On the Rocks (Last Call #1)(59)

Finally, sitting between Hunter and Wyatt is his agent, Keith Carr. He’s staying the night, having checked into the Sand Piper Inn over in Kitty Hawk. He’s been busy all night, regaling me with tales about Hunter’s career, and I’ve been enjoying learning more about him. Hunter’s not the type that will talk about this stuff unless I push and prod him. He doesn’t toot his own horn very well.

So, the reason it became self-evident just now… as we sit in this group surrounded by Hunter’s closest friends and advisors—as well as one ex-girlfriend—you know, the people that know him best, you would think this would be a Hunter-palooza—a veritable party to pay homage to the greatness of the number two surfer in the world. But on the contrary, even though Keith tries very hard to center the talk around Hunter and how important his career is, Hunter matches him beat for beat in talking about me… in trying to put me to the forefront of the attention.

At first, it was embarrassing, the way Hunter repetitively bragged about my accomplishments and me. I know he just wants his friends to get to know me better, to validate his choice to be with me. By my third beer, and the fact that Hunter had moved his chair close to me so he could drape his arm over my shoulder, I’m feeling more relaxed and willing to let him extol my virtues.

“Hey Sasha… remember that time that Corey Granz cut Hunter off in the third heat of the Bali Pro? You went apeshit on his ass,” Keith says while laughing and taking a sip of his fifth Jack and Coke. His voice was getting a little louder, a little more slurred, but we were all here to have a good time.

Sasha laughs, her eyes going warm with the memory, and it makes my stomach clench. It also sort of pisses me off that Keith has now gone down Sasha and Hunter’s memory lane, a place I have no wish to journey.

“Yeah,” Sasha says, leaning forward against the table to look at Hunter. “When he got out of the water, I went a little crazy on him.”

“A little crazy?” Keith says with a bark of laughter. “You ran up and pushed him so hard that he landed flat on his ass. I thought I would die from the look on his face.”

Hunter’s hand softly caresses my shoulder, and he says, “It wasn’t a biggie. I whipped his ass in that heat, and Sasha acted like a brat.”

Okay, this was getting a little awkward, and I sneak a quick glance at Sasha. Her eyes narrow at Hunter but then she shakes it off, even giving me a friendly smile. “Yeah… in hindsight, I guess that was pretty stupid. Hunter can handle himself.”

“Exactly,” Hunter says in agreement, even as his attention is taken away when someone taps him on the shoulder. It’s one of his bartenders… Susie I think, and she leans down.

“The cash register at the front is broken again and won’t open. I tried resetting it, but nothing. Brody’s too busy at the back bar to look at it.”

“I’m on it,” Hunter says as he stands from the table. He doesn’t leave though, until he bends down and places a kiss on top of my head, which again, is another reason why my heart has flopped over and submitted to love. Because he’s always thinking about me.

As soon as Hunter’s gone, Keith turns to me. “So Gabby… what do you think about Hunter competing again?”

I take a sip of my beer and appraise Keith. His eyes are almost glittering as he waits for my answer. Somehow, I feel that when said answer comes, he’s going to be poised to strike at me in some way. Glancing around the table, I see everyone else is watching me for my answer as well.

“I think it’s great… if that’s what he wants to do.”

“What do you think he wants to do?” Keith asks, and I suddenly feel Sasha’s interest hone in on my answer. It could be the way she leans further across the table, practically licking her lips over what I might say.

“He’s torn… I think you all know he came back for Brody.”

Keith nods sagely. “Yeah… pretty dumb f*cking reason, but I get it.”

“Shut the f*ck up,” John snarls next to me. “You have no right to judge his decision.”

“Hey,” Keith says, picking up his drink and waving it toward John. “I’m entitled to my opinion. Just as you are.”

A quick glance around the table, and I see Wyatt with his fists clenched and glaring at Keith, Sasha has her head dipped and a small smirk on her face, and John looks like he’s about ready to jump across the table and tackle Keith.

“Listen,” I say calmly. “Hunter knows Brody will be okay if he leaves, so that’s not something you need to worry about. If he wants to go back, he will, and he’ll figure out a way to make it work. All of us sitting here will support him when he does, so everyone just stop worrying about it. Okay?”

Sasha picks up her drink… some fruity concoction. I have no clue what it is, but it’s a nauseating pink color, and she holds it up to me in salute. “I agree with Gabby. Hunter will make his decision in good time, and we’ll all support it. I think Gabby knows what she’s talking about.”

Her words are supportive of me, particularly supportive of me as Hunter’s girlfriend, but for some reason, they don’t quite reach my truth-o-meter. She’s holding something back, but I’m not sure what.

Keith raises his glass and slugs back the rest of the contents, slamming it on the table. “To Gabby… may she talk some sense into our boy.”