43. Hunter

I make it all of ten steps into the grand foyer before he catches up.

"Tem, wait!"

I whip around so fast that spots dance in my periphery. "Don't call me that here," I tell him before he can get close.

I close my eyes and inhale deeply, then steel my spine and prepare for the unfathomable.

"Don't come any closer," I warn.

If I let him any nearer while I'm on the brink of hysterics, it won't end well. If he gets any closer, I'm liable to crumple right into his arms.

I wrap my arms around my torso and stand as tall as possible. Steadying my voice, I meet his gaze. "Did you know?"

"No," he insists. "I had no idea."

He runs his hand down his face, his expression forlorn. It's exactly how I feel. We were both blindsided by this—that's clear now.

"My dad's never dated anyone seriously," Greedy whispers. "Let alone mentioned getting remarried."

His eyes narrow, and I swear I feel the shift in his intention. Squeezing my arms around myself tighter, I brace for impact.

"Obviously, I don't think they're going to change their mind, but…" He inches forward.

I hold out one hand, desperate to keep him at bay. "Greedy, I swear to god, do not come any closer to me right now."

"Hunter." He whispers my name like a prayer. But there's no saving any of us now.

A cramp grips me then, and my muscles seize, forcing me to breathe deeply, just to keep my expression flat. I fight with everything I have not to outwardly react.

It doesn't work.

"Temi," he pleads. "What's wrong?"

Layers of concern coat his question. Dammit. His kindness makes it even harder to bear the tightness and the pain shooting through my lower abdomen.

"You're not okay."

It's not a question.

That's just how well he knows me.

That's just how well he loves me.

And yet that isn't our reality anymore.

It can't be.

"I'm fine," I tell him.

That's what people say, right?

When they're anything but.

I'm fine.

I'm the opposite of fine, but in this moment, for us, for him…

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

To his credit, he respects my wishes and doesn't come closer. "Let's go somewhere and really talk." He glances toward the doors that lead out to the parking lot, then back at me, his eyes shining with hope.

"There's nothing to talk about, Greedy," I tell him, keeping my expression neutral and my words terse.

"Like hell there isn't," he shoots back. "We need to figure out how we're going to tell them."

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure he's fine, too.

He can't even imagine what it's like to coexist with Magnolia St. Clair. She's going to destroy his father one way or another. That's what she does.

She infects and she festers. Her love never comes freely.

She's poison.

Eventually, Dr. Ferguson will see it. He'll break, or he'll break up with her. Then Greedy will see the similarities.

My mother is the antithesis of who I am in so many ways. And yet her DNA created me. There are parallels I can't escape. In my heart of hearts, I know it's why my dad can stay away like he does. Why he doesn't call me anymore. Why he hasn't visited or invited me to come see him. We're too similar, she and I. There's too much of her in me for me to ever be free.

Eventually, Dr. Ferguson and Greedy will both hate her.

I can't bear for Greedy to hate me, too.

I won't give him the opportunity to leave.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

"Temi, listen to me. Just because our parents—"

"You are going to be my stepbrother in a few weeks. We're about to be related."

"That means nothing!" he shouts. Our voices are loud enough now that they're echoing off the high ceiling.

Good. I'd rather he be fuming than hopeful. His outrage serves as the fuel I need to double down.

"This means nothing," he repeats. "This changes nothing."

I grimace. "This changes everything."

"Tem," he says on a whisper. "I love you. I know you love me, too."

He's right. But it doesn't matter. Our connection, the idea of being with him now, trying to explain this to our parents… of giving Magnolia any part of this boy who's so kind and generous, so sweet and so good…

I can't. I won't.

I loved him. Past tense.

The only way I can move forward is if I pretend all of this is already in the past.

"We're about to be related," I tell Greedy, keeping my tone cold.

"No, we're not," he huffs, brow furrowed and lips turned down. "My dad will understand, Tem. We just need to talk to him—"

"No," I whisper harshly. "She's awful, Greedy. She'll make your life a living hell."

What I don't say is that I won't give her reason to hate him, too.

"You want to talk about a living hell, Hunter? The pain of seeing you every day would be a living hell. The idea of being in the same house and not being able to hold you is my idea of a living hell."

He strides forward and opens his arms, clearly intent on scooping me up. God, do I want that, but it can't happen.

I take a big step back, being sure not to let him touch me.

Greedy comes to an abrupt stop, his jaw ticking in frustration. It takes all my dwindling strength to resist the urge to smooth my hand along the side of his face.

"This isn't over," he whispers, both palms raised in a temporary surrender. "It's you and me, Tem. We'll figure this out. I'll stop at nothing. I won't let them keep us apart."

I close my eyes and relish the sting behind my lids. Despite the way my nose tingles and my sinuses feel heavy, moisture doesn't collect. I'm officially cried out.

The saddest part of this situation is that I believe him. He'll do everything in his power to stay with me.

It's on me to save him from her now.

"Talk to me," he urges.

Fingertips brush along my elbow, caressing inches away from where the needles were inserted just hours ago. Eyes flying open, I jump back at the contact.

He catalogs my reaction, his mouth dropping open in horror. "Baby… It's going to be okay," he assures me again. "No wrong moves, Tem, remember?"

I nod mechanically. Standing tall, I drop my hands to my thighs. "No wrong moves."

What Greedy doesn't realize is that there are no right moves here either.

No right moves, except one designed to protect him.

Nothing's wrong. Nothing's right.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'll do everything in my power to make sure he's fine in the end, too.