Page 62 of 2204 Hunter Lane
My phone taunted me, calling me out to message Bambi and see if she was still around. I didn’t know what I’d say to her, but I knew I wanted to say something. Maybe I could invite her out for New Year’s with me and Josh? Was that pushing it?No harm in asking.
I put down the razor and clicked Bambi’s name, typing out a text that read:
9:43am – Hunter: You up?
I didn’t expect anything right away, so I went about shaving again. Then after a minute or two, my phone chimed with an incoming message.
9:45am – Bambi: Hey, yeah. Good morning.
I stared at the screen for a few seconds, my eyes hovering over the smiley face emoji she’d put.
God, I was so fucking wrong about her. I still didn’t trust her, not as far as I could throw her but she wasn’t the monster I painted her out to be.
When I really stopped to think about all the shit I’d said to her, the way she looked at me made sense. She’d been so used to the maltreatment of others, the way her family made her see herself like a walking insecurity. And I did the same damn thing when I met her. Treated her like trash, talked down to her like I had a right – I had no fuckin’ right. No one had a right.
I shook away my irritation and typed back:
9:50am – Hunter: Have you left yet?
9:53am – Bambi: I’m having breakfast with Payton, then I’m going to head off. Why?
Throwing my phone aside, I jumped into the shower and rinsed off as fast as I could, tossing on a pair of black sweats, an old Green Bay Packers hoodie and my jacket then sprinted out the door.
When I reached the farmhouse, I found Bambi and Payton sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by coffee, bread and a plate of breakfast meats.
“Mornin’,” I wiggled my fingers into a wave, snatching a piece of crisp bacon.
“How’s your head?” Payton asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
I leaned back against the counter, ripping a paper towel off the holder. “Hurtin’, yours?”
Payton’s laugh filled the room along with a hushed chuckle from Bambi.
“Down it for Derry is a recipe for disaster,” Bambi added, meeting my eyes tentatively before turning away.
I smirked. “Don’t play if you can’t keep up, sweetheart.”
A moment of silence passed between us before Payton slammed her hands down on the table and stood up.
“Well, Hunter, you gon’ eat?” She said, facing me.
“I might.”
“Then you’re doin’ the dishes while I help your dad put together some tool kits.”
She passed by Bambi, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “Your shift’s at…”
“Nine, tomorrow.” Bambi responded with a smile.
“Nine.” Payton snapped her fingers, exiting the kitchen to the walkway. “Nine, nine, nine.”
When I heard the backdoor shut, I took a seat across her at the table, piling a plate up with food.
“How’s your head?” I asked.
“Fine. I don’t get hangovers.”
My eyes widened. “Don’t you lie to me.”
