can't do what?" he challenged.
"I just want to be friends with you, okay?"
He met her gaze, seeing the same conflicted emotions, the unspoken acknowledgment of the sparks between them. It wasn't okay at all but he couldn't say that, because he couldn't offer an alternative suggestion.
"Goodnight, Hunter," she said when he remained silent. Then she turned and left.
He was really starting to hate watching her walk away from him. But sooner rather than later, he might have to walk away from her, so maybe she was right. Maybe it was better this way.
Chapter Fourteen
Wednesday morning, Hunter couldn't wait for Emmalyn to show up, not just because he had to get to his physical, and he needed her help to get Olivia ready for school, but because he hadn't seen her in thirty-six hours, and it felt far too long. He'd even hung out with Olivia in the courtyard yesterday evening, watching Olivia and Henry in the pool while Paige took a workout class, in the hopes of seeing Em, but she'd never shown up.
The thought that she might have been on another date didn't sit well, which was ridiculous, since he had no reason to be jealous. And he'd never been a jealous guy. He'd always figured if someone didn't want to be with him, it was better to find out early, but maybe that was because he'd never really cared that deeply about anyone. Not that he cared that deeply about her. He just liked her more than he'd expected.
Even without Emmalyn showing up, he'd enjoyed the previous evening. He'd spent time with Gabe and Max Donovan, who went back and forth between Hollywood and Ocean Shores as he worked on a screenplay for a movie that needed a rewrite to fit a new actor. Talking to a chef and a writer had reminded him of how narrow his worldview had gotten. It had been interesting to learn more about the trials and tribulations they were working past to get a restaurant off the ground and a movie made.
Checking his watch, he realized he needed to get breakfast going. Olivia had told him that her mom always made her pancakes on Wednesday mornings, and he'd decided to give it a shot. He couldn't remember ever making pancakes, but how hard could it be? He had a box of mix, water, and an egg, as well as maple syrup that he'd picked up at the market last night. He could do this.
