Chapter Thirty-Five

“Holy crap, I’m tired.” My friend’s head fell on the stack of research spread over the table. “I can’t imagine doing this and school as well.”

“Me neither. Who would be stupid enough to do that?” I groaned, twisting my neck to look at my coworker and friend, Molly. She was about my height with dark skin and light eyes, her shoulder-length curly hair had been wrapped up in a messy bun. Four years older than me, she was a recent graduate from Georgetown University. Out of the handful of fellow interns, she and I had grown the closest over the last month. Since there were only eight of us, we had become a tight-knit group, bonding over the long days and strenuous work. We spent a lot of time after hours hanging out at a local pub together while they teased the youngster, me, who still had to order soda and steal drinks from them.

“I think I’m done; my eyes are so blurry I’m seeing two of you.” Molly leaned back in her chair, her neck popping as she rubbed it. “Are you meeting us later? Ami and Dwayne are still fighting about who won darts last week.”

Flipping a page, I chuckled at the memory of Ami, the tiny five-foot slip of a thing when she was standing on her toes, poking at the guy who could be in the NBA. It was obvious to everyone they were crushing on each other.

“I think so. I need to finish this and check to see if I have anything due for my course.” My time at the Galleria felt like a vacation compared to this past month. As hard as I worked in Italy, people there worked to live. My life had been as much about great meals and socializing. In America, people lived to work, especially here where my supervisors demanded everything from us, and lunch was a luxury. There had been a few times in the past weeks I thought I would snap. I was just starting to feel I was getting my shit together. I fit in homework from the two online courses I was taking whenever I wasn’t here. But deep down I loved it. It’s where I belonged.

“Girl, when do you sleep?”

“I don’t.” I shut the folder I had been looking at. Mustard yellows and pinks painted the windows like the artwork above my head, telling me I had been in this office for most of the day.

“I’m out. I need a drink and tacos.” Molly stood with a groan, stretching her arms over her head. “We can finish this tomorrow.” She watched me for a moment, her gaze burning into my face. “I know I asked you this already, but are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. Fine.” I pinched my lips together, shoveling back the rush of grief wanting to bubble up today. “I’ll see you later.” I waved her off.

“O-kay. If you say so.” She turned for the door. “Hope to see you soon.” She waved, pushing through the doors.

With a sigh I leaned back in my chair, looking up at the vibrant pigments shading the room, the quiet of the room coiling around me like a snake. The one thing I had realized in settling into my new schedule was that my life being less chaotic gave me more time for all the things I didn’t want to think about. All the people I missed.

Especially today.

The ache in my chest was so constant I sometimes didn’t even notice the heaviness sitting on my heart, the sorrow hanging on my soul. The first couple of weeks I was so busy, I didn’t even know what day it was, passing out in my bed the moment I reached home. But it didn’t stop him from tormenting me, from me dreaming about him. I would be working and find my thoughts drifting to him.

I missed Stevie and my family a lot, but Hunter was a huge gap in my soul.

Digging in my pocket, I pulled out my cell, staring at the screen. The last text I sent Hunter was a week ago, saying I missed him.

No reply.

I knew this would happen. The text and calls would grow less and less until one of us didn’t answer. We had been here before. Our destinies set on repeat. I had hoped this time would be different, that our scars and pain connecting us across time and space were for a reason.

Nothing was lonelier than standing in a bar full of people and feeling utterly alone, longing to see one face in the crowd. Feel his arms around me like I had come home.

I loved my life, where I was and what I was doing, but a piece of me felt empty.

And today of all days, it was almost unbearable.

Two years ago today my entire world was shattered. Broken. One stupid decision and three lives were changed forever. There were parts of me that died with Colton, pieces not strong enough to rise from the flames.

With Hunter, the other pieces learned to fly, to soar beyond the world I knew and see who I could be. It hurt knowing it had taken Colton’s death to bring me here now. Where I knew what real love felt like.

Running a hand over my tattoo, a tear slipped down my face. The moment I woke up, I felt heavy and sad, like my body knew before I even realized the date. The memory was so strong, so visceral, I could smell the alcohol he drank that night, taste the bitter tang of blood as I bit my lip, hear the screeching of tires, the crunching of metal and bone.

The counselor had told me I would probably suffer from survivor’s guilt and PTSD for many years, and it would surface at obscure times. Colton had been dead two years, and most had moved on, but I hadn’t. I always thought I was getting better, but randomly a night would cripple me with nightmares. In the dream, I knew we were going to get into an accident, but I was never able to stop it. And in them, I would peer over and see Hunter dead instead of Colton, my heart shattering into twisted fragments.

Shaking my head, I pushed away the agony climbing over me. Time did make things a bit better, but I didn’t doubt the accident would haunt me the rest of my life. Standing up, I grabbed my bag, straightening the pile of research on the table before turning out the lights and directing myself to the exit.

The muggy air knocked me over the moment I stepped outside the air-conditioned building. Summer still clung to the air, but threads of autumn shifted the colors of the trees. The sun sat low on the horizon, about to give its final bow for the evening.

I hitched my bag higher on my shoulder strolling down the steps, when my gaze landed on a figure at the bottom. I gasped, freezing in place.

Hands in his pockets, leaning against the railing, Hunter’s blue eyes locked onto mine.

