Page 34 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove (Jonathon Island #5)

Chapter Seventeen

“W ould you two clowns stop waving that mistletoe around?” Hunter growled, dodging the leafy branch for the fifth time in as many minutes.

Evan and Jude, clad in matching green-and-red-striped sweaters, looked each other over, head to foot. “We’re not clowns,” Evan said earnestly.

“We’re elves ,” Jude corrected. “Why? Do we look like clowns?”

Hunter’s dad chuckled from across the room, where he was ‘directing’ the decorating process from his La-Z-Boy. “Leave him alone, boys. He’s just anxious for Daisy to get here.”

Miles popped his head in from the kitchen, the scent of spiced cider wafting from behind him. “I was gonna ask. Where is she, Hunt?”

Hunter, who was trapped in the conversation by the armful of garland he was helping Waylen drape over the archway to the small dining area, glanced at the clock on the wall.

“She should be here soon. She had a few edits to make to the most recent episode of the show. She said she’d catch an Uber from the ferry. ”

“She’d better hurry,” Waylen said, pinning up another swathe of garland. “Otherwise, she’ll miss all the decorating fun.”

“Is that sarcasm?” their dad asked. “Because I won’t accept bah humbugs in this house.”

“Not sarcasm,” Waylen replied, grunting slightly as he stretched toward the corner. “Though I don’t know why this couldn’t wait another week.”

“Oh,” Miles said, crossing the room to set down a plate of cookies on the coffee table. “I think that’s my bad.”

Dad stood, just long enough to grab a cookie, and settled back into his chair. “It’s not every year I get all my sons home at the same time.” He cast a warm smile toward Miles. “Who knows what you’ll all be up to next year. We have to take advantage.”

“Oh, someone’s taking advantage, all right,” Waylen complained, sending his dad the stink-eye as he snatched up another cookie. He finished pinning the last of the garland and stepped down from the ladder.

“You gotta be kidding me,” Jude’s voice exclaimed from the kitchen.

Miles’s gaze shot up.

“Miles put Red Hots on the gingersnaps again!” Evan cried.

The twins hurried into the living room with fistfuls of red-dotted cookies. Jude lifted the cookies in his brother’s direction, shaking them for good measure. “Why? Why, Miles?”

Wide eyed, Miles glanced to his other brothers.

“Don’t look at me,” Hunter said, lifting his hands in surrender. “I don’t know where he got that.”

Waylen frowned. “What? That’s how Grandma used to do them.”

The twins mirrored each other’s looks of disbelief, scoffed, and started back toward the kitchen. “Don’t worry, guys. We’ll fix them,” Jude called out as they vanished around the corner.

Miles surged to his feet. “Don’t you dare!” And then he vanished as well, with Waylen following close behind, never one to miss the action.

The merriment continued in the kitchen, but Hunter savored the quiet, settling on the sofa across from his dad.

His dad smiled, his eyes trailing over the decorations. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it out the see the house yesterday,” he said, his gaze fixed on the garland. “The boys told me the place looks great.”

Hunter meant to go for a smile, but it came out as more of a grimace. “It’s okay, Dad.”

His dad shook his head. “It’s not, but I appreciate you saying that.”

Hunter eyed the plate of cookies on the coffee table as the comfortable silence shifted.

“You know, I’ve been watching the YouTube channel.”

Hunter blinked. “Really?”

His dad nodded. “You’ve done some quality work up there.”

“Thanks, Dad.” It meant more to Hunter than he knew. “You know, I’ve been getting requests, inquiries for custom projects, ever since that episode aired—the one with the banister.”

His dad remained quiet, so Hunter went on. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, Dad. But don’t you think it’s time to stop letting the past hold you back?”

He let out a heavy breath. “I know you want to move the business back to the island, Hunt…but it’s a big risk.

I’ve spent so long trying to make up for my mistake.

Trying to make sure everything is perfect so that nothing like the boardwalk ever happens again.

The town’s just getting back on its feet…

and what’s to say I won’t let them down?

Or worse, what if something happens? I couldn’t—I can’t, Hunt. ”

The air felt heavy, the years of fear and stress suddenly making his dad look decades older.

“I get it, Dad,” Hunter said, ducking his head to meet his father’s downturned gaze.

“Really, I do. But I’m starting to think that maybe you and I, we spend too much time afraid.

