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?
eyes at me; even my step-mom was giving me cold
life. Do what you want
thought I was being a possessive boyfriend and keeping Blue from doing
into modeling. You have the face and the body. Why
“I don’t
wanted to be
I just saw a mother while I was going to work the other day, and I really wish I could have a child like that, my very own baby that I could watch as he or she grew up.
seconds away
the table was at the moment. I continued to eat my food like Blue hadn’t just admitted to my parents that she aspired to become
asked, “How could you?” And that was the first time my father had acknowledged
you done?” That was
do? Why are you guys looking at
and Elaine never sighed in front of guests unless she was downright pissed.
a right to spoil a woman’s
tears. “I’m so sorry, Hunter. I couldn’t lie
drive me fucking mad. “I have no idea what
“Why didn’t you tell us anything, Hunter?” to Blue she asked, “How many
“Preg…what?” Blue asked.
in my laughter. I understood why they assumed Blue was pregnant. First, her answer to their question and secondly, it was still hard for them to come to
I’d gotten her
of playing with his non-existent grandchild. “I understand things like these could happen, she got pregnant but so what? Both of you are
were glazed over too. Seemed like she was planning to take her future grandchild to charity events and show off to her
don’t think I’ve been more proud of you, Hunter, taking responsibility for the young lady and the child. We have enough money
rambled on. Could either of them stop talking to just breathe? I needed a small
could talk to Blue’s parents. They have nothing
honey, but I’m so excited for this. Can we have a
a warm fuzziness that I couldn’t even describe. 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 support me if I wanted to have a family
I become so happy
Elaine…guys…I’m sorry to break it to you…” I
at me with blank expressions for so long that I
Elaine said. “We…we thought…oh never
“I tried to…I tried to convince
under the table and when she looked at me in question, I slowly shook my head. God only knew what
the one most excited. He eyed the steak accusingly, like it was to blame for the misunderstanding. “Mrs. Timble, where’s the
heartbroken faces, I
you.”
eyes which were much like
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
