Page 49 of Baby, It’s You (Clairesville #1)

Olive

Two weeks later

I feel like I have been living in a blur recently, going through the motions every day but feeling nothing.

I am completely numb to everything around me.

The bar was closed for a few days after Jane’s passing.

I couldn’t bring myself to work and Tripp surprisingly didn’t bother me or Rob about going in.

We had a small funeral for Jane last Tuesday morning.

She was laid to rest next to Seymour, just like she wanted.

Tripp was there, but left as soon as the memorial was over.

He didn’t acknowledge anyone. Hunter stood next to me the whole time.

As I watched her coffin lower into the earth, his hand kept me from collapsing. But still, I felt nothing.

Hunter has visited me every single day since the moment he found out that she passed away, just like he said he would.

I kept my promise to him, letting him be here for me, knowing he is trying to help me.

That doesn’t change how broken I am inside, though.

I can’t describe this type of loss. I don’t want to eat and I spend every moment that I’m not working asleep.

Hunter doesn’t say anything; he just brings me a meal each day and hangs out on the couch while I sleep. I can tell that he is worried about me.

Two days ago, Hunter told me that we reached the million-dollar goal so I can now buy the bar.

I felt nothing when he told me. I know I should be thanking him, but I just can’t seem to voice it.

I need to talk to Tripp, but I’ve been trying to get my head on straight before I approach him.

I feel so much anger towards him; it’s the only emotion I can muster right now.

I also know that isn’t going to help convince him to sell Whiskey’s to me.

So, I need to be rational and handle the conversation in a professional manner.

Today I will do it. I can’t wait any longer, knowing he is going under contract any day now with B Hunter has done everything that he can to help me since he’s met me, and I have nothing to give him.

This makes me feel angry and I hate it. Why can’t he just let me suffer?

Why does he keep showing up? He won’t let me be miserable, which is how I should feel after losing someone that I love more than anything.

I grow angrier as I click to the next song and then the next.

Each song pours his heart out to me, and I feel the shell I have built around myself, the hardened exterior I’ve created these past few weeks, cracking.

I slam my hand into the power button on my stereo, clicking the music off.

I can’t handle this right now. I need to stay numb while I talk to Tripp, so whatever answer he gives will just bounce off me.

When I get to Whiskey’s, the first few hours of my shift are easy.

Just a few regulars and Rob are here. No Tripp in sight.

I glance at the clock and see it’s close to 1:30 P.M. and I know Hunter will be dropping food to me soon.

He waits till the lunch crowd is done because he wants to make sure I actually eat what he brings me.

That I don’t use being busy as an excuse to not feed myself.

I can tell I’ve lost weight recently—my uniform hangs on me in a way it didn’t before—but food tastes like dirt when I force myself to eat. The death diet.

Five minutes later, Hunter walks through the entrance and holds up a bag from Smiley Sushi. Of course he picked up my favorite food. He had to drive at least thirty minutes to grab it, too. I give him a small wave as he strolls over, smiling wide, like he does every time he sees me.

“Hey, Olive, hope you’re in the mood for cheeseburgers,” he jokes as he hands the paper bag to me.

I open it up, deeply inhaling the scent of miso soup and tempura rolls.

My mouth waters and I decide I will have a few bites.

I look back up at Hunter and tell him a faint thank you .

The relief on his face when I take a bite makes me feel even worse inside.

Why does he care so much about me? Why can’t he just leave me like everyone else?

“I don’t want to put pressure on you, but have you talked to Tripp yet?” he asks me quietly.

I shake my head in response. “No, I’m going to today, though.”

“It will be okay,” he tells me, his never-ending optimism that things will just work out a harsh contrast to my own mind.

Hunter fills the rest of the time together with stories while I eat. He tells me about Eddie hiring a lawyer to deal with the app issues, about his mom getting asked to paint a mural at a local park, and about how Wes is going to start a band, apparently.

I smile listening to the stories, but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes. I am just going through the motions, doing the things the old me would have done. Deep inside, I know that girl is gone.

When I finish eating, Hunter gives me a hug and says goodbye, telling me he will stop by before work tomorrow so we can get coffee.

I nod my head. “Okay.”

He smiles at me one last time before leaving.

I know that if this conversation doesn’t go the way I want it to with Tripp, I will be busy packing tomorrow.