“I would say I was surprised when Jules called, but my momma taught me not to tell a lie. You are a stupid fucker for punching that detective.” He laughs as he tosses a clear bag full of my stuff at me.
“Asshole deserved it. You know he is treating me like I’m the fucking criminal. Not only that, but he had his hands all over Sam right in front of me. He antagonized me and fucking enjoyed doing it.” When I think about him touching her, I get pissed off all over again. Sitting in that damn cell all night while Sam was on her own tore me apart. Ryan told me that she went to Brian’s house and it makes me feel good that she knew she could depend on them, but I wanted her with me. I won’t be okay until I can hold her. Until I can make sure that she’s okay.
“I think you might be over exaggerating a little bit brother.” Ryan and I walk out towards his car.
On the drive to Brian’s, I can’t shake the feeling I have that something is up. We pull into the driveway and I turn to Ryan. “Can you check into him for me?”
“Who? The detective? Are you out of your fucking mind? He outranks me, Hunter. I can’t just go asking around about him and expect no repercussions.” He shakes his head at me and seems pissed that I even asked.
“Ryan, I don’t ask you for shit. I know something is wrong. I can feel it in my fucking bones. Just have someone check into him for me, see if there is anything fishy. If I need to pay for someone to do it, I will.” I’m pleading with him at this point.
“Fuck!” His fist slams on the steering wheel before he turns to face me. “You are putting me in a really shitty position, Hunter. I can’t promise anything. I’ll ask around.”
I nod my head at him, silently thanking him. “I owe you one.”
“Yeah, you fucking do. Now get the hell out of my car.” I run up Brian’s steps, knocking on the door, anxious to see Sam.
Brian answers the door. “Well, look at the jailbird. You flew the coop already?”
“Yeah, real funny.” I push past him and walk inside.
“She is still asleep upstairs. I’m sure it has to do with the fact that she went through a shit storm yesterday; also that Jules turned the house into Margaritaville. I swear that girl just might be the death of me. I panicked when she called me last night, drove here in less than half the time. With all of this stalker mess, I was scared that they weren’t safe here alone.”
We walk into the living room, sitting down on his couch. “Bri, I don’t know what to fucking do. I am so goddamn scared that something will happen to her. It consumes my every thought, and everywhere we go, I’m paranoid. I can’t lose her.”
“I know how you feel. I lived in hell the six years I was separated from Jules. I couldn’t imagine feeling like I might lose her for good. When you love some—“
“Love? I didn’t go that far, brother. I don’t…I can’t.” I scrub my hands over my face. The mere mention of that word cuts me to the core. Loving someone gives them the power to crush you, to destroy every inch of your being. I know that Sam loves me. She said it the other night, but I can’t. “I’m not made for it. I’m not good at it. I am too selfish, and too self-absorbed to put someone else before myself.”
“Really? So throwing yourself on top of her when you heard the gunshot. That was you putting yourself first? Helping her out with her she devil mother. That’s you being selfish? Stressing yourself out about how to keep her safe. That sounds self-absorbed to me. You are none of those things, but you are scared. If you spend your life running from shit that might be, you will never have anything happen.” He looks at me dead in the eye. Brian is never one to bullshit you, so I know that he means what he is saying.
I look up at him. I get what he is saying. I know he’s right. “If I let myself go and stop holding back. If I love her, I won’t be able to handle losing her. I barely survived losing Amy, Bri. I can’t lose someone else I love.” Did I just admit I loved her? Do I? I think back over our time together. About the way I feel whenever she is close to me. The way I feel when I’m away from her.
“Go get your girl. I’ll take Jules out to lunch.” Brian stands up and starts to walk out of the room before turning around. “You know, I didn’t peg you to be the next one of us to settle down. I thought it would be Ryan.”
“Yeah, I was probably at the bottom of your list.” I think back to the way I have lived my life, bouncing from one meaningless girl to the next, never once caring about anyone.
“Nope, Mason would be last on my list. He is more fucked up than you by far.” He shakes his head at me before leaving. After a few minutes, I hear the front door shut.
Sam is upstairs. I want to go to her. I want to tell her how I feel but I can’t make my legs move.
The last time she saw me, I was in the back of a cop car, and I ignored her. I couldn’t even look at her. I was ashamed that I let that asshole get to me. I reacted just as he thought I would. Since they were taking me away, Sam was left unprotected and I hated myself for that. I wasn’t mad at her. I was pissed off at myself but I know she probably didn’t know that. I shouldn’t have just dismissed her the way I did but I was fighting to keep what little control of myself I had. If I would have looked at her and saw the panic and fear, I would have lost it. I feel like I failed her yesterday. When Ryan came back to see me, I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew Sam had gotten in touch with one of the guys or Jules. I also knew they wouldn’t just leave her to be an easy target.
I stand up, willing myself to go upstairs and to see her. When I open the door to the guest room, she is under the covers sleeping. She looks like an angel. I walk over to the bed, trying my best not to wake her. I quietly undress before slipping under the covers next to her. My arms wrap around her, pulling her body against mine. I close my eyes, enjoying the feel of her pressed against me. I still can’t believe that she wants me. That she thinks I’m good enough for her.
“Hunter?” Her sleepy voice whispers in shock.
“Hey, cupcake, I’m back.” She turns to face me, a smile gracing her beautiful face. “I’m so sorry for yesterday. For losing my temper, for taking it out on you.”
“I didn’t know what I did that made you mad. I didn’t know what you wanted me to do.”
My hand strokes her face. “I know. You didn’t do anything baby. I was pissed at myself for playing into his hands. I couldn’t face you.”
“What happened? Did the detective charge you?” Her face is full of worry and I can see the love shining through her eyes.
“No, he isn’t charging me. Apparently, they can hold you for twenty four hours without charging you and the asshole took full advantage of that.” It pisses me off that I had to spend the night in there just for Marks to show some level of superiority.
She kisses me and I pull her closer to me. “I was so scared. I didn’t have anyone’s phone number. Luckily, I remembered where this house was and I had Joe bring me here. I hope I wasn’t a bother to Brian or Jules.”
“No, trust me Jules loved having you here.”
She smiles. “I really liked spending time with her. Your friends have all so readily accepted me. I haven’t had anyone close to me in such a long time. Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?” Her arms move up to wrap around my neck.
“Thank you for introducing me to your friends. Thank you for all the times you made me laugh when I wanted to cry. Thank you for making me feel like I’m not alone.” I take in what she says, knowing what I want my reply to be but trying to work up the nerve to say it.
“I love you, Samantha Baker.” I am so full of nerves. My hands are shaking like a little bitch as I open myself up to her after I swore I would never let anyone in again.
The shock on her face is evident; she never expected those words from me, at least not right now. “I love you, Hunter Stone.”