Holy. Shit. It had only been a month, but he looked even sexier than I remembered. Scruff lined his strong jaw, broad shoulders stretching out his dark gray T-shirt, tattoos scrolling down his one arm, his jeans riding low on his hips.

“Hey.” His dimple dented the side of his cheek.

“What are you doing here?” Slowly, I took a step down, shaking my head in disbelief, afraid if I moved quickly he would disappear.

“That’s not what you should be asking.” He pushed off the railing moving until I was the step above him. My pulse thumped against my neck, air catching in my throat, his smell and nearness overwhelming me.

“What should I be asking?” I whispered.

“What took me so long.” He inched closer, his voice rumbling.

“What do you mean?” My chest fluttered in and out.

“The last month I’ve been in hell. I’ve become such an asshole even Doug can’t be around me. He thinks I’d be better as a ‘silent’ partner at the garage.” He exhaled. “I should have known the moment we were assigned that English assignment together you would completely unhinge me.”

My brows furrowed.

“It wasn’t only Colton’s death that changed me.” He twined his fingers through the ends of my hair. “You have challenged me, fought me, and made me see things I didn’t want to see.” He wagged his head. “You were right. I was hiding. Using the garage and even Cody as a reason not to take a chance again. Colton’s death woke you up. You fought for what you wanted. You go after it. I went the opposite way… I hid. I accused you for so long of being blind, when I was the one who was. I didn’t want to see I was letting my life slip away. Living a life I hated but was too scared to change.”

His hand cupped my neck.

“One time I asked you to follow me, and I get now why you couldn’t. It wasn’t fair of me. That wasn’t your dream. I’ve realized this last month that you will never have to ask me again, because wherever you are, I want to be. You are my dream. I want to follow you. I want more than working at the garage, doing the same thing every day, staying stuck in that town.”

My legs trembled at his words, my chest pumping with hope.

“What about Krista and Cody?”

“We had a long talk, and we both agree neither of us was being fair to the other, or even the kids. Cody is young; he will adjust easily to calling me uncle instead. He has a right to know Colton was his real father.” Hunter’s forehead brushed against mine. “I will still be in his life. He is my nephew, my blood, and I want to be there for him whenever he needs me. Even in death, Colton is his father, not me, but I will be the best fuckin’ uncle.”

A smile pulled at my lips. “I have no doubt about that.”

“Mom has changed so much, and this time she is very eager to spend time with Cody. Before, it was too painful for her, but now she sees how a piece of Colton lives on and wants to be part of Cody’s life and get to know him. She’s already invited Krista and Cody to her new place to spend some time with them.”

“That’s amazing. I am happy for her… for all of you.” I licked my lips, his touch spreading tingles over my skin.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you.” His eyes dropped to my mouth, his grip on me constricting. “I’m going to kiss you.”

I tried to hide my smile. “Are you asking me?”

“No,” he growled, his fingers digging into the back of my neck, pulling me forward. “I was preparing you.”

Just like the moment by the lake, his mouth collided into mine with a deep hunger. Frantic. Brutal. Desire scorched up my spine, weaving through me until my skin was on fire. He pressed into me, causing me to groan as I felt every inch of him. I needed him. Wanted him now.

His kiss deepened as his tongue parted my lips, his hands tugging my hair with desire which only made me crazier. The world disappeared; the hole I had felt filled with joy, having him near me.

He broke away, our breaths panting.

“I gotta go,” he muttered, stepping back with a cocky grin.

“Wait. What?” Panic scrapped my throat. “Where are you going?”

“Arlington.” He grinned, turning away. Arlington was right across the Potomac River, only a short drive, but why would he be going there?

“Hunter!” I yelled, but he kept walking toward a motorcycle parked at the curb. “Why are you going to Arlington?” I ran after him, irritation puffing my cheeks.

He swung his good leg over the bike, grabbing one of two helmets hanging off the handlebars. “Job interview. You don’t want me to be late, do you?” A mischievous grin glinted his eyes.

“Hunter Browning Harris.” I folded my arms, my head tilting.

“Jaymerson Vanessa Holloway,” he countered with a playfulness I hadn’t seen on him in a very long time. “Come with me.” He tossed me the smaller helmet he brought with him, like he already knew I’d agree.

“First, tell me why we’re going to Arlington.”

He looked away. “After Jones and Doug pulled an intervention on me, telling me to get my head out of my ass and go get my girl, I looked into work up here. I sent my sketches to a shop that builds custom cars and bikes for people.” He shrugged, looking at me, shrugging. “They loved them and want to meet with me.”

“Oh. My. God. Hunter.” My hand slapped over my mouth, excitement dancing over my entire body. “Are you serious? That’s amazing.”

He lifted a shoulder again, trying to dismiss it.

“So… this is real?” Apprehension tickled the back of my throat. “You’re here to stay?”

“Why? You plan on keeping me?” He smirked, repeating something I said to him on his and Colton’s birthday.

Showing up today wasn’t a coincidence; this was the day that altered everything. It brought us together. It was a day where we could live life and go after what we wanted, or let it take us down. Colton deserved more from us, to live when he couldn’t.

Through the pain and heartache, Colton’s death had led us to each other, had changed and challenged us. But instead of crumbling under the weight, we flew together. There were a lot of bumps and scrapes along the way, but we had only become stronger. I knew now there wasn’t anything we couldn’t conquer or get through together.

“Yeah,” I said, answering his question. I tucked the helmet on my head, climbing on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Forever if I can.”