I huffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.” I was about to say something along the lines of him jumping at the chance to help Brighton, but I knew that would be a childish thing to do, and would only showcase my own unwarranted jealousy.
“I’m telling you, Arabella, I could see the longing in his eyes.”
I snapped my gaze toward her again. “You think Hunter wants a family?”
“Of course, he does,” Greer stated. “Don’t you see how he is with Ben and how he held Ciara at the hospital? I can’t imagine he wouldn’t want a family. Willa’s even said he’s mentioned it a time or two.”
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes as I turned and looked out the window.
“Arabella, I didn’t mean to say anything to hurt you.”
I nodded and sniffled. “I know. And I wouldn’t blame Hunter if he found someone and got married. It’s just…I…”
I brought my hands up to my face; I couldn’t stop the tears if I tried.
“Christ Almighty,” Greer said as she brought the car to a sudden stop. I heard her unbuckle her belt. “Arabella…oh sweetie, talk to me. Please.”
“I’m just so confused,” I said, sucking in a shaky breath. “I mean, I’m not confused more than I’m just so angry. And sad. Shit! I’m tired of being so sad! So…so…fucking tired of it.”
When Greer didn’t say anything, I looked at her. She was staring at me with her mouth open.
I sniffed and wiped my nose with my sweater. “What?” I asked in a cracked voice.
“You swore. You never swear. And not only did you swear, but you went all out with it.”
Her face was so serious, I couldn’t help it. I laughed. Then hiccupped.
“You said…fuck. And shit. I feel like I need to write this down somewhere to document it. Like, this was a big step for you.”
I dropped my head back against the seat and sighed.
“I’m sorry, honey,” Greer said as she took my hand in hers. “But Arabella…do something about it.”
“About what?”
“Being sad. Wanting to be with Hunter. Because that’s clear to everyone from the way you look at him.”
Sighing again, I slowly shook my head. “Oh God. It’s not that easy, Greer. I wish it was.”
She squeezed my hand, and I looked at her. “I’m always here if you want to talk.”
“I know.”
Greer looked away for a moment before her gaze captured mine again. “Arabella, I’ve respected your privacy for all these years…but I need to say something, and forgive me if I overstep.”
I braced myself for what she was about to say. Or ask. “Go on.”
“I don’t know why you pushed Hunter away. I suspect I might know, though I would never push you to talk about it. But neither one of you can move on from the other. Don’t you think it’s time you told him why you broke up with him?”
A tear slipped free, and I quickly wiped it away. “Do you really think I’m the reason he hasn’t settled down with anyone?”
Greer laughed, then looked contrite. “Sorry. Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. But yes, I honestly do. I think he’s tried. I think he wants to move on but can’t.”
I felt my eyes go wide.
“Wait, let me finish. I think he wants you, Arabella. But I also think you need to decide what you’re going to do, for both of your sakes.”
“What I’m going to do?”
Greer drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “I’m saying this as your best friend, okay? Not to hurt you.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“You need to tell Hunter the reason why you called things off…and let him move on with his life if you don’t want to be with him.”
My mouth fell open, but she held up her hand.
“Or, you need to admit to him and yourself that you’re still in love with him and put both of you out of the misery you’re currently living in. Either way, you have to tell him.”
I jerked my eyes away from her and looked out the window. My heartbeat thudded loudly in my ears, and I felt like I couldn’t think straight.
“Talk to him, Arabella. Tomorrow at lunch. Talk to him.”
The only thing I could do was give her a small nod.
Greer buckled up and pulled back onto the road as I stared out the passenger window, her words running through my thoughts. I knew she was right, and I knew I needed to tell Hunter the truth. The question was…could I actually do it?
Hunter
The bell above the door to The Coffee Pot dinged as I walked in. I smiled, taking in the folks seated at the bar and in the booths. I quickly saw that only two booths were still available. One was in the middle of the restaurant, which would put me and Bella front and center.
Or there was table four.
It was the booth in the corner—and the one where Kyle had done the nasty with Tess Goodman’s daughter, Maggie. Tess owned The Coffee Pot, and she’d banned Kyle for the longest time after she’d walked in and caught them having sex in the restaurant. It had only been a few years since she’d finally started letting Kyle back in.
“Fuck,” I mumbled and made my way to the corner booth, also known as the dreaded table four.
“Hey, Hunter, want your normal?” Tess asked, walking up behind me.
I stood in front of the booth and tried to determine if the privacy Bella and I needed was actually worth sitting at this table.
Tess stared at me with her head slightly tilted. “What’s the matter?”
I shook off my concern, smiled, and slid into the booth so that I was facing the front door. “Nothing. I’ll just have a water for right now. I’m waiting on Arabella to join me.”
Tess’s eyes went wide. “Arabella is joining you for lunch?”
“She is.”
“That explains the corner booth—you two can have a little privacy.” She winked and I felt my cheeks blush “I’ll go get your water and then come back when Arabella gets here.”
“Thanks, Tess. She won’t be here until eleven thirty.”
“Sounds good,” Tess said before heading back over to the counter.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket, half expecting to see a message from Bella saying she wouldn’t be able to make it today.
When there wasn’t a message, I smiled.
The bell above the door dinged, and I glanced up to see Brighton walk in. She quickly scanned the place, and then did a double take when she saw me. She flashed me a smile and made her way over.
“Hey, fancy meeting you here! Mind if I join you?”
I looked at the entrance, then back at Brighton. “Actually, Brighton, I’m meeting Bella for lunch.”
A wide grin appeared across her face. “About damn time. Have you two worked things out?”
“No, not exactly. She agreed to have lunch with me today, so I’m taking that as a good sign.”
Brighton nodded. “Listen, I’ve been meaning to ask if you and Kyle might be able to help me move a few things from Boston the next time you both have a day off—if you ever have one off at the same time.”
I nodded. “We both have next Tuesday off. We could help then.”