I already knew a lot about Hunter, but my craving to learn more grew stronger with each day we spent together. I looped some of my hair behind my ear.
“Did you have a girlfriend before you moved here?”
“Yes.” Hunter lifted a pot full of water; his biceps bulged, forearm muscles tensed. He carried it to the fire pit. Hunter had remarkable arms. And ass too. I looked down at my flip-flops before he could notice my prurient watch.
I wanted him to elaborate. But he picked up the next knife and started sharpening it. I stared at him until he caught my eye.
A shy smile pulled at his lips. “You look like you have questions.”
About a million of them. “What happened?”
“We met at the bar where I was celebrating my twenty-third birthday. Dated for about three years. I got laid off and couldn’t find a job in finance, so I worked two jobs to support us. Jolie was busy with medical school, and when Edward offered good money, I thought, why not do it for half a year and then come back. Jolie wasn’t happy about it at first, but then I convinced her that extra cash would benefit us since we both had huge student loans. She was okay with me leaving to work with Edward.” He concentrated on the stone and blade. “And then I really liked it here. I liked the people and life in Rarotonga and the weather. I called Jolie and tried to persuade her to move here.” He chuckled. “That didn’t go well. She said no. I took a few weeks to think about it, and when I decided I had to return to her, she told me she had met someone else. And that was that.” His voice was without melancholy. Did he regret coming to help Edward?
“Did she meet that someone else after you asked her to move here or…?”
His eyebrows went up like he’d never thought of that. “I don’t know, and it really didn’t matter. Jolie was done with me. She’s married now.” I could detect some pain in the last statement.
“How do you know?”
“I saw it on Instagram.”
“You have an Instagram account?” I couldn’t picture Hunter as a guy who would post or follow anyone on social media.
“Of course I do. Who doesn’t?”
“Castaways who live on a deserted island, that’s who. Actually, I can see it being a huge success.” I dramatically raised my hands, palms out like I had a vision. “Half-naked, hunky single man living on a tropical island with two cats doing manly things every day. Millions of followers. I can see cat food and Speedo sponsorships.” Why did my mind right away have to go to teeny-weeny bikinis? I could have mentioned a sunscreen brand.
He playfully rolled his eyes. “It is not my personal account. It’s for my business. You’d be surprised how many bookings Edward and I got through it.”
“So, you social media stalked her?”
“No. Two years ago, she reached out just to say hi.”
Illogical jealousy seized me like an octopus gripping its prey. I bet Jolie did it to rub it in. Or maybe she was still pining for Hunter. Why was I thinking about all of this? I shouldn’t care. I was too much of a damsel in distress for Hunter to be interested in me. Yet, I wished I had my phone—and electricity, and the internet—so I could check out what she looked like.
“Are you talking to her?”Please say no.
“I didn’t reply to her.”
“Good,” I blurted, too fast and way too pleased. “I mean, it’s good that you moved on and started dating others. Right?”
I didn’t need to know that bit of information. Of course not. I was trying to be polite and show my concern about his well-being and nothing else. No hidden subtext—just plain politeness. And yet, I held my breath, waiting for his answer.
“I dated some.” At that point, our eyes connected. Hunter’s face relaxed, and his features faded to thoughtfulness, then something complicated. “I’m still looking fortheone.”
I wished he would smile because his stare was downright intimidating and unapologetic, a mix of emotions of primal possession and tenderness. And it stirred an involuntary throb in me that was now in need of satisfaction.
“Are you a hopeless romantic?” I asked.
“Are you not?” he countered.
I scoffed. “Probably not. Love brings pain. People divorce you or die. In the end, you are left with a broken heart.”
“A wise man or woman, I’m unsure, said, knowing both love and loss is what makes humans alive. Without love, there is no meaning in life.”
The way he grasped my gaze sent waves of anticipation through me. When was the last time I felt like this? It wasn’t wise to start something with Hunter. We were roommates, island-mates, and it should stay like that. Uncomplicated. But a match had been struck in my lower core, and that was a borderline dangerous feeling.
I had to find a question that would put us back in a fun and playful mood, and away from thoughts that had no business existing in my head. We’d started the “get to know you better” game, and I had to come up with a better question to get to know Hunter on a deeper level. A million questions, like a school of fish, all scared in different directions when I tried to pick one.
