Hunter
When Blue and I returned to the lunch table, we acted like we hadn’t tried to eat each other by the fountain area just a moment ago. Instead, I picked up my mini-pizza and took a large bite off it, and reached out to get the Tuna Greek salad wrap. Elaine and dad knew what had happened of course; their faces told me they weren’t oblivious. If anything, they appeared to be content with this new development, i.e: me getting serious with a woman in my life. The mermaid part, they didn’t need to know.
I noticed Elaine’s plate filled with her usual vegan food. Not that I hated vegan food, it’s just that I couldn’t make a habit of eating it to save my life.
“Blue and Hunter were swapping saliva out there. I saw you.” Elliot spoke to me with a mouthful of sausages.
Aunt Paige sighed and shook her head. She picked up her plate, and reached out to grab Elliot. “Let’s go sit and eat with Hannah, sweetie...”
Elliot pulled his hand away. “No. I’m sitting here with Blue.”
“Come, Elliot.” Aunt Paige warned having had enough.
“Nooooooo....”
“You’re not going to the Carnival next Sunday.” Aunt Paige said. She’d pulled an ace out of her sleeve. I realized she must be doing this often.
Elliot jumped down from the table. “Where’s Hannah? Let’s go sit with her.”
I watched as the mother and the kid walked away from the table and that made this even more awkward. At least Elliot played as a good comical distraction between our conversation.
“So Blue, what are you planning to pursue as a career?” Dad asked.
"Haven’t really thought of any career as of now.” She said.
Good girl.
I’d predicted my dad’s list of questionnaire for Blue and had told her specific answers to those questions, so far nothing had been asked out of the book.
“Surely you have something you aspire to become.”
Blue thought of that for a while.
Oh god, no.
This wasn’t even rehearsed. Blue was walking into dangerous territory.
Before I could tap her knee, she said, “I’d like to become anything that Hunter would like me to become.”
Huh?
narrowed his eyes at me; even my step-mom was giving me cold stares now. What
shouldn’t let Hunter dictate your life. Do what you want to.”
was being a possessive boyfriend and keeping
have the face and the body. Why haven’t to tried
shrugged. “I don’t know what
you never wanted to
and I really wish I could have a child like that, my very own baby that I could watch as
was two seconds away from face
to become a mother. Someone needed to tell this beautiful mermaid-girl that ‘becoming a mother’ didn’t constitute as a career option. It was more of a natural
could you?” And that was the first time my father had acknowledged
you done?” That was my
in my mouth. I looked at the two of them. “What did I do? Why are you guys looking at me like I’m some kind of a criminal?” I asked them directly, having had enough of getting the accusing stares
sighed in front of guests unless she was downright pissed. Blue appeared to be folding and unfolding the table cloth, obviously worried and
do not have a right to spoil a woman’s life, or
was in tears. “I’m so sorry,
raised my hands in defeat, in confusion. My family was going to drive me fucking mad. “I have no idea what you guys are talking
soft voice, Elaine asked. “Why didn’t you tell us anything, Hunter?” to Blue she
“Preg…what?” Blue asked.
tried to hold in my laughter. I understood why they assumed Blue was pregnant. First, her answer to their question and secondly, it was still
I’d
have jolly dreams of playing with his non-existent grandchild. “I understand things like these could happen, she got
take her future grandchild to charity events and show off to her circle of posh ladies. “You can
you, Hunter, taking responsibility for the young lady and the child. We have enough money to make sure the child gets everything he or
Could either of them stop talking to just breathe? I needed a small chance
They have nothing to worry about.”
Blue’s hands in hers. “Forgive me, honey, but I’m so excited for this. Can we have
It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. To have my father admit that he cared for me enough to say that he would
I become so
break it to you…” I
at me with blank expressions for so long that I thought I’d made a mistake by telling
“We…we thought…oh never
that I’m not pregnant.” Blue said innocently. “I tried to…I tried to
when she looked at me in question, I slowly shook
fingers on his thick mustache, I guess he was feeling embarrassed. He was the one most excited. He eyed the steak accusingly,
heartbroken faces, I kinda wished Blue was
you.”
his plate; his silver-gray eyes which were much
everything.” I said. I caught Blue’s hand once again and just held it so I could have her strength, her courage to speak what was on my mind because I needed it. “I’ve caused you a lot of trouble; I’ve messed up more times than I can count, and you’ve always had my back. I hated you for cutting my financial resources but when I look back now, I think you did the right thing. I needed this wake up call.
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