Page 10 of Now and Then
“The Hunter Michaels I’ve gotten to know would never give up that easily.” She purses her lips, attempting to keep her laughter tucked inside.
“I’ve tried telling her, Rachel, but she’s always kept her emotions regarding me locked away in that heart of hers.”
“Sounds like you better find a key,” Rachel says, as if it were that simple. She gives me a shooing motion toward the bar.
I gesture at the dishes on the table. “If I let you keep my cheeseburger too, will this settle our bet?”
Rachel laughs and nods.
As I walk toward Sutton, I pass Easton on his way out.
“Everything okay?” I tuck my hands back into my pockets.
“With me? Everything is fine. With Sutton? I think you know the answer to that. I’m going to head out, but she assured me that you’ll take care of her.” His eyebrow reaches toward his hairline, and I can see the questions he’s dying to ask me.
I shake my head back and forth. Tonight is not the night to rehash the history that is me and Sutton. “I’ve got her, man,” I say. “Thank you for keeping her company.”
“I understand it now.” He slips his black jacket on.
“Understand what?”
Now he really does roll his eyes. “Understand why in college you couldn’t go five minutes without talking about her. I’ve only just met the woman and can see how amazing she is.”
“Yes, she is.” I rub my hands over my beard and then smooth them over my long hair.
“Catch you around, Hunter.” Easton steps around me and exits the building.
For a Friday night, Big Joe’s is pretty tame. Most people must be holding out for next weekend’s karaoke night. The lights are dim, and a few couples sway to a slow country song playing from the jukebox. Sutton is sitting in the same spot, her head no longer buried in her arms. She’s staring off into nowhere, spinning her glass in circles.
I slide into the high-top table right behind her. I want to sit close enough that she knows I’m here, but at the same time, I want to give her the space she needs to go through whatever it is she is going through. It doesn’t appear she’s ready to leave yet, and I’ve got all the time in the world.
She was right when she told Easton I’d take care of her.
I always have and always will.
As I settle into my seat and place my cowboy hat on the table, her shoulders lower. Maybe she can finally relax, now that I’m here with her.
Joe places a cold glass of water onto my table. “Your girl’s in a real pit tonight.”
“How much has she had?” I’m not here to police her, but I’d like to know just how sick she might be in the morning.
“Not too much. I stopped her after three shots. She was pretty pissed when the last one was water, but she didn’t say nothin’.” Joe chuckles, placing his hand on my shoulder and squeezing tight.
Of course she didn’t say anything, Sutton isn’t one to rock anyone’s boat.
Minutes tick by and, still, Sutton sits on that barstool, probably lost in the hurricane of her thoughts. Some people would barge right up to her, demand to know what was wrong, and offer advice. But that’s not how Sutton works.
We’ve spent our whole lives orbiting each other like this. Sutton needing support, and me stepping in without question. Close enough to look like something more. Careful enough to never test it. It’s hard to imagine there was ever a time I didn’t know I was in love with Sutton.
Sutton: 15 years old. Hunter: 18 years old.
Luke wades into the lake, casting his fly rod back and forth. I’m focused on prepping my line for a new fly when Sutton sits cross-legged next to me. She lets out a long, exasperated breath.
Luke peers over his shoulder, his concerned-brother face out in full-force. I give him a look, letting him know I’ll find out what’s wrong with her.
Sutton’s been Luke’s and my shadow since the first day we met at T-ball practice nearly a decade ago. Neither of us really cares, even though she’s three years younger than us. I don’t have any siblings. So getting a best friend with a built-in sister? Sign me up.
“What’re you doing?” Sutton grabs an orange-hued fly out of my tackle box, fiddles with it for a moment, then puts it back.
