Page 54 of Running For It

It would be sweet if I didn’t know this was the man Hunter was hiding a part of his identity for.

They exchanged a couple words of greeting, and Hunter gestured to me. “Dad, this is my wife, Violet. Violet, this is Hunter Sr.”

“Call me Dad, hon.” He reached for my hand when I offered it in greeting, and pressed it between his palms. His skin was yellow and papery, but his grip and smile were warm and friendly. “I remember you. You were with Ramsey Miller for a while.”

At least things were going to get awkward right away. I had no idea how to response. “Yes.”

“I see.” Hunter Sr. shook his head. “You know, I always figured you and he split because he was in love with my son.”

Hunter coughed.

“But I can tell you and Hunter care about each other,” his dad said.

Hunter reached for my hand and squeezed gently. “We do.”

The simple statement rang with a clarity I hadn’t had much of lately. We really did. For so long I’d only thought of Hunter asRamsey’s friend, but he’d been here for me. Still was. I was as terrified of him being gone from my life as I was Ramsey.

Hunter’s dad pushed himself into a sitting position in bed. “Violet, hon, you’ve always seemed like a lovely person, so please don’t take this the wrong way—”

Was there any other way to take a statement that started like that?

“—The last few years have taught me that putting off conversations means you may never get to have them, and this is one I need to have with my son.” He looked at Hunter. “What the fuck are you doing, Junior?”

Hunter’s wide-eyed expression reflected my shock. He worked his jaw. “I don’t—”

“Anyone with half a brain can see how you and Ramsey feel about each other. I hoped you’d tell me at some point.”

What was happening? My brain was glitching on reality versus expectation.

Hunter didn’t look to be doing any better. “I’m not—”

“Going to lie to me, are you? You’d never send your old man to meet his maker on a lie.”

“No, I wouldn’t.” Hunter’s shoulders drooped, but the corner of his mouth tugged up. “And you’re right. I do love Ramsey. He feels the same.” The confession slid out on a puff of tangible relief.

I wanted to cheer for Hunter for being able to say it, but I was still struggling to process the unexpected situation. Would there be fallout from the confession? Screaming and name calling and accusations?

“I’m so proud of you.” Hunter Sr opened his arms wide, and pulled Hunter into a warm hug.

Laughter and tears both bubbled up in my throat, spreading from the warm spot in my chest. The moment mingled with a flood of stories the shelter kids had told me. With memories of my sister. It was so beautiful in here, but so bittersweet.

“I’m sorry you found out this way, hon.” Dad’s voice was kind as he let Hunter go and focused on me. “It’s best you know now, before you’re with him too long.”

I laughed through threatening tears and scrubbed my hand across my cheeks. He was apologizing to me?

“Did we break you?” Hunter Sr sounded concerned.

Hunter pulled me closer, and tangled his fingers with mine. “Probably just the opposite. Violet already knows how I feel.”

His dad held up a finger, then snapped his mouth shut. “You know what? I don’t want too many details there, as long as you’re all on the same page. Why didn’t you ever tell me? I’ve been waiting for you tocome out, and then I hear you’re married.”

“Mom asked me—begged me—not to tell you. She said I couldn’t send you to your grave knowing I was attracted to men. That it would hurt you so much.”

“I raised you better than to think lies were the solution.”

“You raised me to look good, and always have a woman on my arm.Look at how handsome he is. He’s going to break so many girls’ hearts. That’s all I heard growing up.”

There was an edge to Hunter’s voice that I’d heard so many times.

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