Page 69 of My Bestie's Billionaire Dad

Ding.

My phone interrupts our conversation. I glance at the screen and my heart drops.

Seriously?

It's Hunter.

What kind of weird timing does this guy have?

My mother, catches a glimpse of my phone's display and raises an eyebrow in my direction. “Hunter Holmes?”

Caught off guard, I fumble with my words. “Yeah, he texted me.”

“Maya, answer it.”

I hesitate. The blue bubble of Hunter's message taunts me.

Is it that easy?

Can I just dive into the conversation and confront the tornado of complications that are waiting to pull me in?

“Maya. Sometimes, reaching out doesn't make you weak. It's a sign of strength. Now, answer the text.” She winks at me and I roll my eyes as I start typing to him.

Before I can change my mind, I hit send.

Hey.

25

HUNTER

The next day, I find myself at the youth club. I donate there every quarter. I usually send a check in the mail, but I'm using any excuse I can find to run into Kaitlyn these days. She spends a lot of her free time there and I miss her. She still hasn't spoken to me. I'm trying to give her space, but it's killing me.

"Hey, Hunter! Good to see you. The kids have missed their favorite benefactor,” Steve says.

I throw an arm around his shoulder. "Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint."

We talk for a while, Steve filling me in on the club's latest programs and the projects he's been working on. Then the conversation takes a turn. He's perceptive. He's seen enough kids with troubles to know when someone's got something on their mind.

"You seem a bit distracted, Hunter. Something on your mind?"

I hesitate, but Steve's a good guy.

I trust him.

"Yeah, Steve," I run a hand through my hair, looking out to where the kids are playing. "It's Maya. You know she works for me... but it got complicated. We have a personal relationship. A complicated relationship."

Steve raises an eyebrow but waits as I take a deep breath. I know I'm not making any sense.

"Maya quit. She's pregnant and I'm the father."

Well. That came out way more direct than I was aiming for.

I continue awkwardly. "She's Kaitlyn's best friend, Steve. You know that..."

Steve is remarkably calm. "I know, Hunter."

"You know?"

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