The Past Between Us novel Chapter 34

The coffee shop had been full when Jace and I had arrived. The sun was just starting to set, and it was almost empty now.

"So, all this time. Hunter had been protecting you from Nichole?" Jace's face was tense with concentration.

I nodded slowly.

He sighed. "I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner. I always wondered why he always came to me and asked me to help you whenever you were in trouble, instead of doing it himself. I could see that asking me killed him but he did it anyway."

I gasped, breathing suddenly became really hard.

"You mean all this time-" My eyes were widened in disbelief.

Jace smiled. "He never stopped caring about you Scarlett."

His large hand came to rest over mine, and he squeezed it reassuringly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. It wasn't my place to tell you, it was Hunter's secret, not mine."

I gulped. Trying to swallow the growing lump in my throat.

"He's a good guy Scarlett. He's a little lost right now. Sometimes all we need is for someone to find us. Bring him back, you're the only one who can."

I looked into Jace's eyes and I could see his honesty. I could tell that he still cared about his friend.

The sound of the door-bell jingling caught our attention.

Every ounce of breath left my body when I saw who it was.

Hunter.

His eyes scanned the shop leisurely until they finally found mine, and widened in shock. This was the first time I was seeing him ever since that incident with Nichole.

The first time I was seeing him ever since I've found out the truth.

Hunter's eyes suddenly focused on something else. It took me a moment to realize that Jace still had his hand over mine and that was where Hunter was looking. A pang of guilt pierced through me. Jace seemed to have come to the same conclusion because he hastily retracted his hand.

I held my breath as Hunter slowly made his way towards our table, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Hey." He acknowledged Jace with a polite nod before turning to me again.

"Can I talk to you?" He sounded nervous.

I swallowed. Something about this didn't feel right.

My legs were shaking as I followed him to another booth. For a moment none of us spoke.

"How are you?" He asked finally, his voice was soft.

"I'm okay." I tried to smile reassuringly, but I couldn't.

He breathed deeply and trained his gaze on the floor so he wasn't looking at me anymore.

"I came here to apologize."

"You have nothing to apologize for. What happened isn't your fault. All this time you were trying to protect me. I should be the one apologizing." I told him firmly.

His gaze suddenly snapped to mine and I gasped.

There was so much pain in his eyes. So much agony.

All I wanted was to take it all away. I started to move towards him but he shook his head, stopping me.

"Stop it." His voice was soft but firm. "Stop apologizing for things that aren't your fault, you do it all the time. You shouldn't apologize for leaving. If it were up to me I would have made you leave sooner so you wouldn't have to suffer as much as you did. None of this is your fault, you hear me?" The fierceness in his voice startled me.

His expression softened, becoming almost haunted. "You shouldn't forgive what I did three years ago Scarlett." I started to argue but he silenced me. "I was young, when Sara told me about Nichole I panicked. I was a fool but mostly I was a coward. I should have stood by your side, I should have done everything in my power to keep you safe but instead I abandoned you, I was scared and I thought if I stayed away I could protect you. I only ended up hurting you and I'm sorry. "

He took in a long shuddering breath. "Please know that I regret every second of it. I spent the last three years regretting it, and I will regret it for the rest of my life. Everything that has happened to you is my fault and I hope that you can forgive me one day."

I swallowed. "It's not your fault." I tried again but he shook his head.

"Don't you see Scarlett? It is my fault. It will always be my fault. If I'd stayed away from you Nichole wouldn't have tried to kill you. If it weren't for me Ryder's men wouldn't be after you. I tried to delude myself into thinking that I could protect you, but the only person you need to be protected from is me."

I felt like my heart was being ripped apart. I wanted to scream but my lips refused to form words.

He took in a deep breath. There was a slight tremble in his hands.

"I came here today to tell you that I am done. I'm done trying to win you back, I'm done trying to be with you. Staying away from you is the only way I can protect you and I'll protect you even if it costs me my happiness."

His thumb brushed against my cheek and I suddenly realized that I was crying.

"You deserve so much better than me. You deserve to be happy." His eyes flitted in Jace's direction for a moment before focusing back on me. "You deserve all the happiness in the world Scarlett. Jace is a good guy. He can keep you happy. All I want is for you to be happy."

My tears were falling like the rain, I was afraid they'd never stop. I'd never felt heartbreak like this before.

Hunter closed his eyes briefly and winced like he was in pain. "I came here to say goodbye" He murmured.

No.

No.

You can't leave me.

Every one left me.

Mom. Megan.

Not you Hunter. Please.

I knew he could feel the pain he was causing me because he wouldn't meet my gaze.

"I'm leaving. There's nothing for me here Scarlett. Nothing except pain. This place is just a reminder for what I've lost," His eyes met mine briefly "And what I can not have."

"Hunter-" I choked out between sobs but he shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but it's for the best."

His gaze lingered on mine as he got up.

I watched as he turned around and left without another word.

I just sat there, dazed.

"So, you just let him go?" Jace's voice suddenly broke in.

"You heard him." I whispered. "He said that he was leaving."

Jace shook his head like he was disappointed in me. "And you're going to let him leave."

"What do you expect me to do?" I asked him dejectedly.

Jace sighed. "Did you really expect things to be simple? Happy endings don't come easy. You have to fight for them. If you want Hunter ,you need to fight for him. You need to save him from his demons."

His words started to sink in.

All this time, Hunter had been protecting me.

But who'd been protecting him?

No one.

He'd been all alone.

I should have been there for him.

Instead of letting him walk away I should have told him that I'd be there for him, that he could count on me to take care of him.

I sprang to my feet.