The sight of her like this does something ugly to my chest. I place the water bottles on the trunk of her car and crouch down next to her.
“Hey.”
“Go away, Hunter. Just leave me be,” she mumbles through her arms, voice thick with tears.
I exhale slowly, trying to keep my patience in check.I don’t know how to fix this, but I sure as hell can’t walk away.
I reach out and gently pull her arms from her face, needing to see her. She resists, turning away from me like she’s trying to disappear completely, and something about that—about her—makes my frustration spike.“Will you just look at me for a second, please?”
She finally relents, lifting her head just enough for our eyes to meet.. And Jesus Christ, the sadness there grips me like a vise.“Don’t listen to her.”
She lets out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Why not? It’s the truth, isn’t it? I’m just a pathetic, useless waste of space—a fat pig who take up too much space..” She wipes her eyes.
Rage burns hot in my veins. Not at her—never at her. But at whoever the fuck made her believe this shit.
“That isn’t true at all.”
She rips her arm from my grip. “What the hell would you know? You and your perfectly fit fucking body. You barely even know me, Hunter. Just leave me be.”
Her words sting more than I want to admit. Not because they’re harsh, but because I know what it’s like to believe you’re nothing. To carry the weight of every cruel thing ever said about you like it carved into your skin.
I drag a hand down my beard and stand slowly, forcing myself to back off. I cant force her to see what I do. I can't make her believe she’s not worthless. I will have to show her and that is what I intend to do even if it takes me the rest of my days.
“Fine.” I whisper. “Clearly, you need some space for now. I’ll go give Charlie her water.”
“Thanks,” she mutters, her voice hollow. It takes everything in me not to turn back.
It breaks my heart to see her like this. She shouldn’t feel like she’s nothing when she lights up a whole damn room just by smiling.
I spot Charlie hiding behind a tree as she plays hide and seek with the other kids. “Charlie!” I call to her. She spots me with a smile and rushes over to me.
“Hey, Mr. Hunter.”
I rub the top of her head. “Here little one, drink this.” I hold out the bottle of water to her.
She scrunches her nose and shakes her head. “Water is gross.”
I chuckle. “It may be gross, but it’s good for you.” I rub her rosy cheeks. “And these cheeks of yours state that you need some water if you are going to continue running around outside playing.”
She looks over her shoulder at the other kids running around and laughing and then back at me and the water. “Fine,” she grumbles, taking the bottle from me and running off.
At least I was able to do one thing right tonight.
Chapter 32
Blake
Why does Hunter give me the time of day?
Especially when a woman like Candace is throwing herself at him. She’s everything I’m not—slim, beautiful, confident. The kind of woman men actually want.
And then there’s me.
Just me.
A fat bitch.
Craig’s voice slithers through my head, the insults he’s thrown at me over the years looping like a broken record.Lazy. Disgusting. Unwanted.Words that have dug themselves so deep into my mind I don't ever think I will scrape them out.
