Page 16 of 2204 Hunter Lane
“A whole year… I had no direction, just living off inheritance money and lottery winnings and – anything,anythingwe could get our hands on. I try not to regret it, you know? The way my life turned out. I mean, if I truly loved my life to begin with I don’t think I would’ve left it behind.”
That was the first time I ever admitted that out loud. The first time I truly didn’t blame the world for shoving me in a pile of shit. It’s like my brain didn’t even register my admission, like it wanted to come out for so long but only to someone who genuinely cared to hear it.
I didn’t know why I trusted the woman sitting before me, but I did. I did so much that I dropped a tsunami of sentiments and feelings and vulnerability that I hadn’t even coped with myself.
“I’m sorry, Payton, I –”
She pulled me into a tight hug, silencing my overthinking and spiralling thoughts. Her warm embraced caressed me as I wrapped my arms around her in response.
When she pulled back, a glossy sheen swept over her eyes. “Two things I’ve learned about you, deary. One, you apologize a ton, and two, you talk and talk and talk.”
I laughed and shrugged, biting down on my lip. “I just never really open up like that.”
“Well, I’m glad ya did. We all got our baggage, Marley. Some we think we can carry and others that just pull us right back down until we can’t get up no more.”
“I don’t want to go back to my family in New York,” I sighed.Not like I can.
“Then don’t,” she suggested. “But how’s about you come with me to The Square and we can visit P&D’s hardware shop.”
Uh… okay? Ha-ha.She stood up, pushing the bench in place and taking both our mugs to the sink. There was a jolly bounce in her that made me giggle.
As much as I loved to see her happy, I questioned why the hell she asked me to go to a hardware store in the midst of my emotional word vomit.
“P&D’s hardware?” I asked Payton.
She grabbed her purse off the counter and jiggled a set of car keys, beaming from ear to ear. “Yah, deary. Just got a new hire named Marley and I’d like to show her the ropes.”
Chapter Eight
Hunter
“Glad you came out, Hunt?”
“Yeah,” I replied, scrunching up the sleeves of my black thermal. “Race you up the hill?”
Before he could answer, I booked passed him, trekking up the dirt slope with long strides. This was one of my favourite fucking things in the world. Beating Josh in races sure, but hiking out on the plains was unlike anything else.
When I was training for track in high school, my mom took me out here every morning to practice my endurance. She always loved to run, but I didn’t. I ran for her, withher, and that’s why I tried out for track. Dad was always working and I wanted an excuse to hangout with my parents.
Now I spent more than enough time with my dad in silence, and the only way I’d see my mom was by driving seventy-five down the backroad with a beer in one hand and whisky in the other.
Aurora, Nebraska was a damn small town and besides my dad and Payton, all I really had was Josh. An old buddy of mine, Carter, got scouted to play baseball in Boston and my family dog Baxter passed away a couple years back so yeah, all who was left to keep me company were the mains.
Being real though, I didn’t mind it; a small circle was better than a crowded one with no room to breathe and less room to grow.My mom taught me that.
I sprinted up the slope until I reached the top, looking down over the green plains absorbing the sunlight. Looked like a goddamn dream.Fuck, if I could bottle this view and drink it every night I’d be as sober as a priest.
Josh’s sluggish breathing sounded behind me as he approached, holding his appendix with a sweaty palm.
“Christ Hunt, for a guy who drinks every night you got the stamina of a stallion.”
“It’s my fuel, what can I say.”
He placed his opposite slimy hand on my shoulder, wiping the perspiration off his brow.
“Off.” I nudged him away.Man I hate being touched unless it’s on my terms.
Instead of listening, he slapped the side of my face and hopped back, chuckling while battling his exhaustion.
