Page 79 of Drawn To You (Paloma's Edge 1)

“Hmm…” It sounded like he was running away from his problems, but who was I to tell him that? A fucking hypocrite is what I would’ve been. So I sipped some of my drink and let the taste wash over my tongue. Pierce had good reasons for wanting space from his dad and Cassidy.

Chase cut his gaze from the wall to me. “And why are you in the doghouse? It looked like you and Beth would be in that honeymoon phase forever and a day.”

“I’d thought we’d be in that phase a while longer.” I heaved in a breath. “Where are Joel and Rylan, anyway?”

A wicked grin touched his lips. “They’re at a party for the upcoming seniors.” He shot me a meaningful look. “Beth wasn’t been herself today and since Jake and Mariska assured me that they were all tight as ever, that leaves you.” Pierce put three hundred dollars on the counter. He eyed Nico until he collected the money. Pierce slapped my shoulder and followed a tall, voluptuous blonde out of the bar. At least my boy had someone to keep him warm for the night despite her being a Mona lookalike.

Chapter 15

Bethany

I had the hardest time keeping my hands from trembling in the small coffee shop that Hunter had asked me to meet him at in Little Havana. Jake and Mariska were at a table three feet away from me. We’d arrived early. I hadn’t heard the end of it when Mariska and I had told Jake about Hunter almost a week ago. Jake had told me to break it off with Chase, but I ignored his request.

I’d thrown Hunter’s business card in the trashcan at work and in my guestroom multiple times. I’d picked it back up. I would’ve torn the card to pieces and acted like he didn’t exist, but it wouldn’t take away from the fact that Hunter was Chase’s twin brother. I would’ve driven to Anderson’s and asked Mike for Hunter’s number if I destroyed his business card. It was sad, desperate, and wrong, but that was how much I wanted to hear from Hunter. I couldn’t be with Chase like I’d been before I learned that he’d told me a partial truth. And I couldn’t bring myself to kiss him like I desired to, or make love to him. I’d woken up in the morning and had fallen asleep with Chase in my heart. As corny as it sounded, that was how Chase had impacted my life and continued to today. But I wasn’t sure who he was. And if I had confided and been involved with a completely different person other than whom I thought Chase was, I’d be devastated. It’d make me such an idiot. I felt like an idiot.

Jake’s eyes sprang open when Hunter came into the shop. After we’d told Jake that Chase and Hunter were fraternal twins, he hadn’t seemed to care about Chase being a twin anymore, just Chase’s lying. Hunter headed straight for Jake and Mariska, introducing himself. Afterwards, he went to the counter, where Atagracia, the barista and one of the other employees greeted him. He was dressed like he’d been the other day, in an aged vintage shirt, worn-in jeans, and another pair of boots that made him appear like he was six-five instead of six-two or six-three. His hair fell down the either side of his face.

When Atagracia handed him a tall, steaming cup of coffee, he sat across from me. He didn’t have Chase’s straight posture.

“What were you doing in Franklin Parks?” I asked him.

“I did Brady’s ink. And as you saw, he works at the dealership. Why did you wanna meet me?”

“You asked me to meet you. You don’t remember that I was gonna back out?”

He stared at me with an unreadable expression and I shifted my gaze to Jake. I picked myself up and walked towards Jake and Mariska when Hunter’s big hand hooked around my wrist. In less than a second, Jake pulled Hunter’s hand away from mine. “My man, we got a problem here?” A frantic expression raced over Mariska’s face. Hunter released his strong hold on me.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” Hunter said in a small voice that made Jake narrow his eyes at him. “My bad. Sit back down.” He gulped what I saw was black coffee. “Please.”

“This dude isn’t jack like Chase,” Jake told me in a low tone, and maintained eye contact with Hunter. “Can’t believe he’s worse.” He nodded his head toward the door. Mariska and I followed him, but we didn’t get far from Hunter.

“I wasn’t gonna hurt you, Beth.”

Jake spun around. “Who’re you trying to convince of that? Yourself or Beth?”

“I am the one who fucked up his face,” Hunter announced. We all stopped walking. I didn’t look at Jake and Mariska. I marched over to Hunter and slapped him hard on his face. Honestly, I hadn’t known I’d done it until I felt the burn of my hit on my hand. I shouldn’t have slapped him. Hunter could’ve slapped me back, or worse. And as fit as Jake was, he was no match for Hunter. He’d marked Chase for life. His own brother. And I felt like he’d messed with me too.

“Fuck, Beth!” Jake yelled behind me with exasperation. “What’s gotten into you? Huh? You slap someone who cut his own brother’s face?” Motionless, Hunter looked at me with a blank expression. There wasn’t any rage or remorse in his eyes for what he’d just said. Why would he think that telling me that would make me return to the café and talk to him? Maybe he was warning me that he was bad news. That was not the way to start a conversation or continue one.

Jake and Mariska tugged my arms and I moved in time with them as if I had a choice. Their fury at me made them stronger than they would’ve been otherwise.

“If you look back at Hunter again, I think I’ll slap you myself,” Mariska cautioned.

***

With my guestroom shrouded in darkness, I lay on the bed wondering how many hours had passed since I’d tried to zone out from the world in the comfort of a deep sleep. I felt incredibly guilty for not telling Chase that I’d seen Hunter in Franklin Parks. Particularly worse for seeing Hunter this afternoon. My chest was tighter from learning that Hunter had scarred Chase’s face. Weeks ago, Chase had said that he had gotten into a fight in his youth. Could Chase and Hunter have been a part of a gang like Mariska had proposed? Or could Hunter have been and Chase had been targeted as a result?

I’d given Jake and Mariska my word that I wouldn’t meet up with Hunter again, but it didn’t mean that I could keep ignoring his messages. He’d apologized in over fifty messages and had called me twice. But I owed Chase an explanation first. Yes, Chase had lied to me, but I’d been lying to him also. Yesterday, I’d told Chase that I wanted to spend time with Jake and Mariska today, and he had told me to tell them hello. He hadn’t asked if he could come with me, or questioned my preference. Brianna had worked the night shift at the Paloma, so I hadn’t had to exclude her. I wouldn’t have felt good if I’d told her that I was going to be with Jake and Mariska and not her as well, because she was becoming a good friend of theirs.

Sighing, I pulled Chase’s gray hoodie from underneath my pillow and slid my arms into it. Even though it’d been laundered recently, Chase’s scent lingered from the last time we’d been together—before I’d met Hunter. Hearing the shoosh of the bedroom door being closed, I rose from my bed with my cell phone clutched in my hand.

“Babe.”

“God.” Chase turned on the lamp on the bedside table. The light only illuminated Chase’s face and the top half of the bed where he was, and I shut my mouth. I came to the bed and his eyes flicked over the hoodie I had on. Relief visibly washed over him.

“I texted you all night,” he said, and took off his shoes and his pants. “But you didn’t answer. If you don’t wanna talk yet, fine. But I am gonna fall asleep with you tonight.”

Nodding, I fell onto the bed, craving to have Chase with me so much. I’d only gotten sleep this week from pure mental exhaustion. Chase hooked his arm around my chest, my breaths came fast and shallow as quivers ran up and down my hypersensitive body. He threaded through his fingers through my scalp. Lifting my head to look at him, Chase’s mouth smashed my lips. I thrust my tongue inside hungrily. As Chase pushed me on my back, I reached for his face. His scar looking more severe than it was. He stretched his hand out to turn the light off.

---