7. The Richardsons

Hunter

Hunter went home that evening and saw no cars in the driveway. A large five-bedroom, modern house sat at the end of a cul-de-sac with one other home across from theirs.

Everything clean, and organized, with nothing out of place. Cold and sterile white and stone color palettes filled the room. There were no signs of life, no food on the stove, no warm embraces, an unlived-in model home. Used to being home alone or with his brother, Chad, when he was still at home, Hunter stomped up to his room to unpack.

Hours later, after pushing away a half-empty pizza box on the kitchen island, he checked his social media for new posts. Andrea posted a new bag and some teammates who’d just landed in Daytona for Spring Break were getting ready to start their week of debauchery. Logan posted a clip with his family around the dinner table, making silly faces and then another of them playing board games by the fire. It made him smile to see them so happy, wishing he’d stayed.

Back in his room, around a quarter to ten, the sound of footsteps on the stairs made him sit up in anticipation.

His father appeared at his bedroom door. “I’ve asked you a million times not to park your car on the right side of the driveway. How am I supposed to get into the garage? We have the trip Friday, and I’m leaving the Suburban at the airport for the week. How am I supposed to store my car?”

“Sorry. I’ll move it now,” Hunter said, emotionless, heaving a sigh.

“You don’t think, do you?” his father continued as Hunter walked down the stairs.

Once outside, he took a deep cleansing breath, looked up at the night sky and remembered how much he hated being home. After moving his car, and with nothing to do, he sat in it and unlocked his phone again. Nothing new from Logan, so he browsed his pictures, missing him already.

His mother pulled into the driveway beside him and got out of the car in her tailored black suit.

“Yes,” she said, on her phone as she leaned against her car. “It’s ten days. You can do without me for that long … No. The trip isn’t for him, it’s for my son … No, you can’t come … I’m going to miss you, too … I’m not wearing the lingerie you bought me on the trip …”

Disgusted, he opened his car door, startling her.

“We’ll talk soon, goodbye.” His mother wrapped up the call. “Hun, are you just getting in now?”

“No, got in a while ago.”

“Are you hungry? Have you eaten? I can heat something up for you,” she asked, touching his cheek.

“I ordered pizza.”

Once inside the house, she took off her high heels, walked toward the kitchen, and tossed her keys on the marble countertop. “Heat me up a slice, please? We can catch up over a bottle of wine.”

Hunter had been pouring her favorite wine since he was eight years old. Unfazed by the muffled sounds of arguing from his parents’ bedroom, he pulled a bottle from the case.

A few minutes later, his mother came down wearing loose, beige silk pants, a white tank top, and a beige cashmere robe. “Mhh,” she purred as she sat at the corner of the large cream sectional with her feet up, looking like a model in a lifestyle ad for a couch. “Thank you, Hun. So, how are things?” she asked, carefully biting her slice. Joanna Richardson was a high-powered Vice President at a Fortune 500 company about forty-five minutes away.

He shrugged. “Fine.”

“Hunter, talk to me, please. Living with your father is unbearable. Tell me something—anything,” she begged with a small laugh. She had shoulder-length, blonde hair, and large, captivating blue eyes. Her presence was bold, just as striking as her personality. “How’s school?”

“It’s good. Had my last midterm today. Chem.”

“How do you think you did? The best you can is all we can ask for. I’m proud of you,” she said, eyes glazing over. It was unlike her to have this much time to sit and chat with him. Loneliness grew on her face. “How are the Parkers? How is Logan? Still glued at the hip?”

“We’re not ‘glued at the hip’. He’s fine, I guess. Dropped him off earlier.”

His mother took a large gulp of wine. “And the Parkers? How is Rosemary? I spoke with her last weekend. She has no idea how lucky she is to have that sweet, caring man. When you get sweet, loving people in your life, keep them and cherish them. They’ll be all you have through thick and thin. Don’t become attracted to power and money like I was.” Hunter nodded, questioning her sudden sentimentality that evening. “How are the ladies? Are you dating anyone special?” she asked.

Hunter’s face warmed, wishing he could tell her about the person who kept his mind preoccupied most of the day. How, ever since they kissed, he only fantasized about Logan in his arms. “I’m more focused on school this semester.”

“Maybe you’ll meet some nice girls this weekend. I booked you and Logan your own mini luxury cabin. They’re two-bedrooms each, and we got three of them. So, you’ll have plenty of privacy to bring back whomever you’d like,” she said with a wink. “Unlike that time in Cancun when I woke up to a naked woman on my couch.”

“That wasn’t me, that was Chad,” Hunter said, shaking his head in denial. “Who were you on the phone with outside?”

She put a finger up as she chewed, telling him to wait.

She’s about to lie, Hunter thought.

“That’s a work colleague, dear.”

“Are you getting divorced?”

She took a short gulp and held her hand to her chest with dramatic flair. “Divorced? From your father? No! We love each other. I know it hasn’t been the easiest time lately, but we do love each other. And he loves the two of you so much.”

Hunter shook his head in disbelief. “I hope you get divorced. You’re both miserable. I’m not a kid. I don’t need you to stay together; I’d rather see you happy.”

“We are happy, I swear we are.” She poured herself another glass of wine. “Are you happy? Do you want to talk to somebody? We can send you back to Dr. Goodman, but I think he only sees children.”

“I’ve been happier lately.”

“Your happiness is the most important thing,” she slurred, eyes watering. “You and your brother.”

His father’s heavy steps echoed down the stairs, instantly altering the atmosphere in the room. “How drunk is she now?”

She braced herself as if she’d lunge off the couch. “Fuck you, Thomas! Despite our son being home, you’re still unable to control yourself?!”

