Page 48 of Here With Me (Paloma's Edge 2)

I answered Beth’s incoming call, knowing that she was thankful for having Chase in her life, but wishing that he could be with her now.

“Oh, thank God you picked up the phone.” Her voice came out anxious.

“You sound like you’ve been crying—”

“Hunter needs you,” she cut me off. “His Dad just delivered some bad news; sometime this morning his mom died, Mariska. He’s not talking or doing much really. Chase, him, and I are going on the 11 am flight. This is the only direct one from Miami to Burlington. The next flight is on Saturday, and that’s the day of the wake. I am checking out the seats available for tonight’s flight. I can reserve you a seat.”

“Do it. I’ll pay you back.”

Beth blew a breath of relief. “Okay. And I’ll forward you the flight itinerary.”

“I’ll throw some stuff in my duffel bag and drive as safe and fast as I can to the airport,” I said, as I jogged up the stairs to my room in record time.

“Don’t forget your passport, and to talk to your parents about it now.”

“Oh, there’s that too,” I grumbled, feeling pressed for time as I threw clothes and toiletries into my duffel bag. Chase came to my mind. “How’s Chase handling it?”

“He’s in denial. Hunter is too. Chase is in a taxi. If we’re all on the road within twenty minutes, we’ll be at MIA at around the same time. Call me if you can’t make it.”

“You won’t get that call, Beth. What do I say to Chase and Hunter? I-I can’t imagine—”

Beth interrupted, “I know that their heads will explode if another person offers them his or her condolences.”

“Thanks for giving me the heads up. And for taking care of Hunter.”

“I know it’s not easy to defy your parents, so thank you for doing this. Bri and I didn’t talk about Hunter with you yesterday, because we knew not being with him for days has been hard on you. And him.”

Beth hung up the phone and I was about to get up and go to my parent’s room, but when my gaze landed on the door, my parents were standing in the doorway, looking at me blankly. However, I knew Dad was irate by how white his knuckles were from his vise grip on the knob. I didn’t know if they’d listened in on the entire phone conversation I’d had with Beth or not.

“Pick up your stuff when you get back,” he said.

“But this isn’t what you—”

“Are you going to Burlington?” Mom cut me off.

“Yes, but it’s because their Mom died. He shouldn’t go through this by himself.”

“Have we misunderstood something?” He said factitiously. “He has his brother, and Beth. And maybe there’s a Dad in the picture or some other relatives they can lean on, but you’re squandering money and will be behind in school. For what? So he won’t fall off the wagon, because his mom died?”

“Think the worst of Hunter all you want,” I spat out and hoisted my duffel bag strap across my chest as I stood up. “He’ll be strong and he’ll be weak. I can’t predict the future. But I believe in him.”

They made room for me to pass through the door. Checking the time on my phone when my feet were on the last steps, I made a dash for the door. I was running late.

Hunter

I’D COLLECTED DOCUMENTS WITH my personal identification and grabbed the most formal items of clothing I had in my room. Beth had gone above and beyond to ensure that Chase and I were here for the 11 am flight to Burlington, Vermont. She’d called Annette and arranged for her to feed and walk Riley until Wednesday night. And Manny had told me to take as much time as I needed.

Chase had arrived in the waiting area ten minutes ago. His face was puffy and it looked like his eyes wanted to close but he willed them not to. He released Beth and sauntered over to me. We were standing in the middle of our aisle by the seats.

He wiped the tears from his face and then peered up at me. “I thought we’d always had time to see her one day again.” He sighed softly. “She’s really dead, Hunter.” He dropped his head and I gave him a hug, even though he initially withdrew.

Who could blame him? I didn’t give him a hug—ever. Not when Nana had died. Not when I’d passed out at a party from snorting too much coke and almost died from an overdose and had been there to take me to the hospital. We hadn’t been there for each other most of our lives, because we hadn’t known how to when we’d lived our own lives since we were young. I slapped him on the back, again and again, until I felt his breathing begin to even out. Beth was smiling sadly at us, but it wasn’t out of pity. And when I looked down straight ahead, Mariska’s long dark hair flowed in the air. I’d wanted to talk to her after I’d found out. Beth was supportive and very understanding that I needed my space. During the limited time of reflection I’d had, I’d thought about Mariska too. Beth had somehow convinced Mariska to come here, even though her parents probably forbade her to.

Chase raised his head and moved away from me. Giving me a quick nod, he then slid his hand in Beth’s proffered one

as Mariska dropped her duffel bag. Hesitantly, she trotted toward me. My feet picked up speed and I found myself closing in on the physical distance between us. I didn’t give her time to express her sympathies. I brought her in my arms and she dove her fingers through my hair. She put her feet on top of mine, so she was closer in height to me. Surprisingly, a smile curved the corner of my lips as I devoured her mouth with my own, tangling our tongues to the point that I couldn’t see straight. My reward was her breathy moan and her other hand clutching onto my ass in a possessive grip for anyone to see. I’d gone without Mariska for days, but I hadn’t lost her. She was mine. In the way I held her gaze. In the command I had over her body. Even if she made a choice not to have me again.

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