Page 164 of Fated to the Hunters
Mateo
After a small break to stretch their legs, Mateo took Vince’s place to drive with Scarlett. Vince still felt good to drive, so he gave Ezra a break.
They’d already been driving for a while, the night dark around them, when Scarlett turned her head towards him, her brows fused. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can always ask me anything.”
“Why do you put your family before yourself?”
“My family?”
“Well, yeah. Ezra and Vince are your family, right?”
“They are.” Scarlett didn’t repeat herself, patiently waiting for him to find the right words. “It brings me joy seeing them happy. I feel better with them around. I don’t do well on my own. It might sound odd, but they have brought a lot to my little world that makes me happy.”
“But is it worth putting yourself aside to bring them together?”
“I don’t feel like I do.” He shook his head and sighed, seeing from where she was coming now. “The last few weeks havebeen challenging, yes. I chose to give them both the time with you, because they both struggled with our bond to you the most. I don’t and never have, I wanted you even before I knew you existed. By letting them spend time with you and figuring out their individual relationship with you I’ve helped all of us become closer.”
“I’m just afraid that you will forget about yourself in some way.”
He reached out and took Scarlett’s hand, his heart melting under her words. “I was jealous of the time they spent with you, yes. Who wouldn’t be? But that doesn’t mean that I regret it. You’ve developed trust and love with them that wouldn’t have flourished if they hadn’t spent that solo time with you.” Then he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Rest assured, you and I will take a small trip without those losers once we’re all recovered from this adventure.”
“I was hoping you would say something like that.”
“Maybe I’ll take you somewhere south—maybe the beach?”
“That sounds really nice.” Scarlett shifted to be a little closer, stroking the back of his neck. “I see everything you do for them and how exhausting it is to be the glue that keeps everything together. Your efforts and love for them are amazing and appreciated.”
“Scarlett—”
“I love you, Mateo. I’m here for you. I’m here to stand by your side as we hold everything together. We will share your burdens, and I will carry them when you feel like they are too heavy for your own shoulders.”
Against his will, Mateo’s vision blurred and his throat tightened. “Scarlett,” but he had no words to describe the mess her words left him in. His whole being was shook and for the first time, he felt like someone truly sawhimand the lengths he went to keep his little family up and running.
“I love you, Mateo,” she whispered, leaning closer and closer and kissing his cheek. “I will always love you.” Then she laughed lightly and rummaged through the glovebox. “I should have chosen a better time for this.” Withdrawing a tissue, she patted Mateo’s tears away.
“I love you too, so very much. I had a thousand words I wanted to say when I finally told you this. I prepared a whole monologue! But three words out of your mouth and it’s vanished.”
“Whenever those words return to you, I would love to hear them.”
“I’ll make sure to write them down.”
“And I’ll hold them out of your tears’ reach when you read them for me. Because I will frame it and keep it forever.”
“Scarlett…”
“Mateo.” His name came out a sweet hum, and Scarlett leaned over to kiss his cheek again. “I’m sorry I caught you off guard—and in a very unromantic setting.”
“Please don’t be sorry. I just wasn’t expecting it, and my brain is kind of no longer functioning.”
“As long as you can drive, we’re all good.”
“I can,” he quickly promised, brushing his lips across her knuckles.
“Good.”
Without letting go of his hand, she fed him wine gummies and kept him awake with music and small talk. The shock of finding out her family friend had been killed seemed to have worn off, but maybe she’d just put off thinking about it. Her two worlds were colliding, and it must have been hard for her. The people she’d grown up to know as enemies were now her family.Huntershad always been the bad guys, and now three of them were all she had left.
