Page 13

13

HUNTER

S itting in my office, I’ve thrown this football in the air at least fifty times.

Catch. Spin. Toss again.

I’m supposed to be reviewing payroll numbers, but the spreadsheet on my laptop is untouched. All I can think about is last night. Her texts. The way we made each other feel.

It’s burned into my skull. And I can’t decide if I should feel like the luckiest bastard alive or the dumbest.

Because now I’ve got to figure out how to come clean. How to sit across from Faith Easton—the girl I’ve wanted since high school, who also happens to hate my guts—and admit that the guy she’s been sexting for the past week is me. Hunter. The guy she calls arrogant. The guy her father tried to tackle in the church lobby.

Great plan. Real smooth, Holloway.

The door bursts open.

Ty barges in, his expression already irritated. “Hey, man. Table twelve’s complaining their steak’s overcooked.”

I pick up the football on my desk and spin it on my finger. “You know what to do.”

“Comp it?”

“How many times have I told you, the customer is always right.”

“It’s a fifty dollar steak, Hunter. We can’t just comp everything.”

I set the football down and lock my eyes on Ty. “How many ways do I have to explain this to you? We’ll lose more potential revenue down the road from a bad Yelp review than we will from a steak which cost us fourteen dollars.” I squint, since Ty’s expression is still blank. “Dude, how is this not sinking in yet?”

Ty closes the door and sits down.

“Okay, I’ll comp it. Fine.”

“And next time, don’t waste your time coming up here to ask me. Just do it.”

He nods slowly.

“Is there something else?”

“What are you doing up here? Why haven’t you come down to the restaurant floor?”

I feel my chest clam up.

Because Faith, AKA Luna, is down there.

See, Ty and I grew up neighbors since we were in the womb. We’ve been through an all-time level of shit together. As a result, he knows I’m going to sneeze before I do. It’s quite the bromance.

When I’m acting even one degree off, because, say, I rubbed one out while sexting with our new trainee who also happens to be in the family of my posse’s worst enemy, who I met at a sex club, he notices something’s off.

The real reason I can’t go down to the restaurant floor is because, once I do, the jig is up with Faith. “Luna” will hear Thor’s—aka MY—voice on the floor, and know that I’m Hunter, the guy she hates, not Thor, the one she has a crush on. I even confirmed that she hates Hunter in my text to her yesterday.

And God help me, I can’t stop thinking about our late night texting thing last night, when Faith orgasmed in the tub from the pic I sent.

“I’m just staying up here because I want you guys to be able to run the place when I’m gone for the season,” I lie. “I’m letting you practice being independent.”

Ty sits back in the office chair across from my desk and folds his arms, examining my body language. “You love being down there and joking with everyone though.”

“And I, uh, decided to double-check the numbers from last week,” I say.

“Check the numbers?” Ty laughs. “Okay, now I know you’re full of shit.”

“What?” I scoff. “Fuck you, dude, no, I’m not.”

“You hate running numbers, dude.”

“No, I don’t. I’m, ah, trying to be more disciplined.”

Fuck. I’m lying out of my teeth so bad and he knows it.

“Remember at the last staff meeting when you told Sheldon ‘if I ever have to double-check your math again, I’m going to come to your house every morning at five a.m. and blast Iron Maiden right as you’re getting those really nice dreams you like.”

“Okay, I may have said something like that. But people change.”

I stand up and flip the football around again. “Look, Ty. So I’m not going to the floor? What’s the big deal? You guys can handle it.”

“Fine. I got my eye on you, though, Holloway.”

I clear my throat. “So, how’s the, uh, new trainee doing?” I ask, trying to be nonchalant. “Forget her name.”

He shakes his head. “Okay, now I know something is up. Daphne said you had her give Faith an application specifically when she came in here with her friends.”

“Who?” I squint, feigning like I have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Faith Easton. You know. The girl who was our server last time wee ate at Easton’s place and you two couldn’t keep your eyes off one another. Also the daughter of the guy you almost got in a fight with at church. How can you not remember her name?”

“How’d you know about that fight?”

He guffaws. “The entire town knows about that fight. It was in the freaking lobby of the biggest church. You know how gossip spreads around Vansborough.”

“Like wildfire,” I grit out.

“Tell me what the hell is going on.”

