I couldn’t believe I’d actually hurt him.
I regretted my hasty words. He didn’t deserve that.
I had to talk to him so he knew where I was coming from. Once I explained to him my feelings and thoughts on why I didn’t want to pursue a romantic relationship, he’d understand. He wouldn’t fault me for it, right?
I hoped everything could go back to normal once he heard me out.
Since he hadn’t responded to my texts, I hadn’t expected him to come pick me up today. Therefore, Oscar drove me to school. But my guilt grew tenfold when I realized Hunter didn’t show up to our Monday morning Horror & Cult Classic Cinema class.
I missed him.
I missed him so much that it felt like a limb had been wrenched out of me and now I was aching, bruised, and bleeding all over.
I missed his easy smiles, his husky chuckles, and his princely demeanour. I missed the way he’d wrap me up in a big hug that felt like a warm awning in a torrential downpour—safe, secure, and sheltering. I missed the way we could talk about anything and everything under the sun, our easy camaraderie feeling like something I’d been needing all my life without realizing it.
And now I lost it.
Panic sweltered in my frame.No. No. No.I was going to fix this. One way or another. I couldn’t lose Hunter. And if I had to show contrition for my mistake and spend time making amends, then I would do so.
I was willing to pay any price to keep him in my life.
“Gabriela, I asked you to dice the onions. Not…butcher them.”
Mamma’s voice yanked me out of my daze. I stared down at the cutting board in horror. I’d gotten carried away with my knife. The onions were chopped into various cuts, far fromuniform and ranging from strips to mince. I winced. “Sorry, Mamma.”
She rubbed a hand down my back. “Are you okay?”
My brows furrowed as I grabbed another onion from the basket and started chopping again, making sure to dice it properly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’ve been pensive for the last few days.” She stirred the pot on the stove next to me. We were making dinner together. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that a certain boy didn’t come to pick you up this morning. Did something happen between you and Hunter?”
I had the tendency to share a lot of things with Mamma, treating her like a confidante and telling her about all my crushes growing up.
Though for some reason, I remained tight-lipped regarding Hunter, sharing nothing beyond the fact that we were friends and he was doing me a solid by picking and dropping me back home during this difficult period. Papà discreetly ran a background check on Hunter and begrudgingly approved of him. And Mamma finally introduced herself to Hunter last week, catching up to us before I could convince him to speed out of the driveway. Of course he charmed her and she practically swooned. Like mother, like daughter, I guessed.
Now she also approved of Hunter and spent her free time pestering me for details about our relationship. If I chose to date again, she’d want me to pick a guy like him.
Shaking my head, I tossed the onions into a pan with olive oil. “I think I hurt him.”
“In what way?”
“Remember when I texted you and Papà on Friday night that I was with Hunter?”
“Yes.”
“Well…he planned a romantic night for us.”
Shocked, she demanded a rundown. Sparing her the scandalous details of our hookup, I relayed the rest, including the part where Anna and Layla bulldozed through our date at the end.
Mamma laughed while simultaneously tutting at their antics. “You have good friends, Gabby. I’m proud to know those girls would go through hell and back for you. ButDio mio, I cannot believe that sweet boy got hurt. At least he was okay afterwards.”
When she noticed I remained quiet, partly from shame and partly because even talking about Hunter brought a pang to my chest, she squeezed my shoulder affectionately.
“Here’s the thing,” she said. “While your relationship with Hunter has been morphing, you’ve been toeing this line between friends and lovers. Never having discussed being more, I don’t fault you for telling everyone that you are just friends. Your reaction was valid. So was Hunter’s. Sometimes, we say things we don’t mean in the spur of the moment and regret them later.” She shrugged. “And it’s okay because we’re humans. Mistakes happen. But now I suggest you talk to him honestly, Gabriela. He’ll understand your point of view.” An impish smile curled her lips. “Plus, I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you. He’s so smitten, it’s adorable. I promise you he’ll stop whatever he’s doing for the sake of hearing you out. Chances are, he’s hurt and tucked himself in a corner, waiting for you to reach out to him. Communication is the foundation of all strong relationships. Remember that.”
Mamma was right, except… “That’s the problem. Hunter hasn’t opened any of my texts. He didn’t even show up to our class today. How do I talk to him if he’s not responding to me?”
Her expression fell for a split second before resolve stamped on her face. She went back to stirring the pot, thinking. “He still lives in the apartment across from yours, right?”
