Page 56 of Moonlight Feels Right
"Fine," she said, taking a sip of wine. "Looks like you got the dinosaur fixed."
"He's now able to stand upright and do battle," he said as he sat down again.
"I have to take off," Ben said, pushing back his chair. "See you later."
"Have a good night," she said.
As Ben left, Hunter gave her a pointed look. "Something was going on with you two."
"You're very suspicious."
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"Ben said he ran into a guy outside my apartment, who was looking for me. Based on his description, I think it was Jeremy."
Hunter's lips tightened, and his gaze darkened. "That's not good."
"Ben told him he didn't recognize my name. But I think Jeremy will probably be back."
"I don’t think you should be alone tonight."
"I'll be fine."
His frown deepened. "I wish I could stay with you, but?—"
"You have Olivia, and I don't know that Jeremy is dangerous. He's probably just going to try to bully my mother's address out of me. That won't happen."
"You don't know if he's dangerous or not. People who live off the grid like him could easily have a weapon and no respect for laws or authority."
"Possibly, but I don't want to work myself up about it. I told Ben about the group, and he's going to look into them, see if they have any history of criminal activity."
"Well, that's good, but that won't solve your immediate problem. Maybe you should go to the house where your aunt and mother are staying."
"If I do that, there's a chance he could follow me there, right? I'll be fine. I have a dead bolt on my door. My windows lock. I'll be safe. If someone starts pounding on my door, I'll call you."
"You better. I mean it, Em. You call me immediately."
She was touched by his concern. "I will. I have Ben's number, too. I feel safe here. I'm not going to let Jeremy ruin that."
"I'm just sorry you have to deal with this."
"Whatever I have to deal with is worth getting my mom away from them."
"That's a generous sentiment considering your relationship with your mom."
"Maybe so, but it's better to forgive than to live in anger and unhappiness. What's the point of that?"
He nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "As someone who has been living in anger and unhappiness, I would have to agree that there is no point. But it's not always easy to get out of that state. I might still be there if not for Olivia…" He paused. "And you."
She shivered despite the warm evening air. "I haven't done anything, Hunter."
"You've done more than you think. You were there for me when I didn't deserve it."
"Well, look at you now. You're a changed person. You're part of the group. You're smiling. It's good to see the change in you. And if I had a small part in that, I'm glad."
"Should we talk about what happened in your classroom earlier?"
"No, we shouldn't," she said quickly, taking another sip of her wine. "It was just a moment. It doesn't need discussion."
