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“Nothing.” He sighs. Then, gently, he places me on my wobbly legs, and my chest aches. Hunter turns his back to me and walks away.
A lump forms in my throat, and my heart feels as though it’s just been stomped on. My cheeks flush. Then, without saying a word, I quickly escape through the door. I run even though I’m not even sure where to.
When my stomach feels like it might heave up my breakfast, I stop, dry retching. The stress of this entire situation is finally destroying me piece by piece. I drop to my knees in the damp dirt. When I lift my head, my eyes connect to Nash’s headstone. I drop my head into my hands, tears filling them.
Nash’s grave holds me captive. He trusted Hunter. What if Hunter is playing his own game? Setting me up in some way, I’m not sure.
“I’m sorry, Nash. I’m doing everything wrong.” I hiccup.
The tears keep falling.
I push myself off the dirt and sit on the bench, composing myself and finding a new determination. “Tonight’s the night. I’m going to get revenge for you and the rest of our family. Thomas Wolfe will pay, and if Dad has anything to do with this, he’s going to pay as well. I’ll finish this.”
* * *
There’s an unnerving silence around the dinner table tonight. May keeps clearing her throat, and Hunter is playing with his food instead of eating it. The tension between us is so thick it’s like a fog. I don’t see a way for Hunter and me to resolve our issues anytime soon. He’s pushed me too far.
“How did the riding go today?” May asks.
“It didn’t happen,” I reply flatly, then shove another forkful of potato in my mouth.
May’s narrowed eyes fall on Hunter, her lips pursed. “What has gotten into you?”
My eyebrows shoot up. Wow, go Granny.
“What?” He grunts.
May rises from her seat. Her hand comes down to smack him across the head, and I laugh.
“Ow. What’s that for?” he shouts.
“For being a stupid male.”
“Wow, twice in one day...seems like you deserve it,” I say, and May turns to me, confusion in her eyes. “Oh, I hit him earlier,” I elaborate.
May laughs, lifting some of the tension around the table.
“More like she punched me,” he complains and gives me a look that says, “Watch May grill you.”
I simply reply, “You deserved it.”
Landon chooses the wrong moment to walk through the sliding door.
“Perhaps it should be you I’m mad at for teaching her.”
Landon stops, and all eyes are on him. May and I are smiling, and Hunter looks pissed. That little vein in his neck is protruding, making me want to laugh more.
“I’m sorry, what?” His deep voice is filled with confusion.
Hunter stands. “You teaching Aelina to hit. Or, should I say, punch?”
Landon’s eyebrows pull together, then raise with realization. A wry grin pulls across his face as he turns to me. “Did you hit him?”
I nod proudly.
“Impressive.” He grins.
“Did you need something?” Hunter asks, clearly pissed.
