Okay, so this was going to be a lunch with nothing but small talk. At least she was talking to me; I needed to remember that.
“He’s good. He’s at my folks’ place, and let me tell you, he was not happy he didn’t get to come.”
Bella laughed and it sounded so sweet to my ears. “I bet. And how’s your job? Things busy as a sheriff?”
I chuckled. “I guess so. The local game warden is leaving in a few months, and I’ve been tossing around the idea of moving into that position.”
“Wow. What would you do with Jack?”
“Keep him with me. There’s no way I’d give up Jack. But, like I said, I’m just tossing around the idea.”
Tess walked up and placed our orders in front of us. A BLT and a side of fruit for Bella and a hamburger and fries for me. “Anything else you two need?” she asked.
I gave my stuff a quick once-over and replied, “I’m good. Bella?”
She looked up at Tess and grinned. “I’m all good, Tess. Thank you.”
Tess excused herself and went to the next table while I poured out some ketchup for my fries.
“What made you decide you might want to be a game warden?” Bella asked.
Before I could answer, I heard my name.
“Hunter? Oh my God. I can’t believe it!”
I looked up and saw a redhead coming toward the table. Son-of-a-bitch.
Instantly, I remembered who she was. I had hooked up with her a few years back, and Kyle had slept with her cousin. Their father owned some property north of Boggy Creek up near the country club. They had come to town to hit up some smaller bars.
She walked up to me and flashed a smile that said all the memories of that night were fresh in her mind. “I was just telling Carrie I hoped we’d run into you and Kyle again. I’ve thought about you a lot since that night we spent together.”
My mouth nearly fell open. Did she not fucking see Bella sitting there?
I looked at Bella who was staring up at Mandy. No, Mindy. Melinda? Shit.
“Um, Melinda, this is Arabella Adams.”
Melinda turned and jumped back at little, totally putting on a damn show. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you sitting there.”
“Apparently not,” Bella stated, giving Melinda a fake smile.
“Are you two dating?” Melinda asked Bella before swinging her attention back to me. “I’m so sorry, Hunter. I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d noticed her.”
Wow. What a bitch.
Bella cleared her throat. “Don’t worry, we’re just friends.”
Melinda looked at Bella again, then back to me. “Oh great! Then are you free tomorrow night?”
I blinked a few times and wished like hell this was a bad dream. First Brighton, now Melinda. “No, I’m sorry, I’m not free.”
“How about Saturday?” Melinda asked, digging her teeth into her lower lip. “We could get to know each other again.”
Bella slid her plate away and reached for her purse. “Why don’t I just leave you two alone.”
“No!” I said as I reached for her hand. She quickly pulled it away. “Bella, we’re having lunch together and Melinda is leaving.” Looking up at Melinda, I said, “I’m not free any day, and I’m not the least bit interested.”
It was a dick move, but the only way I knew to get her to leave was to be blunt—and it worked.
Her face fell. “Oh, okay. Well, cool. It was nice to see you again.”
She took another look at Bella, smiled, then turned on her heels and made her way back to the counter, where three other girls were sitting. One of them was her cousin, the girl Kyle had hooked up with.
Looking back at Bella, I sighed.
She stared at her plate. “I should probably leave.”
“Don’t.”
It came out harder than I wanted it to, but for fuck’s sake, I was so tired of her running away from me.
She tilted her head. “I don’t need to stand in the way if you want to make plans with her.”
Frowning, I said, “Don’t do that. It’s not fair, Bella. I had no idea she was going to come over here.”
Bella looked toward the counter and then back down at her plate.
“What in the hell do you want me to do or say?” I asked. “Do you know how many years I sat around and waited for you? How many nights I sat at the end of your driveway, just hoping to catch a glimpse of you because you wouldn’t take my calls or even see me?”
Her eyes went as round as saucers. “You did that?”
I jammed my fingers through my hair and sighed. “Of course, I fucking did. I loved you. I was heartbroken you just ended it with no explanation. Do you know what ran through my mind, wondering all the different reasons you could have broken up with me?”