Page 37 of New Year, New Guy
‘Don’t you owe your baby better than a father who would risk its life?’
‘You got me all mixed up. He only needed to be sure, that’s all.’ She stumbled to her feet.
‘If you change your mind, here are my contact details.’ Hunter pressed one of his business cards into Kiki’s hand. He hauled his backpack on his shoulder before he realised he’d nowhere to stay the night. Perhaps he’d wander past Laura’s house to check if her lights were still on.
And what are you goin’ to do if they are? What part of being thrown out didn’t you get, moron?
Chapter Twenty-One
‘Couldn’t this wait until after the wedding?’ Laura ventured.
‘No, because Hunter’s leaving and I’ll be tied up with my honeymoon.’ Johnny cracked a smile. ‘Not literally, because Polly’s not that way inclined. The wholeFifty Shadesthing passed us by.’
Her doorbell jangled again, startling them both.
‘Do you want me to check who it is?’
‘Don’t be daft,’ Laura scoffed. ‘A bona fide axe-murderer would hack the door down not ring the bell.’ She hurried to open the door and the last person she’d expected to see again anytime soon stood on the step. ‘Were your ears burning?’
‘Should they be?’
‘Who was . . . hey, Hunter. Just the man I was looking for.’ Johnny’s relief was palpable. ‘Get in out of the rain for Christ’s sake.’
‘Is it raining?’
‘It’s always raining.’ Laura sighed. ‘Do what he says.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
When he stepped into her living room his eyes brightened.
‘No more beige palace.’ Laura couldn’t help her nervous laugh. ‘At least not in here.’
‘You’ve been busy,’ Hunter said with a hint of amusement.
‘Whisky?’ Johnny held up the bottle.
‘Do I need it?’
‘It might not hurt.’
Hunter raised an eyebrow at them both and took the drink Johnny shoved in his hand. ‘What’s up?’
‘Thanks to you I couldn’t resist checking up on Danny Pearce today.’ Johnny’s forehead settled into deep furrows. ‘I’d managed to avoid thinking about him for years until now. Not sure what that says about me.’
‘Why don’t we all sit down?’ Laura suggested and returned to the sofa. When Hunter joined her she didn’t stop to think and reached for his cold hand.
* * *
He couldn’t get his head around Johnny’s resentment. Not a single day passed since he left Greystone when he didn’t wonder about Danny Pearce. Had the postcard even been genuine? Assuming it was from him, how did his life turn out? Did Hunter make the right choice in letting the other boy go from Greystone that night? Johnny’s choice to whitewash over that part of his life had come back to haunt him, and he couldn’t bring himself to apologise for that.
‘Believe it or not I found a Daniel Pearce living in Cornwall. Take a look at this. There’s no doubt it’s him.’ Johnny brandished his phone in Hunter’s face and the picture leaping out at him was an older version of the scrawny boy they both remembered.
‘So, what are we gonna to do?’
A hint of wariness shadowed Johnny’s face. ‘I guessed that’s how you’d react.’
‘Well yeah.’ Hunter frowned. ‘You’re in too surely?’
