“I can’t be here right now, Sam.” I stalked toward the front door, grabbing by bag from the bench in the entryway.
“Wait, London! Please, don’t go.”
I swung the door open, ignoring his plea. “I’ll be back later. If you need anything, call your buddy, Hunter. I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about anyway.”
Sam
I DIALED HIS number, knowing a shit storm was headed my way.
It was time to man up.
I owed it to London to do everything in my power to fix this. I was not about to lose her—not again. Not when I finally knew what it was like to have her for my own.
Hunter might be back, but he was still a fuckup. He was undeserving, a lost cause.
I didn’t care what kind of bullshit he fed London. He wasn’t back for her—at least that wasn’t the only reason he was back. He was back because he and Memphis were in over their heads and they needed to pay up before they found themselves buried in some desert in Nevada. Those assholes needed money and they also needed a place to hide until they came up with the almost fifty thousand dollars they owed their bookies.
It was a mess. I had no idea when or how this would go away, but I had to start at the source and I had to prove myself to London.
“I’ve been wondering when you’d call,” Hunter barked into the phone.
“Well, you can stop wondering.”
“What do you want, asshole?”
“If I give you an address, can you be here in twenty? Alone.”
“An address to where?”
I thought carefully before telling him the truth and simply said, “My house.”
He grunted in response. I had to give him credit for keeping his rage down to a simmer. “Text me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
At that, he hung up and I mentally prepared myself for the wrath of Hunter Thompson. I deserved everything I had coming to me, and I’d withstand every bit of it if meant London was still mine when this was all over.
Right on time, Hunter showed up at the house, banging his fists against the front door.
“It’s open,” I called out from the couch, knowing London had left it unlocked.
I hadn’t seen Hunter in a long time—since before my transfer to China, since their divorce and my apparent betrayal. Seeing him now conjured up old regrets and past disappointments that at one time drove me to the edge of insanity. But above all else, I almost felt pity for the poor bastard. He looked like shit, as though he hadn’t showered in days or seen the inside of a barber shop for at least six months. What he looked like was a man who’d lost the love of his life.
It was obvious I’d never truly liked the guy. How could I? He was married to the woman I loved. He had the one thing I wanted and couldn’t have. To say I was green with envy wasn’t nearly an accurate depiction of my feelings toward the guy. I was so jealous of him for having London all those years that it was most often painful even to be in his presence.
Be that as it may, when I promised him I’d watch over his wife, I never intended on stealing her for myself. I tried to go through with the original plan, but then London met Bryce. Believe it or not, he was the catalyst for London and me ending up together. Had she not started dating him, I would’ve never felt the need to swoop in and rescue her. Had London stayed single a little while longer, I might still only be her best friend. In a funny way, I had Bryce to thank for where London and I were today. But the fact still remained that I did the unthinkable and went after a woman who wasn’t mine to chase.
“Hello?” Hunter called as he entered the house.
“In here,” I called back, hoping he would follow my voice to the living room.
“You piece of shit, you’re lucky you just had surgery or I’d kick your fucking ass.”
Fresh out of the hospital or not, I wasn’t one to back down from a fight. “If I were you I’d watch your tone.”
“Why?” He stormed closer. “I have nothing left to lose. What’s stopping me from killing you for what you did, huh? Did you think I wouldn’t find out? I told you I was coming back.”
“You told me you were coming back when it was safe, with this shit behind you. You didn’t honor the terms of our agreement.”
That got a visible rise out of him. “Shut the fuck up, asshole. You’re one to talk about honoring an agreement. How could you, man? What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I was thinking you let her go and she was miserable and then she met—Did she even tell you about Bryce? Her boyfriend?”
“What the hell are you talk—” He shook his head and started to pace. “You’re a fucking liar.”
“Oh, but I wish I were. While both of us were away, she moved on, Hunter. She started a relationship with one of Ella’s doctors, who also happened to be a certified nutcase. And if I hadn’t come back when I did, if I hadn’t finally told her how I felt about her—who knows what would have happened. We might’ve been too late. He was a sick, twisted man. I fucking saved her from him, and if you ask me—I saved her from you, too!”
“No! You stole her from me! It was a dick move, a knife in the fucking back. You pounced when she was at her weakest, and guess what? She chose you by default. Because you were there and I wasn’t. I don’t know who this Bryce dude is, but you were her best friend. She’s always put your opinion on the highest fucking pedestal, like you’re a god or something. You knew that and you used it to your advantage. But give me time, man. Give me time and you’ll see that she doesn’t really want you, she just chose you out of convenience.”
I pulled my shoulders back and launched to my feet, ignoring the pain of standing too quickly. “Is that why she moved in with me? Why she started a new life with me? Look around, asshole. This is your wife’s new home. With me. She loves me. She’s moved on. If you hadn’t come back, she would’ve forgotten about you for good.”
“You fucking asshole!” He lunged forward, baring his teeth, balling his fists.
I closed my eyes to ready myself for the blow, but nothing came. I reopened them to find Hunter with his head in his hands, his shoulders slumped forward. “What the fuck have I done? How could I let this happen?”
