Page 48 of 2204 Hunter Lane
Nonetheless, Bambi and I experienced losses in different ways. I don’t think I realized how lonely she really must’ve been, even when she was dating that slimeball from Lincoln.
Loyalty was always a big thing for me. As promiscuous as I seemed, I’d never fuck around if I was committed. That’s why I stayed single; cause I knew I wasn’t ready and I wouldn’t be caught dead telling someone I was.
Bambi’s issues didn’t change the way I felt about my own, but it adjusted my perspective on things. Fuck, I was hard on her. I was. I never really took much into account other than myself and my damn problems. To me, Bambi didn’t have no feelings. She just… existed, I guess.
But I’d be the biggest dick in the world if I just sat there, listening to how she had no family to turn back to when things got tough and slap an insensitive remark while she opened up.I’d already proven I could be an asshole, now I can prove that wasn’t entirely me.
I didn’t know when I’d be seeing her again, but I definitely needed to wedge some distance for the time being. Yesterday honestly felt like two friends just hanging out, but a few good moments wouldn’t change her opinion of me and I knew that.
Bambi had already seen the ugly wreck I’d become, and yet she still tried. She took a chance on me and that was more than a lot of people had ever done in years.
I found Payton digging through some old boxes in the garage when I called her attention.
“Hey,” I said.
She stopped rummaging for a second to acknowledge me, then returned to her business. “Need somethin’?”
“Yeah, I wanted to ask you a question.”
“Alright then.”
“How did Bambi react when you told her about my mom?”
“Who?” She poked, confused.
“Marley.” Fuck that sounded weird coming out of my mouth.
Payton removed an old rug from one of the boxes and threw it to the side, running fingers through her blonde hair.
“What the hell you callin’ her Bambi for?”
I rolled my eyes. “It came to me, and it stuck. Now can you answer the question?”
“Well,” she cleared her throat, standing erect. “She was pale like a ghost. Don’t think she expected to hear that comin’ out of my mouth, but she felt sorry for ya if that’s what you’re askin’.”
I gritted my teeth. “I don’t want her to feel sorry for me.”
“Nah, Hunter. You don’t want no sympathy from anyone.” She kicked a box over and used some scissors to slice open another taped cardboard. “Tough as nails, right kid?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” she snapped, staring me down, “you don’t consider no possibilities for a better life. You ever just stop an think, Hunter, maybe people give a damn about you? Don’t wan’ see you wound up in the gutter?
“Cause Marley,Bambi, whatever the hell ya call her, she’s a good kid. Works hard, compassionate, and she tried damn hard to see somethin’ good in ya this weekend.”
Her chocolate eyes flashed in my brain again, the looks she gave me when I paid for her drinks and held the door open for her, listened to the stories she had to say… those were all a given. But Bambi had stared at me like it was the first time anyone ever treated her with some fucking decency. And that said a lot coming from the man who practically spat in her face time and time again, making her feel like garbage with zero excuse behind it.
Fuck.“She is…nice.” I admitted, trying to shove down my pride.
Payton coughed out a laugh, carrying the dusty rug and a weaved basket, moving past me. “Now was that so hard to say?”
She made her way to the side entrance of the house before I called out to her. “She workin’ today?”
“I ain’t runnin’ her schedule by you. Give the poor girl some time to breathe. One day ain’t gon’ make up for the past thirty.”
And that’s exactly what I’d said to myself. I just needed to confirm that, for a fact, I had fucked up and I needed to put a barrier between the two of us for now.
Time’s got to make this situation better, otherwise I may have pushed an already fragile girl into a worse state.
