When we got to the church, he was still nowhere to be found. I couldn’t believe he would do that to my parents, aftereverything they had done for him. He was just as much part of our family as I was. However, he couldn’t even have the decency to turn up to his best friend’s funeral.
We needed him here. I needed him here. I could never forgive him for doing this to me. Any love I had felt for that man was now gone.
It didn’t matterhow long it took me, I would walk to another house. I couldn’t spend even a minute with this man. I hated him. He had betrayed every memory I had of him on that day. I could feel the hurt and anger brewing inside me again.
As the tears started to fall, burning my freezing cold face, I made a decision instantly and turned to leave him standing there alone. However, as soon as I went to move, he grabbed hold of my arm.
“Emmy, where are you going? It’s freezing out here, and the next house is miles away. You will never make it in this weather.”
I spun around and watched as he took a step back, seeing the anger in my face.
“I’m getting as far away from you as possible, Hunter. I swore I would never have anything to do with you again. That includes you rescuing me from my current situation. I don’t need you. When I did, you weren’t there for me.”
I was struggling to keep myself under control, but I knew I wouldn’t make it out here on my own, especially in these clothes. I was already soaked through and probably close to hyperthermia.
None of that mattered, though. I just needed to get away from him and back to my car.
“Ember, please. What would your parents think of me if I let you carry on in this weather? Just come in and warm up. I’ll call your mum and dad so they know you are safe.”
“You think they would even bother to answer you?”
“Yes. I went to see them this morning to make sure they had everything they needed for the storm, so I’m sure they will speak to me. Don’t be stupid, Ember. Even if you hate me that much, please just let me help you this once. Even if it’s for the sake of your parents.”
I knew he was right. I was being stupid thinking I would make it on foot.
How had this turned out to be the worst day of my life?
As I stood there shivering, I felt his arm come around me. His warmth slowly seeped into my body. I had once craved this feeling, but now it felt so foreign to me.
His voice was no longer harsh or argumentative as he spoke again. “Come on. Let’s get you warmed up inside.”
I was struggling because I could hardly feel my feet, but Hunter guided me with each step I took. As soon as we got into his house, he took my coat and then helped me upstairs and into one of the bedrooms.
“The bathroom is in there, and there are towels you can use. Have a long, hot shower to warm up. I’ll leave you something to put on in here, and then I’ll call your parents and make you something hot to eat, as I’m sure you haven’t eaten yet this evening.”
It had been years since anyone had cared for me the way Hunter was right now. It was as though I had gone back to happier times before everything happened.
“Thank you.” My voice was almost a whisper.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss onto my head. “It’s no problem, Emmy.”
With that, he walked out of the bedroom, and I quickly went into the bathroom, undressed, and got into the shower. I allowed the hot water to seep into me, slowly warming me up. All the time, though, tears were pouring down my face.
I just needed to get through the next couple of hours. Then I could get to my parents’ house and try to put this horrible day behind me.
CHAPTER 4
Hunter
I couldn’t believethat Ember was here in my home.
Something was wrong, I could tell. It wasn’t just because she had broken down and ended up at my house. It was more than that. I knew she wouldn’t have travelled from her house to visit her parents in this weather under normal circumstances.
At least she had allowed me to get her into the house to warm up. The problem was, looking at the weather out there, I wouldn’t be taking her home anytime soon. Even I didn’t want to head out on a snowmobile, knowing it was over thirty minutes to get to Bryan and Lily’s. However, I would broach that subject once we had eaten. I needed to make sure she was safe and warm before anything else.
I picked up my phone and dialled her parents’ number.
“Hunter. Is everything okay?” Bryan asked.