Afraid of what might happen if we loosen the reins.

And maybe, just maybe if we let God take the reins, He’ll surprise us with what’s in store. ”

The sound of Christmas music drifted down the hall, the great Christmas cookie battle apparently over, and Hunter heard footsteps coming to end the conversation. He reached out and clasped a hand on his father’s shoulder. “Think on it, okay?”

His dad lifted his gaze again, his eyes red. “I’ll think on it.”

Just then, Waylen strode into the room, popping a Red Hot into his mouth.

“All right, Dad. What’s next?” Hunter asked, hopping to his feet, shaking away the heaviness.

Crumbs spilled across his dad’s sweater as he looked around and said, “Why don’t you head down to the basement and grab the tree?”

Hunter nodded and started for the stairs.

A buzz filled the space as Hunter flicked on the florescent lights, which dangled over a maze of boxes and old furniture. On one side of the room, his dad’s small workstation sat forgotten, unused for years. Hunter let his eyes glaze over it, searching for the holiday decor.

His dad was a funny guy. He didn’t maintain his yard. He didn’t give a thought to curb appeal. But give him a blow-up Santa for the roof, and he was all over it. Hunter spotted the large container marked Christmas Tree in his dad’s messy scrawl, and he made his way toward it.

As he bent to pick it up, the small box in his front pocket slipped out, tumbling across the floor.

The ring.

Hunter paused what he was doing and reached for it, his chest squeezing as he lifted the box and opened it.

His stomach sank.

What was he going to do? He’d just given his dad a whole speech about trusting God, and here he was, scheming to get his way. He couldn’t continue lying to everyone. Eventually, the truth would come out.

Unless…

The diamond caught the light, glittered.

His conversation with Miles all those weeks ago rang in his head.

Ask her. What’s the worst that could happen?

He didn’t think this was exactly what Miles had meant, but the sentiment was the same. Maybe they had a shot at making this work. If anyone was willing to put in the effort, it was Daisy Decker.

What if he asked her to…to what, marry him?

He shifted the ring, and the light in the diamond dimmed. Come on, Hunt. Be real. It’s just a matter of time until things start to go wrong. And then what? You’re back where you started, picking up the pieces.

He snapped the box shut and shoved it back into his pocket.

Hunter hefted the Christmas tree box onto the landing and shut the basement door. “Oh don’t worry about me, guys. I’ll get it,” he said sarcastically as he carried the box into the living room.

He froze.

The festive atmosphere from earlier had evaporated, replaced by a tense silence that made Hunter’s skin prickle with unease. His brothers were huddled together, their faces etched with concern.

“What’s going on?” Hunter asked, setting the box down. His eyes darted from one face to another, searching for answers in their grim expressions. Miles met his gaze, a look of pity in his pressed lips.

Waylen’s face was tight, his jaw pulsing angrily. He wouldn’t even look at Hunter.

Evan and Jude exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Dad stepped forward, the disappointment clear in the lines of his face. “There’s something you should see.”

He handed Hunter his phone. The screen frozen on a familiar sight. He felt lightheaded as the video began to play, the words hitting like static in his ears.

Hunter’s stomach dropped. “What is it?”

“We were hoping you’d tell us.”

* * *

Okay, new plan. Daisy’s fingers traced the edges of the manila envelope in her lap as she rode in the back seat of the Uber.

Daisy had had a full morning, the early hours of the day spent video editing, prepping social media for the week ahead, and making room in her schedule for the upcoming road trip with Hunter and his family.

But even as she’d busied herself checking items off her mental to-do list, her head was still spinning around the conversation she’d had with Robin last night.

And she knew what she wanted to do.

Robin’s words had been churning inside her head all morning. What’s stopping you?

She wanted to stay. To see where things between her and Hunter went, even if it meant slowing down on her career.

So the new plan all started with the envelope.

Her phone buzzed, and Daisy fished it out of her pocket, sliding her thumb over the screen.

Robin

What’s going on?

Daisy

***

Robin

Why are you trending on socials?

Daisy

Am I?

I didn’t post anything.

Lemme check.

She swiped the bottom of the screen, her apps menu opening. She tapped into Insta and frowned.

She was blowing up, her notifications going wild with scathing comments.

@ParkzFam: Poor Hunter, he deserves better than this.

