Page 40 of Highest Bidder
The cheery tone in her voice is gone.Who is causing this much grief?She walks away, and I can’t quite hear her, but I can see that her body is as tight as a bowstring.
“Hey.” Jess walks out of the office, toward me. “What’s going on with Hunter? She looks tense.”
“I don’t know.” My eyes don’t leave Hunter. Rubbing the scruff on my chin, I say, “Someone called her, and she seemed like she didn’t want to answer it.”
Hunter’s voice carries across the parking lot as she yells. “What are you talking about? How bad is it?—Okay. I said, okay!—Yes. I’ll let you know when I can get a flight.” She stops talking, but her pacing has increased. “Would you stop! I said, I’m coming.—Okay.—Yeah. See you soon.” Hunter turns around.
Gone is the face that was filled with so much happiness and excitement.
Gone is the sparkle in her eye.
Gone is the determination that shows through her body language every day.
She looks like someone ran over her dog. As she makes her way back to us, I have the strongest desire to pull her into a hug, but Jess beats me to it.
“Hey, what happened?” Jess asks.
Hunter, still enveloped in her hug, reaches her hand out, grabbing mine as her eyes peer at me over Jess’ shoulder. I methodically draw little circles on her wrist. Tears pool in her beautiful green eyes, and I see nothing but desperation on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I ask softly.
She sniffles. “My mom told me my dad—.” She wipes a few tears away and sniffs again.
It’s killing me to see her like this. I want to hold her and take away all the hurt in her eyes right now. I have never wanted to physically take pain away from someone so much in my life. My chest physically aches looking into her eyes.
“He, um, he had a heart attack.” A sob breaks free from her lips, tucking her face into Jess’ neck.
“Oh, Hunter! I’m so sorry!” Jess squeezes her a little tighter.
Inhaling deep breaths to calm herself down, she looks at Jess. “Can you take me home? I have to pack.”
Did she just say pack? Shit. Of course, she’s going to go be with her dad, but shit.
“Pack?” I confirm.
“Yeah.” Hunter tucks some hair behind her ear and peers up at me. “I need to get on the next flight back to OKC. I have to be there for him.” The tears stream down her face.
Of course, she has to go, but how long will she be gone? When will I see her again? Will she be okay with her mom? Questions race through my mind as Jess nods.
“Yeah. Let’s go.” Jess pulls Hunter toward the car but pauses and lets her go. “I’ll wait for you in the car. Okay?” She squeezes Hunter’s hand and looks at me.
I like Jess even more than before, which was already a good bit. It’s like she knows exactly what her friend needs. Without either of us saying a word, she knows Hunter wants a moment with me.
“Hey,” I whisper. Putting my hand against her cheek. She looks up at me and jumps into my arms. I release a long breath, loving the feeling of her against me. Without hesitation, she curls herself into my body. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world. She’s so tiny, but she molds into me perfectly. I don’t ever want to let her go.
“I’m so sorry.” She cries softly against my chest, wetting my shirt with her tears. We stay like this for several more minutes before I place a few small kisses on top of her head, the sweetness of her lavender and vanilla contradicting the sadness of the moment.
I want to breathe her in all night.
I want to stay wrapped up in her arms.
I want to protect her from hurt. But I can’t, and I feel her slightly pull away.
“I have to go,” she whispers.
I know she does. She needs to be with her dad. They are close, but I know she’s going to be with her mom too. After hearing how they talked on the phone, there’s never been a stronger urge to protect her.
“Yeah. Will you tell me if there is anything I can do?” I press my lips into her hair, basking in the feel of my lips on her.
