Too Much to Lose by Holt Samantha

Author:Holt, Samantha [Holt, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2014-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Jess

When Hunter doesn’t turn up to meet me after work, my stomach bunches. Has something happened? Is he hurt? Today was uneventful. No messages, not even any strange phone calls. I’m beginning to believe this crazy person has lost interest. Maybe Hunter has too but that doesn’t sit right. Mitch couldn’t be here today so Hunter left me with the usual warnings. Be careful, don’t go anywhere alone. So why am I alone now?

I tug my phone out of my bag and skim down to Hunter’s number. My thumb shakes as I press call. I’d spent all day looking forward to seeing him and wondering if he felt the same. It feels so natural to be around him, even with everything I’m hiding, because although I’m keeping my past from him, I’m aware he sees through me. He might not understand what I’ve been through but I have this feeling he knows me. If anyone gets my determination to create a better life for myself it’s Hunter. His mother did the same for him.

The phone rings and goes to answer phone. I scan the street and search for his bike or car but there’s no sign. I try calling him again but it goes to voicemail once more. Worry threads tightly through me, makes my skin hot. Something has to have happened to him. Hunter is never late. From what I’ve learned of him, I don’t think he knows how to be. He’s so meticulous and in control.

I try again. If I don’t get through to him this time, I’ll get the tube to his place and leave him a voicemail. A click. I hold my breath.

A gruff voice. “Yeah?”

“Hunter?” His sharp tone throws me off.

“What?”

“Are you picking me up from work today?” How needy do I sound? I cringe.

I hear him sigh. “Look… you’re going to have to find your own way home.”

“Okay… where are you?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he snaps. “Perhaps you should just go back to your place, Jess.”

My heart constricts. “Hunter, what’s going on?”

“Nothing. Just… just go home.”

“I thought you said I was in danger. I’ve been looking over my shoulder every two minutes because of you. What’s changed?”

“I was wrong, I guess. Nothing else has happened, has it? It’s time you went home.” He sounds sullen.

“What about my stuff?”

“I’ll have Mitch bring it over. In fact—”I hear him swear softly “—just wait there. I’ll send him to get you.”

“Why? What aren’t you telling me?”

I search the previous day for clues, explore his words for an idea as to why he’s dismissing me. Is it our growing closeness? God knows, I was on the verge of something. I’m not sure what. Believing there was a chance for us, perhaps, no matter how ridiculous it sounds. And if anyone was interested, it was Hunter. I was the one fighting him off, not the other way around. So why the sudden change?

“This was a big fucking mistake, Jess. Wait for Mitch.”

Tears blur my vision. Traffic passes by, a haze of colours, and my throat hurts.

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