Page 87 of Unexpected
I narrowed my eyes, glancing between the two of them. “I can’t believe you told him I was moping,” I said to Kate. “Traitor.”
“Well, aren’t you?” She shrugged, brushing her blond hair over her shoulder.
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the TV. “No.”
“Puh-lease.” She plopped down on the couch next to me. “I know moping when I see it. And you, good sir, are moping.”
“Have to agree.” Hunter took a seat on the chair next to the couch. “Now, out with it. I didn’t fly all the way from New York to watch you shuffle around in your pajamas, watching Christina and Ant with sad, puppy-dog eyes.”
“Please tell me that’s not the only reason you flew here.”
Kate’s cell phone rang, and she disappeared to her room. Or Hunter’s room. Whatever.
“You’re special, but not that special.” He grinned. “I have other news, but let’s hear yours first, starting with why you punched Cal.”
I groaned. “You saw the video?”
“I think everyone and their mom saw the video.” Hunter chuckled. He quickly sobered when he saw my scowl. “So…”
“Fine,” I huffed. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I said, before launching into the story.
I told him about Sam. About Sophia’s broken arm. And when I got to the part about the party and what Cal had said, he was livid.
“You’re fucking kidding me.” He stood and started pacing. I shook my head, wishing I were joking. “I cannot believe that…that dick.”
“He’s a real piece of work,” I said.
“And the fact that Alexis sided with him over you…” He clenched his fists, his feet pounding the floor with every step.
“What was she supposed to do? He’s Sophia’s dad. I punched him.” Still, that didn’t lessen the sting of it. Time and time again, Alexis had chosen herself over us. Had preferred to pretend our relationship didn’t exist rather than own up to her feelings.
“Fuck that. She should’ve given you a chance to explain—for not picking up Sophia and for the fight.”
“Whatever.” I shrugged. I knew he was right, but I just didn’t give a fuck. “It doesn’t matter now.”
None of it mattered. I’d nearly lost Sam. I’d lost my job. I was going to have to apply to defer my degree—again. And that was if they’d even let me. But worse than all that was the fact that I’d lost Sophia and Alexis. I was officially done.
“The hell it doesn’t.” Hunter grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. “Preston, man. You have not come this far to give up now.”
“What does it even matter?”
He took a seat on the couch next to me. “Look at me.”
I turned to look at him, but my expression was blank. I felt numb, empty, void.
“Listen up,” he demanded in a stern tone. “You are important. You matter. And the work you want to do—counseling cancer patients,kids—that matters. The world needs more people like you, Preston. And I did not shave my head, I did not sit at your bedside, missing out on all those college parties, for you to give up now.”
I rolled my eyes, smiling despite myself. “You’ve more than made up for it since then—fucking every girl in LA.”
“And that’s another thing I want to talk to you about.”
“Your manwhoring ways?” I asked.
“Yes. I believe we have a bet to settle.” He sat a little taller, and I tried to determine what he was up to. “Kate,” he called. “Can you come out here?”
She returned to the living room. “Yeah. What’s up?”
“I have something to tell you—both of you.”