I stuff the football in his stomach. “Fine. Remember that girl I was flirting with at Mont du Marquette?”

“The little dirty blonde hottie with a body. She was an out of towner, right? I noticed all her friends had northern accents.”

I hold up a finger. “Her friends were from out of town. But she’s not.”

“Who is she?”

“Well, that night she was Luna and I was Thor . But…she’s actually Faith Easton.”

His jaw drops. “That girl from the club is Faith Easton. The girl who’s training with Daphne right now? How’d you figure that out?”

I nod grimly. “I put two and two together when I saw her at church the next day and I heard her voice.”

“But she doesn’t recognize you?”

I shake my head. “I had the full mask on that night. Plus, I don’t think she knows my voice. She doesn’t really know me except from bible camp when I was like fourteen and she was twelve. My voice had barely dropped then.”

Ty’s blue eyes bulge out of his head. He wrinkles his forehead, then runs a hand through his short hair. “So you flirted with Faith Easton. Isn’t she engaged?”

“She didn’t have her ring on at Mont du Marquette, and we were miles away, well past the outskirts of town. And remember how that bastard Keith was talking about hooking up with other women in D.C.?”

“I do recall that. But man, this sounds messy. Really messy. If Keith is an asshole, but she’s still engaged, this is none of your business.”

“I know. And I wasn’t exactly on the lookout for her that night. I was a little busy watching my first public flogging, if you recall.” I waggle my eyebrows.

Ty gets this goofy grin. “Pretty cool, right?”

I clench my jaw. “I’m not making a point about that girl getting paddled by Mr. Punisher. My point is that I wasn’t in a million years expecting to see a girl like Faith in a freaking sex dungeon .”

“Like seeing a fish out of water. So - what, do you think she’s supposed to be some kind of angel? Every man and woman has that bit of naughtiness inside them. It’s natural.”

He makes a good point. Never again will I assume.

“And now, despite my public, ongoing feud with the Easton’s and Stinson’s because they are corrupt cheaters, I kind of like her.”

Well, more than kind of . I am fucking obsessed with her.

Ty tosses the football back to me, then facepalms dramatically. “Christ Almighty. Why can’t you just be a normal guy and hook up with one of the random hot servers we hired, like Sheldon did?”

“What?! I told him not to!” I hold up both hands, then point two fingers at my eyes and back at Ty. “Literally had that ‘I’m watching you’ talk with him in the walk-in cooler. I want no drama at this restaurant.”

Ty groans. “Bro. Do I need to spell it out for you? Do. Not. Hook up. With the mayor’s daughter-in-law. Are you insane? This is serious. That man is into some shady shit.”

“What’s he going to do, hire a hitman?”

Ty shrugs. “Maybe. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

I scoff. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on with her and her fiancé. She was wearing the ring in church, too. But you heard Keith and Dave Smalls talking at Easton’s Eatery, like I said. Dude is a dirtbag. If she is with him, she shouldn’t be.”

“Do not play the savior here, man. You just want to get your dick wet.”

“It’s more than that with her. And I’m not saving anyone. I just like her. ” I toss the ball back to him and he catches it.

Ty shakes his head, then squints. “I wish I was a romantic like you. Wait a sec. So…you don’t want to go downstairs and talk with the employees tonight because if you do, she’ll recognize your voice! Ha! It all makes sense.” Ty pounds the football. “I knew you were acting weird tonight.”

I sigh. “Yeah. I may or may not have sexted with her last night.”

“Come again? You sexted with her? Like after the club?” The pitch of Ty’s voice raises. “So why did you freaking hire her, man?! Why on Earth would you bring this drama into your life? And into the restaurant? Never mix business and pleasure.”

“Let’s not get off topic. The point is…I’m in a pickle.”

“Yeah. You could say that. One hell of a pickle.”

“Plus, ‘Thor’ is supposed to meet up with her tonight. For a date.”

Ty laughs. “So what are you going to do? How the hell are you going to meet up with her?”

“What do you think I should do?”

“Man, I think you should just call her up here or meet up with her later,” Ty says, pacing. “Tell her the truth. Lay it all out. ‘Yeah, I like you. I hired you. And yes—I’m Thor as well as Hunter.’ Honesty’s the best policy. Just rip the Band-Aid off.”