Hunter didn’t deserve an ounce of my empathy. When you’re lucky enough to be with a woman like London, you don’t risk losing her for anything. You treat her like the queen she is; you worship the air she breathes. But because I knew all too well that I could lose her too, I understood his desperation. Because I’d fucked up, too, I feared facing the exact same pain.
I was about to tell him this, but then he sprung forward and shoved me back down on the couch.
“Fuck!” I bit down on my bottom lip to trick my mind into relocating the throb of my surgery wound. Melting into the couch cushions and squeezing my eyes shut, I inhaled and exhaled slowly to manage the pain.
Hunter hovered over me, his eyes full of hate. “This isn’t over. I’m not fucking done with you.”
He turned to leave just as the door swung open and London reappeared.
Fuck. This isn’t gonna be good.
“Hunter? What are you—?” She looked past him and caught sight of me on the couch. Fear marred her tear stained face the moment she recognized my pain.
“Oh, my God! What did you do? Did you hurt him? Sam! Are you okay?”
She ran over to me, pushing past Hunter. Her hands could not move fast enough as they appraised me. “Should I call Doctor Bronson? Your stitches . . . are you . . .”
“London, shhh,” I tried to lull her, reaching out to stop her hands from roaming frantically. “I’m okay. Calm down.”
“But . . . you’re . . . he’s . . .”
“It’s not how it looks. He didn’t do anything, babe.” If I were really the opportunistic asshole Hunter made me out to be I could paint a pretty incriminating picture right now. I could lie, tell London he attacked me, and milk this to my advantage. But I was done deceiving her. I knew better now. Even if it meant I might lose her in the end.
That was the kind of man I was. Nothing like Hunter, and certainly nothing like Bryce. Good prevailed, that was what they always said. I was the good guy.
I would just have to prove that to London . . . again.
Luckily for me, Hunter was about to prove that for me.
He must’ve noticed the change in the manner London reacted toward me, the way we were together. Maybe it was her genuine concern for me. Maybe it was that I freely called her babe out of habit. Whatever it was, something set Hunter off and a look I knew all too well—jealous rage—flashed across his face as he began to lash out.
“So, is this how it is? You two are playing house now?”
I held my breath as he got closer to her, ready to split my stiches if close became too close.
London blinked rapidly, composing herself. She seemed calm, but I could tell by the slight tremble in her lower lip that she was anything but.
This couldn’t be easy for her. She’d already been through so much and now she was smack dab in the middle of another mess fit for one of Ella’s soap operas. I wouldn’t put it past her to tell all of us to fuck off. In fact, I feared that was about to happen. A person could only take so much before they either fell apart or removed themselves from the drama. My girl was a fighter; she’d become too strong to let this bring her down again.
She wouldn’t crack . . . but she might run.
“You have no right, Hunter. None of this would have happened if you hadn’t lied to me about your reason for wanting the divorce. Hell, we wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t gotten mixed up with your gambling in the first place. I told you before and I’ll tell you a million times to make it sink in . . . This is not my fault. I did what I thought you wanted. I had no idea what you were up to. I’m not guilty of anything but living my life!”
The corner of Hunter’s mouth ticked up into a crooked grin as he laughed through his nose. “I guess living your life means sleeping around. First, that Bryce guy and now him! And then . . . me. Did you tell him about our kiss yet?”
London’s complexion turned ten shades lighter. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes glistened with tears.
“Shut your fucking mouth!” I spat. I tried to push up to my feet, but shooting pain burst through the spot of my incision and I was forced to stay put. I was a failure, unable to defend London the way I wanted to, the way she deserved.
And Hunter was quick to keep me in my place. “Don’t tell me how to talk to my wife!”
“You know what?” London tossed her hands in the air and sliced through the tension with an agonized scream. “I am fucking done with this! I can’t do this right now. I can’t stand the sight of either of you.”
She wouldn’t crack, but she might run. She was gonna run. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t lose her.
“London, please,” I begged. “Please don’t go. I need you.” I hated how that sounded, but it was true. I could barely get off the couch, but that wasn’t the only reason I needed her to stay.
“I’ll call your mother. She’ll have no problem staying here to help you recover.”
“No, babe. That’s not what I meant.”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t be here. I don’t want to be here.”
“Where are you going?” Hunter asked, exasperated.
“Like I’d tell either of you.” She forced a laugh. “I need to be alone. Maybe that’s what I’ve needed all along. I’ve spent my whole life depending on a man. I’m twenty-six years old. I’m still young. Maybe it’s time I put myself first instead of letting a bunch of egotistical liars fill my head with bullshit!”
“London, you can’t go. Not now.” Hunter sounded as desperate as I felt.
“Why?” she shouted again. “Why should I stay? The two of you created this mess without me, you can fix it without me—or kill each other while you try, for all I care. Don’t chase me, don’t call me. Just leave me the fuck alone until I can clear my goddamn head.”
She didn’t pack a bag. She didn’t say good-bye. She left without saying I love you, or telling me when or if she planned to return.
