"But Tinker said you just moved her out?"
He shifts on his feet. "It's complicated. There are laws I wasn't aware of that allowed her to stay in my home. I didn't even ask her to move in, she just did. But it doesn't matter. She was only there to get half the value of my house."
"Oh. I'm...that's horrible."
He shrugs. "Would have hurt worse if I loved her. My bank account got the brunt of it."
"I'm sorry you went through that."
"Is what it is."
"When I'm able to access my funds, I'll pay you back for everything."
He scrunches his face and tilts his head.
Blood pounds in my ears.
A deep line forms between his brows. "I don't care about money."
"Either way, I'll repay you. I've always made my own money. Not a gold digger," I try to joke, but it falls flat.
"Why would I think you're a gold digger?"
More uncomfortable silence.
"This is about what Tinker said, isn't it?"
"No," I lie.
"I wanted you to come to Australia. She never even crossed my mind. And it's not fair of Tinker to put you two in a comparison because you'll win every time."
My heart flutters. And that pain that we're no longer together becomes that much more intense. "I wanted to go, too."
"Why—"
"Hunter. Tinker—"
We turn toward the door. Ryker's face and arms look just as bad as Hunter's.
He stops in the doorway, mid step. "Sorry to interrupt. And I'm sorry about last night, Vanessa."
I pick up my clothes off the bed. "You're forgiven. Have you seen Julieta?"
"She's making breakfast."
"Okay." I glance quickly at Hunter then leave the room. I put on my clothes and go downstairs to the kitchen. Julieta is hovering over a griddle and has several pots and pans on the stove.
"Look at you," I tease.
She smiles. "Hey. Sleep well?"
"A bit."
She nods.
"Can I help?"
"Sure."
"What are you making?"
"Rice and beans with eggs, plantains, and grilled tortillas."
"You're so Costa Rican."
Her grin widens. "Yep."
"Did you talk to Ryker?"
Her face falls. "Not much. I spoke longer to Hunter."
"Hunter?"
"Yeah. We had a little heart-to-heart."
"How did that go?"
"Good, actually. We both apologized, and I told him how I knew about the border crossing."
"That must have been hard."
She shrugs. "It's not really fair I didn't tell him. I would think I was sketchy if I didn't know the truth."
"Are you and Ryker okay?"
Her face falls. "I don't know. We got into it."
"This morning?"
"Yeah."
"About the fight?"
"Yes."
I crack an egg in the pan. "What did he say?"
"He claims he was defending my honor."
I wince. "He was."
"Yeah, but I don't want someone beating another person in my name. If I were in physical danger, it would be one thing, but last night...well, that was barbaric."
I can't disagree with that, either. "If it makes you feel better, Ryker apologized to me."
"I'll give him a point for that." She winks and puts tortillas on the griddle. "You and Hunter good? I'm assuming he apologized for fighting, too?"
I once again put on my fake face. "We're good. He's going to make sure I get to safety."
She furrows her brows. "Why wouldn't he?"
I never told her last night.
"Oh. We...he's done with me."
Her head moves back and eyes widen. "What? What happened?"
"I messed up."
"Pretty sure whatever you did isn't as bad as that fight last night."
"He decided before the fight that he was done with me."
"So? Go fix it. He wouldn't shut up about you today, so I'm pretty sure he's still into you."
"No. He even told Tinker he was done with me."
She scoffs. "There's no way Hunter is done with you. I'm sure that whatever was said—"
"Let's just drop it. He's insisting he'll see me to safety, and I don't want to make things anymore uncomfortable for him than they have to be."
"But—"
I close my eyes. "Please. It hurts too bad to keep hashing it out."
"Okay. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. So how should we make these plantains?"
18
Hunter
When I walk into the kitchen, Vanessa and Julieta are making breakfast. The radio is on, and they're singing and swaying to the music while cooking.
I almost walk behind Vanessa and spin her around and dance, but I remind myself that I ruined that option.
I've got to get her back.
Don't make her uncomfortable. I don't want her to try and tap into her bank accounts.
Tinker's been my friend for a long time, but I'm angry at him for what he did.
He was right from the start about Ava and can make as many comments about her that he wants. I never felt about her the way I feel about Vanessa. But he put Vanessa into the same box as Ava.
Vanessa doesn't belong there.
And now, she's worried about being perceived as a gold digger. I'm afraid she might go behind my back and try to access her money to avoid dealing with me.
Just don't make her uncomfortable.
Keep it light and easy so she doesn't try to do something where Carlos can easily find her.
God, I want her back.
Why did I have to screw up so badly?
The pain I feel from the beating Ryker gave me doesn't compare to how my heart feels right now. I'd take ten of his beatings if it meant I could have Vanessa back.
"Want some coffee?" Julieta asks.
"Sure."
Vanessa turns and winces when she looks at my face. She walks over to the freezer, rearranges some items, and pulls out a bag. "Sit down."
I obey her. The delicious scent of her skin flares in my nostrils, torturing me since I can't have her anymore.
"Put your head back."
I tilt it back.
She stands over me and places a towel and then the bag on my face. "Does that hurt?"
I wince under the towel, but she can't see. "No, I'm good."
"Okay."
It feels like forever that she makes me sit with the bag of vegetables on my face, but she finally comes and removes it. "You should get some ice on your torso."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"No, really—"
"I've had bruises on that area before. You're not. You need ice."
Rage that Carlos ever laid a finger on her races through every cell of my body. I vow once again to kill him someday.
Julieta puts a plate of food in front of me. "Eat breakfast. You can ice after."