“You’re right,” I say, nodding as I open the door and follow him downstairs. “I’ll just head down right now and tell her everything. Why not? Plus, I’m starving. I need a steak.”

He chuckles. “Only you would eat at your own restaurant every night.”

“Not every night,” I correct. “Monday’s off-peak hours. We’re only at seventy-five percent capacity.”

When I reach the restaurant floor, that number looks more like ninety. It’s packed—for a Monday, it’s damn near shoulder-to-shoulder—and I end up behind the bar just to keep things moving.

Then I see her.

Faith.

Flying out of the kitchen toward the service bar where Daphne is waiting with a tray.

Panic hits. I duck down behind the bar like a fugitive, pretending to stock glassware.

“So, Hunter doesn’t even come on the floor during peak hours?” Faith asks, exasperated. “Just hides in his office?”

“He usually comes down,” Daphne replies, glancing around. “Not sure where he is.”

I stay crouched, ears perked like a bloodhound. This is the real danger zone.

“Weird,” Faith mutters. “Be real with me, Daphne. Is he as much of a dick as people say?”

Ouch.

“Worse,” Daphne quips.

Daphne! You traitor.

Then she laughs. “Kidding. He’s… okay. Good guy, sometimes. Just abrasive and direct.”

Thank God. I can work with abrasive and direct.

“Like what?”

“Well, he fired Hanna Klein and all she did was show up late. Twice.”

“He also got in a fight with my father,” Faith adds.

“I heard about that! Was it bad?”

“Yeah. At church. He’s really awful. And this is going to sound mean, but I just… hate his cocky face. I know his type—and he’s the type I stay far, far away from.”

I grip the rocks glass tighter, still hidden like a coward behind the bar.

“Really?” Daphne asks. “Like, you’re not even a little attracted to him? You’re the same age. He’s cute.”

“Sure, he’s attractive,” Faith says, sighing. “But that’s great—for other women. I’m not into that dickish, quiet jock thing he’s doing. Just not for me.”

Quiet jock thing?! That’s a new one.

“He hasn’t spoken to me in years,” she continues. “Our families hate each other, so whatever. I guess he just holds a grudge. I still don’t get why he hired me.”

I lift my eyes just high enough to spot Ty walking toward the bar.

“Ladies, ladies,” Ty says, grinning. “Are we socializing or working?”

“Waiting on drinks, dick,” Daphne replies dryly. “With my trainee.”

“Huh. Bartender must be on a smoke break. I’ll make these.”

Ty ducks behind the bar, sees me crouched like Gollum, and nearly drops the shaker. I give him a sharp shhh! and he rolls his eyes, but makes the drinks in silence. The girls head out with their trays.

I slip out behind him and casually sit at one of the bar tables like nothing’s wrong.

A moment later, Daphne walks by with Faith in tow. Faith’s cheeks are pink. She offers a polite smile, clearly trying to be professional.

“Hey, Mr. Holloway!” Daphne says. “Eating in the bar tonight?”

I nod, avoiding speaking. I point to the usual: ribeye steak, medium rare, and a glass of Malbec.

“The usual,” she says. “Coming right up.”

As they walk away, I hear Faith whisper, “See? He’s so quiet.”

I smirk.

Yeah. I’m quiet on purpose, sweetheart.

Daphne shrugs. “He’s like that. Strong, stoic, silent.”

I pull out my phone and fire off a text to Ty.

Hunter: Turn off all volume on the sports channels. Closed captions only. And crank up the music.

Ty: What? Why?

Hunter: I didn’t come clean. I don’t want her hearing my voice on ESPN or something and putting two and two together.

Ty: LOL. “Thor” still lives? Bro. Just tell her.

Hunter: I just need to buy a little more time while I come up with a plan.

Moments later, Ty appears beside me, hand on my shoulder, grinning like a devil.

“Good luck with that, buddy,” he says. “Only you could paint yourself into a corner this weird.”

I grunt, then type out a new message.

From Thor, of course.

Thor: Hey there. How’s the shift tonight?

She replies instantly.

Luna: Nothing too crazy, but I do have work… I’ll text you later. Excited for tonight. :)

No texting at work, you naughty girl.

I chuckle to myself, sipping water like it’s wine.

Guess I’m not the only one breaking rules tonight.