“We will make other arrangements for supper.”
“But I’ll see you this weekend, right?” she asked, trying to pull me down for a kiss. I didn’t budge.
“No.”
* * *
“So,is this the sum total of your grand plan?” Garrett asked acerbically as we rode in the revamped school bus back to the Harrogate Estate. Originally built in the Gilded Age by the Harrogate industrial scions of old, it now housed my family—well, parts of my family.
“I do not want to deal with you right now.”
Garrett ignored me. “You’re going to parade increasingly obnoxious and ill-equipped women through here to, what, make Meg jealous?”
I closed my eyes and leaned against the window. “Fuck. Off.”
The kids complained that they were hungry when Remy pulled the bus up in front of the house. No one had made any food because we were going to eat at the party.
“Guess we should have stayed after all,” Garrett said, stepping off the bus. “Hunter makes a bad decision, and we’re all shocked. Shocked, I say! Come.” He motioned to our younger brothers. “I’ll order pizza.”
Fuck my life.
I had never wanted to be here in Harrogate, acting as the surrogate father to the ever-increasing number of half brothers my dad would send our way. The only saving grace of being in Harrogate was Meg. But after years of circling each other, I was still no closer to winning her back.
Archer:Mayor Barry is awake. He’s asking for you.
* * *
Meg was sitting huddledin a chair when I arrived at the regional hospital. She looked up at me. Her makeup was smeared, and her hair was a mess, but all I wanted to do was cuddle her to my chest.
“Meg,” I said, “I’m so sorry.”
She wiped her eyes.
I handed her the flowers I had picked up at the hospital gift shop on my way in.
“Peonies?” she asked. She sounded tired; there wasn’t the usual bite to her words.
“I know you always like to put your hands on my peonies and sometimes your mouth,” I joked. “Though if you want to switch it up, I can totally touch your flower petals.”
Usually that would at least earn me an eye roll. But Meg just looked at the bouquet.
I reached out and stroked her face. “Don’t worry,” I assured her. “Everything will be all right.”
“Why does he want to see you?” she asked warily.
“You always think the worst of me,” I quipped.
“Because that’s usually the safest option,” she retorted. But she took the flowers, burying her face in the blush petals.
Mayor Barry was propped up on pillows when I walked into the room.
“Hunter, my boy,” he said weakly. “Can you believe it? They won’t even let me have a snack. Or a drink.”
“Probably for the best,” I told him. “Though I’m sure you’ll be back up at the mayor’s office in no time.”
He motioned me to close the door. We were alone in the room.
“I’m not going back to the mayor’s office,” he said. “I only have a few days left.”
