Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
“Hunter?” I called out.
The apartment was quiet and yet unrecognizable as I looked around in horror. There were weapons, pictures, and liquor bottles taking up almost every available space, including the floor—more than what she had before—and blood-soaked rags covering the counter and coffee table that made me gasp and cover my mouth.
Was Hunter hurt?
I ran to the back of the apartment, checking her room first, which looked like it hadn’t been slept in a while, and then mine. I always made my bed every morning, and the day Ocean kidnapped me had been no exception.
My bed was in shambles.
It looked like it had been slept in and more than once, and I knew Hunter must have been sleeping in my room to feel close to me. I knew she would take my being gone hard, but I never imagined it would be this bad.
It was decided.
I was the shittiest friend in the world. While Hunter was going through all of this, I was busy falling in love. I should have fought harder to get back to her, but I had given in to my own selfish whims.
With no choice but to wait for her return, I started cleaning up. It took me hours to get the apartment back right. By the time I was done, it was nighttime, and I was exhausted. I dragged myself into my room just to stare at the unmade bed.
My lips started to tremble as I wondered where Hunter could be, and then I remembered I had my phone now. I left my phone in the kitchen, so I turned to get it and screamed when I saw someone standing in the doorway.
“It’s really you,” the shadow croaked. “You’re really here. What happened?” Light suddenly flooded the room, and I cried out when I saw Hunter leaning against the door jamb with a bandage around her thigh. “Did you escape?”
“Hunter? Oh, my god! You’re hurt! What happened? Who did this to you?”
Hunter gave no indication that she heard me. She just stared at me as if I were an apparition, so I closed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms, but she didn’t hug me back. I wanted to cry. “It’s me, Hunter. I’m here. I’m back, and I won’t leave you again, okay?”
Finally, I felt her arms close around me, and then she nodded against my shoulder. “Okay,” she said hoarsely.
I pulled away so I could get a good look at her, and it became horrifyingly clear why I hadn’t recognized her immediately. Hunter’s long, beautiful hair was tangled, her lips were horribly dry and cracked like she hadn’t had a drop of water in weeks, her skin was smudged with dirt and blood, her clothes were filthy, and she smelled like she hadn’t bathed in days.
She’d even lost weight and a lot of it.
Her tantalizing curves had been diminished so much that I wondered about the last time she’d eaten.
“I don’t understand,” I said. “Where were you? Where have you been?”
Hunter smiled sadly. She looked so exhausted. “Shouldn’t that be my line?”
Swallowing past the thick knot suddenly lodged in my throat, I guiltily skated past that disaster and ushered her into my room. “Come on, bestie. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I sat Hunter on the toilet inside my bathroom while I filled the tub with warm water and prepared a bubble bath for her. Hunter was quiet, and every time I looked back to check on her, she was just staring at me like she didn’t think I was real.
While the water continued to run, I helped Hunter stand and undress and swallowed my cry of anguish at all the cuts and bruises marring her beautiful body. None of them looked too serious, but it still made my heart hurt.
“Hunter…I…I’m so sorry.” My vision blurred suddenly, and I blinked furiously to clear it. “I never meant for anything of this to happen.”
“I know that, Coby. No one asks to be kidnapped. It’s not your fault. I’m just sorry I couldn’t find you sooner.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I pleaded. “Please don’t be sorry.”
“All right,” she said, sounding more like herself. “Let’s agree that neither of us should be sorry. We both know who’s to blame anyway.” It was silent for a few moments, and then she inhaled and finally asked the question plaguing her. “Did he hurt you?”
“No,” I answered quickly. “Not once.” But that was a lie. Because he hurt me when he let me go. I obviously couldn’t tell Hunter, so I changed the subject. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up. No offense, bestie, but your armpits smell like chopped onions. My eyes keep watering. I thought a bitch was just happy to see you, but now I know what it really is.”
“Girl, fuck you,” Hunter retorted with a smile and a laugh.