bChapter /bb31/bb: /bHunter bPOV /b

That bitch!

After Xavier told us about his dad remarrying, I was the only one willing to give Allison a chance, who campaigned for her and said she might not be the gold–digging cow that Xavier believed her to be,

The few times Cade and I went to Xavier’s house before we moved in together on campus, our interactions with Allison were limited but cordial. She bdidn’t /bseem like the money–grabbing bimbo or even the vindictive cow I was expecting. But there was always something about her that I couldn’t put my finger on

an innate feeling of her hiding something.

After La’s involuntary revtion earlier, I knew I was right to trust my gut.

I can’t believe a parent would do that to their child, much less an angel like La.

I’m not delusional, I know La is not perfect, nobody is. But from what I’ve learned about her in thest couple of months, I can say with conviction that she is genuine and kind to a fault.

My parents can’t be given the “Parents–of–the–Year” award, but I’ve never had to worry about them putting their hands on me in any way, shape, or form I’m also certain there are more things that Allison has done and said to La in the past, but the little bit she revealed today was enough to make me realize that I’ll do anything to shield La from ever going through that again.

And what kind of bullshit was that about La being promised to some guy so Michael’spany’s future would be secure? Fuck that shitr

La is mine. She will be no other guy’s girlfriend, fiancée, and much less his wife. That privilege will be mine. I might share her with Cade, Al, and beven /bXavier – but only iif /ithey ask me nicely.

Watching La drive away is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a long time. When she sprinted out of the house like a bat out of hell, I knew she was in more pain than she wanted to let on.

La is naturally strong, but she’s also a reserved and private person because she doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone, bnor /bdoes she want their pity.

What she doesn’t realize, though, is that I’ll never pity her. I’m in awe of her resilience and ability to stay positive even when life has been handing her lemons thest couple of months.

Standing at the bottom of these steps with the guys and Moira next to me, I’m grateful that La has so many new people in her corner. Her mother sure as

shit bisn’t/bb. /b

Even Xavier is standing here, seething – not iat /iLa but ifor /iLa. He’s struggling with himself because he wants to hate her, but she’s proven to him many a time over that she’s not like other girls, nor will she stand for his/temper tantrums.

“Should we go after her?b” /bAJ asks, and I can see when I look over at him, that he’s on the verge bof /bjumping in a car and speeding after her. I get where he’sing from, I want to do the same thing, but La feels vulnerable and exposed right now. Going after her will only cause her to withdraw from us, and I refuse to have that happen.

“No, give her a moment to herself. She’ll reach out when she’s ready,” Moira answers. And even though none of us like her answer, bwe /bcan concede that she’s right.

bAs /bbwe’re /bsaying goodbye to Moira, we hear raised voices, and a door getting mmed inside – it seems like the honeymoon phase is over. We head home, most likely to sit and mope around, checking our phones every five minutes, hoping La reaches out beven /bif it is just to let bus /bknow bshe’s /bbsafe/bb. /b

–

Getting home, AJ and I head to the kitchen to start throwing something together for dinnerb. /bCade and Xavier are in the living room, and bI /bbcan /bbhear /bbone /bbof /bour favorite Netflix series ying.

“Do you think she’ll be okay?b” /bbAJ /bbasks /bbme /bbas /bbhe’s /bgrating the cheese for bour /bbacon, mac and bcheese /bbcasserole/b.

“Yes and no,” I answer honestly, and I can bsee /bon his bface /bthat bhe’s /bconfused bby /bmy banswer/b. b“/bbYes/b, bshe’s /bbokay /bbinsofar /bbas she’s /bbsafe/bb, /bbwherever /bbshe /bL. bShe /bbwould /bnever put herself in unnecessary danger. No, bshe’s /bnot okay, bbecause /ba trauma bthat /bbher /bown bmother /bbinflicted /bbhas /bbbeen /bbexposed/bb. /bbShe’s /ba bprivate /bpers I’m sure her doubts are currently bsee/bb–/bsawing between bwhether /bbwe /bbpity /bbher/b, will bstill /bbbe /bbinterested /bbin /bbher /bbbecause /bbshe /bbsees /bherself as bdamaged /bgoods. while feeling embarrassed.”

b“/bbShe /bbhas /bnothing to be embarrassed babout/bb! /bbAnd /bbfuck /bbbeing /bbdamaged /bbgoods/bb, /bbwe’re /ball bdamaged /bbin /bbsome /bbway/bb. /bAl vehemently ray, and bI /bwholehearte

Chapter 31: Hunter POV

the sentiment, but that’s not how La feels, and we must validate that.

“I’m with you on that but let me put it this way. When your mom was going through that difficult time just before she passed away, did you not feel an ounce of embarrassment even though none of what transpired was your fault?” I ask, stirring the noodles in the pot of boiling water.

I see the moment my rationale clicks in his mind.

“Shit. Okay. So how do we make her see that we’re not like the others who will pity or judge her?”

“Ah, now therein lies the problem my friend. La is proud, and it won’t be easy to show her that whatever has happened does not affect how we view her. She’ll be doubtful and mistrusting, but that’s where our patience and tenacity will have to break down her walls.”

I know I’m willing to do this and be there for her because I unreservedly believe La is the one for me, so nothing is off the table when ites winning her heart.

Al looks skeptical and apprehensive and that does not sit bwell /bwith me. bIt /bseems like it’s time toy down the gauntlet.

“This is where you must decide if you’re up for what lies ahead. She’s going to fight bus/b, she’s going to question our intentions, and she even might try push us away. And all those actions will be valid because, in thest 18 monthsb, /bshe hasn’t had someone in her corner. The person who was supposed to love and support her unconditionally turned on her, manipted her, and started abusing her. So, if you’re not willing to put in the effort and dedication bto /bshowing her that you’ll be there for her, even if it isn’t romantically, it might be best to take a step back.”

I know I sound a bit harshb, /bbut La deserves the best and I’ll be her biggest cheerleader and defender. Whoever is not willing to step up to be her protector, needs to fuck all the way off.

AJ is quiet all through dinner and that makes me worry. But I won’t strongarm him into fighting for La. He needs to sort his shit out – from whatever hangovers he might have left of the past to what his current interest in La is.

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