Rob sits down next to me. “The kiss?” he asks quietly.
I groan through my hands, refusing to meet his eyes. “Yeah. I can tell that Hunter likes me. I like him, too, but not in the same way,” I lie to myself and Rob. “I got caught up in the moment and I wanted to kiss him. So, I did.”
“It seemed like you enjoyed yourself on stage.” Rob nudges my shoulder, and I pull back from my hands to look up at him. He has an eyebrow raised and a playful smirk on his face.
“Yeah, but now I just led him on, like an idiot.”
“You wouldn’t date him?”
I shake my head. “I can't handle that. I’m not in a good headspace.”
“I get that,” Rob says. “But let me just play devil’s advocate and ask you when you would ever say you are in a good headspace to meet someone?” I glare at him. “I'm always goingto shoot it to you straight, you know that. You’re like a little sister to me so I will call you on your bullshit when I think it’s bullshit. In my opinion, you will always make an excuse, even if the right guy walks into your life. You need to stop running away.”
I am hurt by what he says to me, but what makes me even more angry is that I know he’s right. I’m angry at myself more than anything.
“I can't listen to this right now,” I tell him, knowing I’m deflecting from the truth. I stand back up and adjust my dress.
Rob nods his head. “Okay, fine. I won't press anymore. Just know I love you and I only want the best for you. I tell you this because I want you to share your life with someone that brings it value. Life is better with someone that gets you and stands by you through everything. Missy is my lighthouse in a storm. I want you to find your lighthouse.”
I shuffle anxiously on my feet. “I hear you, but I need to get back to work,” I tell him, wiping under my eyes quickly.
He looks satisfied at the fact that I’m at least staying here. I turn away from Rob and head back out the kitchen door, ready to talk to Hunter. I need to tell him that I made a mistake kissing him. That I value his friendship and don’t want to lose the bond we have created.
I know he won’t stop doing the video series, even if he’s upset with me right now. I don’t have to worry about that because I know Hunter is a man of honor. Once he commits to something, he sticks to it, and he would never want the bar to get sold and taken away from everyone that loves it.
When I look around, my shoulders fall. Hunter and Eddie are no longer here.
“If you’re looking for him, he left,” Rick says from his stool.
“Shit.”
I jog out of the bar to see if his car is still in the parking lot, but he’s gone. I just want to be able to explain myself tohim. Looking up at the stars lining the dark night sky, I wish I could be anywhere but here. I feel stuck in my life right now, like everyone else is in control of my fate with Tripp, the puppet master, pulling my strings.
I need Hunter, that I know.
I pull out my phone and start writing him a text.
Hunter, please let me call you after my shift. I need to talk to you.
By the time I close the bar hours later and clean up after my shift ends, my phone still sits without a reply. I feel like I’ve lost one of the only people that has ever made me feel secure in my life.
Chapter 39
Hunter
Ipull up to Eddie’s house and park the truck on the cement driveway. He is quite drunk, but even in his intoxicated state, he can tell I’m gutted right now. He shoots me a look laced with sympathy, and I put my hand up before he can say anything.
“Please. I just want to process the night. I’m tired, man,” I tell him. “I’ll text you in the morning.”
“No problem,” he responds and pushes open the passenger door. He’s drunkenly swaying as he steps out of the truck.
“You need help to the door?” I ask Eddie.
“No—” he starts to say, and then bends over and vomits on his driveway.
I lean my head back against the headrest, not wanting to deal with this right now, but I’m not leaving him alone in this condition, either. Eddie is stressed about his app and made some poor drinking decisions tonight. I shut off my engine and get out of my truck.
“Give me your keys,” I tell him as he stands up and wipes the back of his hand against his mouth.
