New Beginnings (Marie) by Mel Steele novel Chapter 28

My food was placed in front of me and I decided I was done listening to her belittle Hunter

I walked over to the table with a smirk on my face.

“Becca, you have some nerve saying Hunter is going nowhere. He is part owner of a well–known construction company. But I guess when it comes to sleeping with multiple people he can’t seem to match you in handling your business.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” She screeched as her face turned red.

“Does your new boyfriend know about Bobbie, Harold, and Shawn?”

“Shut up! You whore.”

“Me? I’ve never even had s*x but you, on the other hand.”

“Whatever. Hunter is such a loser he couldn’t even drive me here. Tell her how you wrecked your

truck, Hunter.”

“You know what Becca. You don’t deserve Hunter. Have fun using multiple men just like your sister. Wait… How did that work out for her?”

“You…You…”

“Don’t worry Becca, I will take good care of Hunter.” I said, taking Hunter’s hand and pulling him to

his feet.

We started to walk out and I turned and looked at the guys with Becca. “Good luck buddy. I hope for your sake you can actually get her to stop sleeping around.”

My food in one hand and Hunter in the other, we walked out of the crowded diner.

I didn’t let go of his hand till we were by my jeep.

He got into the passenger side without saying a word.

“Do you want me to take you home?”

“No.”

“OK..Where do you want to go?”

“Can I….Can I go to yours?”

“Yeah…Emily and Bella are gone all weekend so I could use some company.” I said, smiling over at

him.

He gave me a little smile back.

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Once we were at my place, he slumped on the cough.

“Did you eat?”

“No, George showed up before our food came. But I’m not really hungry”

“Well, I won’t let you have any beer or whisky without food.”

He looked up at me quickly. “What do you have?”

“I ordered a family chicken dinner.”

“For yourself?”

“Don’t judge me Hunter.” I said, putting together a plate for him,

He chuckled, sitting down with me to eat. We ate in silence because I knew what it felt like to have your world destroyed and sometimes you just need company.

After we ate, he helped me wash the dishes.

“Whisky or beer?”

“Whisky please.”

I poured two glasses and before I was able to take one sip, he had downed his and poured a

second glass.

“Do you want to watch a movie?”

“Nah, maybe some music.” He said, slowing down on the third glass.

I turned on the radio and sat across from him on the recliner.

“I love her.”

“I know and that’s what makes it hurt.”

“Am I an idiot? How did I not know about all of those guys?”

“You are not an idiot…she and Abby are good liars.”

“I chased her for years. I was going to ask her to marry me.”

“You know the things she said about you are not true.”

“Yeah I know…doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

“It never does.”

“You know that you were the first girl to make me look twice?”

“What?”

Chupto 28

“I was so in love with Becca no other girl stood a chance. I wouldn’t even give them a second look but you….I look more than I should.”

“I thought you hated me.”

“I hated the way you made me feel. But an idiot could see how Colton looks at you.”

“Colton doesn’t want me.”

“But he does and you not talking to him these past two weeks have been driving him crazy.”

I rolled my eyes at Hunter.

“What?”

“Did he tell you how he kissed me and asked me to hang out and then ghosted me for Abby?”

“Yeah. But you know that is because she said she was pregnant with his baby.”

“How about us making out and then he took Kelly Jo on a date and spent New Years Eve with her and only asked me to hang out again?”

“He told me and he has been beating himself up over it.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

“Why did you stick up for me tonight?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I haven’t been the most welcoming to you and you stood up to Becca for me.”

“It was the right thing to do. I meant everything you said about you. I don’t like liars and Becca is a lying whore.”

He smiled back at me. “That she is.”

He drank a few more glasses of whisky and I could tell he was drunk.

“How about I get you a pillow and blanket? I think you need sleep.”

“Yeah sounds good.”

I came back to find Hunter sitting in nothing but his boxers. I felt my mouth drop and couldn’t stop myself from checking him out.

Thank goodness he was drunk.

“Here ya go.” I said, handing him the blanket and pillow.

I sat a bottle of water and Tylenol on the coffee table. If you need me, I will be in the other room.

“Marie?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for everything tonight.”

“You’re Welcome.”

“You should give Colton a chance.”

“What?”

“Give Colton a chance……he will treat you right.”

“Good Night Hunter.”

“Good Night.”

I made my way into my room and put on a pair of boy shorts and a tank top and crawled into bed.

Before I could fall asleep, I heard Hunter’s phone ringing. It kept ringing. Whoever was calling him was really trying to get him on the phone.

I walked out to the living room and fished his phone out of his pocket. The caller ID showed Colton.

“Hello?” I said, answering Hunters phone.

“Marie? Why are you answering Hunter’s phone?”