Luisa walked over to her mother and stood close, not sure how to get what she needed. “I think I’ve made a mistake,” she confessed through a clogged throat.
Her mom looked up at her and stood from the table. “Can you unmake the mistake?” she asked softly. “Everyone deserves a second chance.”
“I’ve had my second chance with Hunter.” Her eyes filled. It was too late. Everything was too late.
Her mom brushed Luisa’s hair back from her face. “Ask him for a third.”
Luisa shook her head.
“I don’t think it can ever be too late,” her mother said. “There’s always hope, right?”
Not now there wasn’t.
Luisa sank into the chair next to her mother’s. “I’d like to stay for a couple days, okay?”
“Of course.”
Her mother’s smile broke Luisa’s heart all over again because the surprise in it? The happiness? She’d left her parents for too long. She’d been alone too long.
She’d wanted to live life to the full. To make the most of every moment. To be happy all of the time. See it all. Do it all. It had become a habit.
But Hunter was right. It had become a way to hide.
And most of all she’d hidden from herself—she’d laughed and made things ‘fun’… but she’d not always been honest.
A few days passed with surprising speed. Two of her brothers visited. She met the little niece she’d not met because she’d been too far away. She told some stories of her travels—but not all the good ones. She told them some of the horror moments as well… trying not to be that effervescent entertainer all the time. And gradually she recognized more deeply the truth that he’d tossed at her so brutally.
“I thought I was happy until I met him, but I didn’t know what happiness truly was,” she said to her mother in the late afternoon three days after Hunter’s visit.
“Do you think you know now?” Her mom asked.
“It’s the connections. The relationships. Reconnecting with you guys and my brothers.” She drew in a shaky breath. The simple joy of just being with them. “It hurts, but that hurt is easing.”
But not the hurt over Hunter. That was a wrong she had to admit to him.
“I think you’re right.” Her mother came and sat with her on the sofa. “But also I think you need to go ask Hunter for that other chance. Don’t use us now, to hide from him. You can come back again soon.”
Luisa smiled sadly. “Old habits can be hard to break. But I know. I already booked my flight. But it’s a return one.”
“Good for you.”
She’d never been a nervous flier. But this time? She was shaking inside for all the hours, unable to sleep, unable to relax. Unable to wait.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LUISA FOLDED HER arms to hide her shaking fingers, tossed her head and stared Logan in the eyes. “Where is he?”
Logan was one of Hunter’s best friends. Reformed reprobate but ruthless, he’d left her waiting outside his office for three and a half hours. Three and a half hours of uncertainty and buffeting waves of frosty disapproval from his receptionist. No offer of refreshments or inquiries as to whether she was comfortable. She’d come straight from the airport—was in travel stained clothes and felt sticky, tired and wired. But she wasn’t leaving without the information she needed.
Now that Logan had finally summoned her, she wasn’t letting him brush her off.
“I don’t know,” he answered blandly.
“Yes you do.”
Logan shrugged. “Okay maybe I do. That’s not the point. Why do you want to find him?”
“Why do you think?” She leaned over the table, bracing her hands either side of his laptop. She was tired and worried and hurt and she wasn’t leaving until she’d found out where Hunter was. Her exhaustion meant her emotions were ragged. “Are you worried I’m going to hurt him? Because you and I both know that man knows how to look after himself.”
“You and I both know you’ve already hurt him.” Logan sat back in his chair his displeasure lancing her. “I don’t want to see it happen again. I won’t let him suffer more.”
“Then help me make it right.” She knew what she needed to do. Sorry, sorry, sorry. She’d never been as sorry in all her life.
“I’m not sure you can.” Logan said coldly.
Luisa straightened, stepping back from his desk. What did he mean? Blades of fear sliced down her spine. Failure was not an option here. Not now.
“I need to try.” She owed Hunter that. She owed herself that. They both deserved more.
Logan’s eyes narrowed. Was he testing her—questioning whether she was going to run at the smallest suggestion of challenge?
Hunter had come for her. He’d done everything she’d asked him to do and more. But she’d sent him away because she’d been the failure. She’d been the coward. She’d hurt him. So it was up to her to make this move, because he wasn’t coming back for her again. He was too honorable and too respectful of her wishes. Because he always put her ahead of himself. She didn’t deserve him. But she was damn well going to try to be worthy. She straightened and regulated her breathing. “I’m not leaving without trying.”
Logan still watched her intently. “It’s a long flight, you must be tired.”
She shrugged, uncaring because she was beyond tired now. “Tell me where I can find him,” she asked again, her voice low.
“I’ll be at Rocco’s bar tonight.” Logan looked her up and down in his usual insolent, incorrigible way. “Perhaps you might want to rest and refresh and look in around nine o’clock.”
Rocco was another in that group of friends Hunter had. Would they all be there? All Luisa knew was that nine o’clock was far too far away, but she also knew that was all she was going to get from Logan right now.
“I’ll do that,” she said.
The hostel she chose to stay at wasn’t far from Rocco’s hotel and bar but it was a world away in terms of affluence and coolness. She was too broke to care. She showered and pulled on clean clothing—black leggings, black tee, black boots. Her personal uniform. She left her hair loose to dry and donned sunglasses to hide the shadows under her strained eyes. Then she walked—retracing the steps of the summertime—past the place where she’d ran her coffee cart, where the pop-up pizzeria had been… where she’d first clapped eyes on Hunter.
Hope flowed through her veins. Surely she’d been right to return?
At five to nine she couldn’t wait any longer and walked into the hotel. Rocco’s bar was always popular. The doorman glanced at her and jerked his head, allowing her access. The place was crowded, people stood in groups, smiling, drinks in hand.
She spotted him almost immediately. He was sitting with a group of people at a table near the back of the room. The light was dim, but she’d recognize his body—his aura—anywhere. She began to walk over. He hadn’t seen her, he was too busy listening to something the woman beside him was saying. And then he laughed. Laughed. And the woman next to him laughed too.
It was like being hit by a bucket of cold sick. He was with friends—with another woman—and looking happier than she’d ever seen him.
What the hell was she doing here when he clearly was happy enough without her? He wasn’t devastated the way she was, he obviously didn’t give a damn. She’d made a massive mistake. He was too happy. He was too alive. And he was definitely better off without her.
She was suddenly furious. How dared he be? She whirled away from the sight that tore her heart.
“Don’t think you’re leaving here without talking to him.” Rocco stood right behind her, glaring at her. “I suggest you turn around, walk over there and say what you came here to say.”
“You think you can stop me?” She fought to keep her voice steady. She was too tired to hold all the emotion back. Rage rose higher.
She shrugged off Rocco’s glare and walked to Hunter and the damn merry crowd of people. She didn’t recognize the woman next to him. The woman she hated. He wa
sn’t laughing anymore, but there was still a smile on his face. Anger drummed louder. She was unbearably, unreasonably angry.
“Luisa?” Min’s voice lifted, ringing clear across the bubbling hum of the bar.
Luisa didn’t look at her. She couldn’t tear her gaze from Hunter. He lifted his head with a jerk to stare right back at her. He didn’t speak or move a muscle more, just sat utterly still, that smile completely wiped from his face.
“You’re h-here, that’s so wonderful,” Min continued. “Isn’t that wonderful Logan? Come and—”
“In here Hunter.” Rocco called from just behind Luisa.