I turn to make my way towards the exit, but his next words stop me.
“That is not what I meant and you know it. You’ve always made me proud, Hunter. Hell, I know your father is smiling in heaven seeing how well you turned out, all things considered.” He lowers his voice. “Now, I know we don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. Including your future. But you and Rochelle come from completely different worlds. Do you honestly think it can last?”
“Well,” I hiss, one hand on the door, ready to make my exit. “Don’t hold your breath wishing it wouldn’t because I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it can.”
His heavy sigh is the last thing I hear as I slam the door and make my way back to the party. After everything that’s happened tonight, I desperately need to find Rochelle and get the hell out of the Hollywood Hills I’ve come to hate and the life I never want to follow.
Chapter Nineteen
Rochelle
Hunter barely says a word as we drive back to Orange County. I watch out the window as Los Angeles passes by the further we drive down the 405 to Santa Anna and wish I could read his mind. Attempting a few times to make conversation, I quickly realize the peace that comes from the silence between us is more welcome.
When we reach Huntington Beach, I look over to see him loosen his tie around his neck as he makes the turn down Edwards towards PCH. My hands wring in front of me as I watch the heavy mist roll in from the ocean and worry there is a wall starting to build between us. When he still hasn’t said a word once we reach Seapoint and start to make our descent on HWY 1 I’ve almost convinced myself of the worst.
He realized this was all a mistake.
Worse, he realized I’m a mistake.
After he grabbed me from the party, hauled me off to the car, and took off home without more than a few words, what else could I think?
The ocean comes into view as we stop at the light before turning down the highway, and I blink back tears as I try to steady my breathing and focus on the beautiful sight in front of me instead of the anxious beating of my heart.
“I’m sorry,” Hunter whispers, his hand gravitates towards mine and he stops me from worrying them together. “Rochelle, I’m so sorry.”
The light switches to green and he turns left.
Looking out the window to my right, the surf crashes against the sand and palm trees flash quickly before my eyes. I am too scared to ask, sorry for what, Hunter?
“You didn’t know what you were fully getting into,” he chuckles lightly. “I am sorry Edward felt it necessary to give you the third degree. I’m sorry, I just…” Hunter trails off and panic grabs hold of my heart from his half-finished sentence. I know I could be reading more into this, but whatever he has to say sure doesn’t feel like the makings of a happily ever after.
“You deserve better, Angel,” he whispers. Silence stretches between us. Bitterly, he hits his fist against the steering wheel once we come to a stop in front of a red light. “You deserve so much better, damn it.”
“Better than what, Hunter?” I ask, finally finding my voice even though it’s shaking. “Better than you?” I yell, “Because I didn’t think that was an option I would have to make tonight!”
My new confidence is making its presence known and I couldn’t be happier.
He turns and looks at me confused. “What…” he begins to ask, but the car behind us honks alerting us to the fact that the light is green and has been for a while. Hunter takes off suddenly, causing us both to be jolted back from the force.
Stuttering, I say, “I mean, so what if I come from nothing? So what if I come from a different world altogether than the one you were given to grow up in, but that doesn’t make me any less of a person!”
His brow furrows, his jaw tightens, his hands clinch the steering wheel until his knuckles turn white.
“Why me, Hunter? Why’d you choose me? Because damn it!” I shout, causing both of us to flinch because I hardly ever cuss. “I was fine before you came along. I was fine before you sneaked your way into my life, stole my heart, and made me begin to feel… things I never in my whole life knew I could feel.”
Hunter takes a sharp right turn into his apartment complex, and punches the code into the gate. The gates open and we sit in silence as he makes his way through and proceeds to his parking spot.
I break the silence, “I was fine being me. I was okay never knowing how the way the other half lived. I didn’t want anything to do with it. I didn’t need to be a part of it to make myself feel better about my poor upbringing. I still don’t,” I yell, making him punch the parking brake harder than expected when he comes to a stop in his spot.
He doesn’t even look at me. Doesn’t even acknowledge what I’ve said. Hunter just opens the door and starts to round the hood to my side.
A lonely whimper escapes my lips. I will my chin to stop quivering as he comes to a stop at my door. He pauses for a moment, gathering himself, before flinging the door open and offering me his hand.
I look at it for a moment, debating if I even want to take it. When I don’t, he reaches inside and clasps his large palm around my small one and yanks me from the cab. I don’t fight him as he pulls me to stand, turns, locks the truck, and begins to tug me after him.
“That girl,” I continue, as he pulls me through the apartment complex to his unit. “The one you met in the hair salon. You know, the one that will never be anything more than a ‘hair stylist.’ She was fine before you came along. She didn’t need you to save her. She always had it in her to save herself.”
We pass a few people making their way through the complex. Hunter gives them a polite nod, but quickly tugs on my hand to follow him up the steps to his place.