The ache in my heart burned hotter than the sting of my wound, and the sight of Hunter in my home ignited the rest of my body in flames.
“Call Memphis. Figure this shit out without so much of a mention of London’s name, and then get the fuck out of here. For good this time.”
Once again, Hunter’s head fell into his hands. He released a string of muffled curses and then tugged at his overgrown hair until I thought he might pull it out of his scalp.
“That’s the thing, Sam. We’re out of options. We don’t know how to figure it out this time.”
London
MY CHILDHOOD WAS a happy one.
My mother gave me everything a little girl could ask for. And not in the way some parents spoiled their children with materialistic things or by letting them do whatever they want. I was spoiled in a different way. With love and respect.
As a single mother, Mom never once allowed me to feel I was missing out because I didn’t have a father. She made up for his absence effortlessly, never letting on that she struggled with taking on the role of both parents.
My childhood was perfect, and childhood bled into adolescence and adulthood, which were equally as perfect.
I didn’t have a million friends, but I had the best friends. I didn’t have a fancy vacation home or a brand new car or a trust fund, but I had everything I wanted. And because of that . . . I was always happy.
Even when Hunter and I started having money problems . . . I was happy. We had each other, and that was what mattered most to me. I had a strong support system in Mom, Sam, Allie and Emilia. We had highs and lows, but it never got me down.
I was happy, until the night I discovered Hunter and I were losing our house because of his gambling. I recalled that single moment as the first moment my happiness was ripped away from me. And as luck would have it, from that moment on, happiness seemed harder and harder to come by. My mother’s health declined, Sam moved to China, Hunter asked for the divorce, and then I met Bryce.
Of course, my happiness with him was short lived, a false alarm, because of what eventually unfurled. But then everything happened with Sam and I truly, whole-heartedly believed that the untainted, pure and honest happiness I’d felt for the majority of my life was back . . . for good.
Guess you were wrong, I admonished myself through a curtain of fresh tears.
I drove mindlessly, as if I was searching for something that couldn’t be found. I was lost, at an inconceivable crossroads. And I was so unhappy, it was laughable.
A year and a half ago, if you asked anyone to describe me, I was sure they would mention something about my bubbly personality or the bright smile I often wore as my favorite accessory.
Now, I feared if you asked those same people that same question, their impression of me would be gravely different.
This was not how I wanted to be seen. This was not how I wanted to feel. I’d managed to remove Bryce from the equation, and now I needed to get away from the two people responsible for my new state of constant unhappiness.
The beach was no refuge—they always seemed to find me there. Emilia was on vacation with her family and Allie had taken on the brunt of my issues too many times to count. I needed to escape to a place where no one could find me, where I could be alone with my thoughts until I knew what I wanted. Or who I wanted.
But first, I had to see my mother. She had a little while longer before she could come home. The coma set her back and she needed to be monitored closely to detect any immediate sign of rejection. I knew she would be in good hands with Henry if I decided to leave for a day or two, but guilt hung heavy in my chest as I considered abandoning her because I couldn’t get my own shit together. She’d never let me down, she was always there for me, and here I was about to hit the ground running when she needed me most.
Maybe if I talked to her everything would become clear. Maybe I wouldn’t ha
ve to run away after all. Mom always had the answers; this would be no different. Sometimes all you needed was some clarity from a person on the outside looking in. She just might have the answers I’d been searching for.
But as I pulled up to the hospital, I imagined I was no better than Hunter for betting everything I had on this one final hope. It was desperate and foolish, but were there any other options? None that I could think of.
I turned off my phone, not even looking to see if anyone had tried to contact me in the last half hour. Once on Mom’s floor, I bee-lined it to her room, waving to the nurses, and keeping my mounting emotions at bay.
Her eyes instantly brightened at the sight of me. “Well, this is a nice surprise. What are you doing here?”
I fought the urge to collapse into her arms and cry like a baby for her mommy’s comfort. “Can’t a girl just want to see her mama?” I couldn’t hide the way my voice cracked, and Mom took notice right away.
She scooted up in the bed and coiled her finger as a gesture for me to come closer. “Hey, what’s the matter? Is everything okay with Sam?”
I shook my head and blinked away the tears. “I’m not sure, Mom. I’m not sure of anything anymore.” That alone felt like a weight off my chest, but it wasn’t nearly the relief I craved. This kind of weight was a massive burden. I’d need one of those commercial grade mobile cranes to lift this heaviness away for good.
“Oh, no, baby, what happened?”
It was clear she was in the dark about Memphis and Hunter. Part of me found it hard to believe that my brother was back and still hadn’t been here to visit with our mother. Actually, the more I thought about it, it wasn’t that hard to believe. Sam had probably warned him to stay away from her as not to stress her out, and Memphis was still the same selfish prick he’d always been.
I didn’t want to upset my mother, but I thought it best that the news of Memphis’s return—and the reasoning behind it—come from me. So, I told her what I knew and prayed she was strong enough to take it.
“Where is he?” she asked, casting her eyes past me, as if he would walk through the door on cue.
Take My Breath Away (The Every Breath Duet Book 2) Page 13