@MidwesOpe: I knew it was all for show. Daisy’s just another clout-chasing influencer.

@BookwormBarista: Can’t believe she’d use someone like that. Disgusting.

Daisy’s eyes widened in horror as she clicked on the video she’d been tagged in, her heart pounding in her chest.

Daisy Decker caught in a lie.

The blood drained from her face as her own face filled the screen. She sat on the porch of the Barrett house, wearing her lilac overalls and mittens. It was an outfit she’d worn in a video weeks ago, footage from the YouTube channel…but the words. She’d never said any of that.

“It was all just an act,” her voice said, shrugging casually. “This whole thing started out as a fake engagement.”

“Hunter had to be engaged in order to inherit the house, so it just made sense.” Daisy felt sick as she watched herself continue, her eerie smile in conflict with the words she was saying. “He needed a fiancée. I needed content.”

Daisy was dizzy, the air trapped in her lungs. “But then…Logan showed up. And I realized I didn’t want Hunter.” The Daisy on the screen brushed a hair behind her ear, blushing. “Logan and I, we worked because we wanted the same thing. We were both out to win. To be the best…”

Daisy really was going to be sick. She leaned back, closing her eyes as she pulled in a stale breath, the final words of the video ringing in her ears, laughing.

“I didn’t want to have to rebuild everything I worked so hard for when everything fell apart because of Hunter Barrett. He isn’t worth it.”

Robin

This is bad, Daisy…

Daisy

I never said those things. I don’t know where that video came from. But it’s a total fake.

Daisy called Hunter. She had to warn him. Explain to him…What? She hadn’t said those things…but she didn’t have an explanation. Who would have even done this? Maybe Logan, but he wasn’t tech-savvy enough to create a fake video like this. Was he?

The call went to voicemail.

She dialed again and again. The call was ignored.

Daisy’s heart raced, the blood rushing through her ears. Her fingertips felt numb, prickly. The air inside the car felt stifling. Hot.

She looked up, realizing the Uber had stopped. They were outside Hunter’s dad’s house. The windows were lit with Christmas lights. Daisy stepped out of the car, her knees wobbling as she clutched the envelope with white knuckles.

He would understand. Hunter knew her. He trusted her. He’d listen. He had to.

Daisy’s boots made no sound as she made her way toward the house, up the steps. Before she could reach the door, it swung open, and the walkway filled with warmth and light. Hunter stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

Daisy stilled.

Hunter’s face was a solemn mask. Emotionless. Distant.

He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning a shoulder against the doorjamb. “I don’t think you should be here.”

“Hunter please, let me explain.” Except there wasn’t anything to explain. She had no idea where the video had come from, let alone the things she’d said.

“I don’t want another explanation, Daisy.”

“Hunter—”

“Every time I hear you out, you somehow convince me it was all just a misunderstanding. I’m done.” Hunter wouldn’t look at her. His dark eyes scanned the surrounding neighborhood, the sidewalk, the melting snow. But not her.

“Please, Hunter.” Her voice broke as tears built up behind her eyes.

His jaw pulsed as he shook his head. “I can’t believe you did this to me again.”

“I didn’t—Hunter, the video’s not real.”

“I’m not blind, Daisy. I watched the video.

I know your voice. I know your face,” he snapped, his gaze finally meeting hers.

“Maybe I am blind for trusting you again.” Daisy’s breath caught in her chest at the wounded look his eyes.

“You know the worst part? You couldn’t even wait for things to fall apart before cutting me loose. ”

He pushed away from the door, turning his back to her.

Daisy scrambled for something to say, anything to make him stay. “What about us?”

Hunter stiffened, the lines of his broad shoulders tightening.

He spared a glance over his shoulder, his eyes flashing with anger.

“What part don’t you understand, Daisy? There is no us.

We are over. And I hope it was worth it.

Because it looks like you’ve been canceled.

Your followers are dropping like flies.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but Hunter continued, his words laced with bitterness.

“And boy, you really had me fooled.” He laughed humorlessly, shaking his head. “But I see the real you now, and you were right. I am disappointed.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks, and Daisy stepped down, the envelope slipping from her fingers and fluttering to the ground.

Hunter’s gaze swept over her one last time. “Go home, Daisy,” he said, his voice firm. Resolved. “It’s over.”

He turned and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.