“He knows you’re a drunk. Does he know you’re a fucking whore, too?”

“Hey!” Hunter jumped to his feet, preemptively coming between the two. His mother chugged the last of the wine and hurled the glass at his father, narrowly missing his head and shattering it against the wall and onto the floor.

His father froze for a moment, his eyes widening and his mouth hanging open in disbelief. “You psycho bitch!”

“I’ll show you psycho bitch!” she screamed, leaping from the couch, and charging forward.

Hunter wrapped his muscular arms around her, holding her back. “Mom, relax, it’s okay.”

“You fucking, no-good bastard. You were nothing without me. Nothing. He’s ruined everything, Hunter. Everything,” she screamed hysterically, hands trembling.

“I know, I know. We’ll fix it.”

“Your mother—” his father started.

“Shut up! No one wants to hear you right now,” Hunter said, trying to keep his mother from attacking him. She finally gave up and sobbed heavily against Hunter’s chest. Hunter helped her up the stairs and to his bedroom, afraid of what she’d do if he left her alone.

“Lie down, Mom, you’re okay now,” Hunter said calmly, getting her into bed.

“I fucking hate him.”

Hunter’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Logan.

“Hey,” Logan said on the other end, a cheerfulness in his voice.

“I want him out of here!” his mother hissed, mascara running down her face.

“I know, Mom,” Hunter said. “Hey, let me call you back.”

“Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine. I’ll call you before I head to bed. See ya.” He hung up.

“Hunter, can you get me my pills from my purse?”

Rushing downstairs, Hunter made his way to the kitchen counter, avoiding the scattered shards of broken glass on the floor. The sound of the garage door opening and closing echoed through the house as his father headed out for the night. After handing his mother her pills and a glass of water, he tucked her into his bed, turned the lights off, and gave the door a gentle shut.

While Hunter cleaned up bits of broken glass off the floor, the doorbell rang.

Logan stood on the porch, his chest heaving breathlessly as he glanced around, a look of concern etched on his face. “Hey.”

Blood rushed to Hunter’s cheeks, wanting to leap into his arms and have Logan take him away from the madness. “Did you run here?”

“No, I rode my bike. Are you okay?”

Hunter widened the door to let Logan in. “It’s a mess.” Logan watched Hunter clean up pieces of glass from the floor. “My parents got into it. My mom had a couple of drinks. You know how she can get, and my dad’s an asshole.”

“I’m sorry, man,” Logan said and grabbed the dustpan to help Hunter scoop. “I don’t mean to intrude. I got worried—you didn’t sound too great on the phone. I know your parents can be … intense.”

After stowing the broom away in the closet, Hunter turned into Logan’s warm embrace. His instinct to pull away melted away, surrendering to Logan’s tight hold, feeling himself swayed back and forth ever so slightly. Thank you, he wanted to say but knew he didn’t have to—not with Logan. Tears formed behind his eyes, but he blinked them away.

“Where is your mom now?” Logan asked.

“In my room, passed out. Want to head downstairs? I’ll be down in a sec.”

A popular hangout for the teens in the neighborhood growing up, Hunter’s basement had a large entertainment room with a spacious U-shaped sectional and a patio that led to a heated pool and jacuzzi.

Hunter balanced a pile of pillows, blankets, and snacks in his arms while coming down the basement stairs.

“You are the best. Like old times, huh?” Logan joked.

They sat quietly at opposite ends of the couch, surfing through channels, occasionally stopping when something looked interesting.

“How are you feeling?” Logan asked, breaking the silence.

“I—I hate it here.” Hunter’s jaw clenched and his brows furrowed. “I think they’re both having affairs. Their marriage is so dead they want to kill each other.”

“Do you think they’ll get a divorce?”

“I sure hope so because their misery makes the rest of us miserable. I love being at your place. You’ve got it so good.”

Logan laughed and leaned back with his hands behind his head. “I mean, my parents are alright, but this was definitely the spot.”

“I’d trade with you in a heartbeat.”

“See, look at this nonsense now,” Logan said, pointing at his phone, an inbound call from his mother. “Hi, Mom … Yes, everything is fine … I’m spending the night. I’ll be back for breakfast … I think he knows he’s welcome at our house anytime … Love you, too.”

Hunter seeped out a breath, thinking of his own parents. He couldn’t wait to move out and not have to come home during holiday breaks. But then, he’d be far away from Logan.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?” Logan snapped him out of his trance, throwing popcorn at his face. “Talk to me.”

“I was thinking that you’re too far away, and we need to fix that.” He opened up his blanket from his side of the U-sectional.

“For the record,” Logan started, “I didn’t come here for that. I came to make sure you were okay. But if you insist.”

With an outstretched arm, Hunter welcomed Logan into his embrace, their bodies aligning as he held him close. Logan snuggled awkwardly into Hunter’s broad frame, his nose almost pressing against the nape of his neck

“Thanks for coming,” Hunter said, placing his chin on Logan’s head.

“Of course,” Logan said. “Remember our date?”

“Huh? What date?”

“The movie.”

Hunter laughed, thinking about the moment they’d both silently let each other know how they felt. “It was kind of a date, wasn’t it?”

“I’d say,” Logan said and kissed beneath Hunter’s chin and down his neck tenderly. “It was sweet.”

“My hands were so sweaty,” Hunter confessed.

“Aw, you were nervous.”

“I was.”

“Are you nervous now?” Logan whispered, before licking the base of Hunter’s neck.

Hunter pushed his hips back toward the couch, away from Logan. “Fuck, don’t start. Let’s go to sleep.” Hunter was too scared to admit that he didn’t know what to do beyond kissing, not with a man.

Logan breathed a sigh of disappointment. “Sure.”