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Upf/rZzXXfK9nl7e1a+ZGhjudlSLK8iz6B/6GAe8+TSYTyT3eBQyDQNyh4qA58ZOO3lT4tgQ0lJ92rZpYKZzKpmf+qZmcerLq7TECnf7SRJTkl6BVL4io5APemv+AcFKLzZWuO6YcjnlEqIB9hHt3jyi2sXBgbXa/9gBf1GPUgqMGf/UbG9onyF79zs5CTEJ+negdNleqt8sSjJ1zac8v+kR6V0DbtWbX0RsRpKKoZ6xSUe3w40KxliTDdW6bDP1QU34+bPMFPrmkz/BMTg2EJaDTKAgJ9EGopp6U4gLLfUhC91liDu1P/gnINLMJOu3hpNi4s54XtjjuulihVEYuOwhP1tNicanf9GdPXFXVU61RfHxjWd3mKPdOWttPqjsD8Wg5uZp2UKU0iGC8t48Bc5dOB1ft39LoFg6rNngbwe/A8xw6dFuHQuHHFkmrc0P93zf2khAKaEtyr+R/CjI5iZoRfz2Y1gVtYO9QEmP2Z9GJRn0q3hEt827TPnLAJRsZB9I8i/+ji3MkAMPZAydo/qWdNi3rP/qMmqAGN2rkDCbiT70sbnBexqgcooJIemAZ6Mjvrf0XRffIVQKkqzPOncibQ4sNrFk+9oWV2dmVQALtYqhTG4Rqwp7sXufyERG5DF/bJTM/z8o3/DUnzskM9eVZNPqy0rk29P9GehjrOXyaNJWIvmNa2KydT1aowZZgkaqrSj0ad2pYCbZgnSgyzjNW9il2yDL8TIm0k9/dI1fTFtdbFNc8xfE6HoLGdj/MeIYwyIOxgMbUB2ko1KikBrqYhJyLTDJfxnc4rogEJZDuU9qxfZuRteRepw6IhZECn8PCsEiHAWNPcI4mLfFb24WZPGa5x54doYFS7yfvRmNBsNB7H0t4kTK3f8RZoOGh9CuaTcx4kHvITYiw4+U+2pb2LBSJSRnLx/TgMNBw9yXEk5S1qKdYbngIhLlDf7KlyfrMo2BNoZdHvo4JoyIvbmmrU9eXovrYr8oYQpMIBJczm9oZ4vvhhvM9gYPWZaGS10rCh5yVUxjR9kMfp+oufPG/jLqmX7/sN7TEEe740gNqx2d3j9Jyi3lN6scbK0OgT5gGtIn9MDahgonEEcO/93RikkULEAlCCf77P72Lf2G22D7aFETN5kaA90HWiGcREGwseA2zHbFnbhtHQmVGSmAQQ7FH00tEXGbV7T3an8xw0iIJ+b26EbFW9YJFJHnHQ1G+yeHO4nKdzN0TxgrzFn/RI9n94+ROFtWLYjvR/bQMWSKJANp7oXj4s6dCZFT/rEOsuZ7g+UmXpa4OrvO5l9XRHnbYzIpCuUbuQgE3juG0Bfj+14Eqd0DDzn0J/O8jTAKx/uagHwIRDz7qsclaf7NPPD7NcX5N0hsJQpPRMQyZ7O6XsY+pOpdcFsan3Tag7nJUFZx/BdP9jvca5/jgsC9lY3B1I66PefpiPX2fPfrq+1JQ4fl4JtQ++STU3espprIdvcBkkbbDD06HuPIG7Tki+wFQiitt5fui8yfaGTJycF8bEJPkrBKIivO+lHYucRL6WuzgHpvELUqkjESc/846jgO6RXCwLkuFNa3p0SKE5c8k56qLl6W40vBcbjORxVVAYkbiFGdssbyhIEzFDFkIf9Q9ZDMpFTnphfW2McvbhWyFuAu1lSilopVJgtRyS8R+H+P5J7ClCOp6iUGyAi23PBZ/5Nje2c187w/PSOScmR/59pW/qKmkBwb20yurUjw1ir5TSlDeBnaWeZLIUp55Zi6BZ/SZkXBltN6bOTKBJPYF6dwi/rZDsO+W61s5ispTXuTs4/I9FMbpPwkzAEbyEfO8uFQhYmx/WW0A2WzqCOJ2rYu4H073sRRTL5/HpnaD+ETIVJ4/ypJGpkFENSSHSSmvjKq2+nVwnNJK/w+SRc0L5f3VMKUBAm/hWQgZVdu+9EqvkYLz09Ad5yOIMHlmX2X+uwihMcxZ0uUc742voKmHkLYHPP15tQ38u6OH1Y5DcctQb5NQe425IVryUaJ+Blb0Faua6FhRkvhuAW69R5FPm95mrDeH+P1UV32AiZJ8ZDoTpPpKOryEOC+tXcpeVsfWTvU00RWLmFb5vPx9Tcupdvp867OzA5GssMCgeDzp0Z03OdqEkd5F5fTtk+un8Y0YTB2FMhkwzDcCdtUkLBIgbaHe/tFMLwVvGhuOthMqBw5fBiSymNkucomxgLEqAi6H1D3ei5RrQuhvlA3I+8AXj0fG86gV/Jtp02REXlPJ3NXDqx/eQkntTIV3N9DIHBEmZqn5LA415Q6smz6JIdEY9MxRRC03qgRHkZgMeyog0gZ/JpUT8oOsToMrw/tosRU8rJhRKlX7rlw+d+W2G14N4tMfMdXheSiLEEMAP4PXQmk2iHAUhRXRZsWH2mSQH6hD41mcXKF2OASNaQM8KWRkp1C81lYB+OsBzgqwWGNidUCMfG2yIQCwRgZ+D4KhanhcBLmZLDV59W/sJ+ADgdUGHXMY2Yuk7i5+Td8j77KwFv7nylTkM1/3Pd9HSEzTCKp3rehjItSofxAy5aUxt3yz5/XFYLK8vmEb0EMZzJP9LeSpE2nOyCwKKo7100XNyhBRNwmYJvnnd7oQ+7gr5thoJJaftrQw2ojkHRzrV4cYDE8kKpldKbNTsKT72h5eGAM1GevRVieOkUcvpfWjag46ng4eVel1WT6ev/FS17nPBpv38MtguJx4ge4xYHtW7/9rfxol/5bOSbJ7Sf8yMuTuk1CrNWinKIbJr1egIZDU+2xThWVv20VIa3JWVMLFzru7cLmN7Yt9UkKHnbF6Y4yGXvsDpSGZSZJwjCHcphY
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