Hunting Eden (Triple Trouble 1)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Giein it laldy: saying, to give one’s all, to be vigorous or energetic. Pronounced: Geen it lall-day.

* * *

Eden

Hunter hasn’t left my side since we arrived. He’s been attentive and introduced me to everyone.

From the corner of my eye, I spot Fraser and his family across the room. Sitting next to him is Jamie. Why is he here? I didn’t see him come in.

I notice Fraser boring his gaze through Ella, who’s standing over at the bar.

There’s something going on there. I must ask Ella about that later. God, this is exhausting. Between me and Hunter, Ella and Fraser, Eva and Ewan, I don’t know if the three of us are coming or going.

An announcement is made from the stage to indicate the first dance.

“C’mon, winner first.” Hunter places his hand to my lower back, ushering me to the dance floor.

Hunter takes my hand and circles my waist with the other in a ballroom-style hold.

“Can you dance?” I ask, looking up.

“Nope, but I can sway and sidestep.”

“Maybe I should lead.”

“You probably should,” He jokes.

Orchestral strings float through the air as we’re hit with the sultry tones of Beyoncé’s version of “At Last.”

“You may have a Scottish Beyoncé in Lewis Capaldi, but in the States we actually have Beyoncé.” He crinkles his nose. “Since that first time you danced for me in the studio, how passionate you were about song’s words and the emotion behind them, I started listening to the words of every song that plays on the radio. This song. These words. This is for you. For us. We’re together at last.”

A lump balls in my throat.

We glide and sway together, moving over the floor as other couples join us. And Hunter’s a really wonderful dancer.

Jamie and the gossip mags are wrong. Hunter is mine and only mine. He’s not seeing Jess. I feel it. I think.

I listen to the mesmerizing words.

He is my at last, not for long enough though.

The night goes by filled with lots of laughing, joking, and dancing with my girls. Ella’s been giein it laldy all night, ignoring Fraser’s glares.

Heading to the bar to get myself a drink, I glance around the room. Jamie is across the room chatting with Jax. I’ve only met Jax once, but I do not get a good vibe from him. Two slimeballs together, deep in conversation.

Shifting my eyes around the room, I spot Hunter way over in the far corner chatting to a woman in a bright-red dress and skyscraper heels. Jess.

She reaches up and rubs her hand down his arm. He doesn’t even flinch. He flashes his statement smile at her and he looks very at ease, unlike before around her.

Turning back around, I bow my head to the bar as my stomach sloshes around like a washing machine.

“They’re closer than you think.”

Jax Parks.

Great. Just what I need.

“Really. Do you know that for sure?” I ask, not really wanting to know the answer.

“Jess informed me they met up in Florida a few weeks ago and she slept with him so, yeah, I know.”

I feel sick to my stomach. “Why would she tell you that? And why would you stay with her?”

“Easy pickings. Easy lay,” he sneers.

Yuck.

“I knew you two would never last. You’re not good enough for him. He likes party girls, fake blondes, and fake tits. Factor in a long-distance relationship. They never work. You’re just a toy to him. He has a girl in every city and town around the tournament trail. You know little to nothing about him and you’re so not his type.” He looks me up and down with distaste as he sips his whisky. “Jess, now she fits right into this scene. Party girl. Knows all the golfers and their families. Free to travel. American. Lives in Florida. Likes to share, if you know what I mean.”

A mix of shock and anger flood my head. I can’t listen to another minute of this.

“I wouldn’t trust him if I were you. Being away all the time with temptation everywhere. Pfttt. Good luck.” Before I can move, he decides for me as he turns on his stout feet and walks away.

Relief washes over me.

What a head fuck.

My puzzle of conflicting emotions is all over the place. I’m getting mixed messages from Hunter’s words and actions, but the text, photo, and sneaking off to nonexistent meetings don’t match.

I turn again to see if Hunter is still talking to Jess, but he’s nowhere to be seen and neither is she.

Walking back over to the table, needing to freshen up, I grab my clutch and make my way to the bathrooms.

Twisting through the maze of corridors in the five-star luxury hotel, lost in my thoughts at Jax’s words, I come face-to-face with a swaying Jamie. He’s so drunk. He’s clearly been drinking for a few hours.

“Hey, you alright, Jamie?”

“You.” He points at me viciously. “You should be with me, not him.”

Panicking, I look around to see if anyone is around to help in case this goes south.

“You are mine. Not his. You always have been.”

“I’m not yours, Jamie.”

“Yeah? Well, you're not his either. I saw him with Jess earlier and she’s filled me in on all of her and Hunter’s recent hookups. Sneaking around and fucking behind your back.”

Why is this happening to me again?

“What did she say?” I whisper as I watch him swagger back and forth.

“She said that they have arranged to be together once Hunter leaves here. He’s never coming back for you. They have plans. Together,” he slurs.

Jax was right. Jess and Hunter.

A vicious pang of jealousy pierces my heart.

Mum was wrong. Going after what you want was a stupid idea.

The man I love doesn’t love me.

I stumble backward away from Jamie.

“I have to go.”

“Don’t go,” Jamie shouts. “Eddy, come back.” I hear him howl.

Running through the corridors toward the back of the hotel, I burst open the giant fire exit door that leads to the back parking lot, for fear of running into paparazzi hanging about at the front.

I can’t breathe as I bend over with my hands on my knees. Gasping for air outside, my chest feels tight and heavy.

“Eden?”

I turn around to face Hunter.

Spotting my tears, he says, “Hey, baby. What’s up? I saw you racing along the corridor.”

“Don’t call me baby,” I spit.

“Hey, hey, what did I do?” He laughs.

“Everything. You’ve lied to me for weeks now.”

“Lied to you?” he asks, puzzled, as I stomp toward the parking lot.

“About everything. About us, Jess, your intentions with me. Everything. I saw you back there. She was touching you; you never stopped her. I’ve seen the text messages from her. You met her in Florida, Hunter, and you never said.”

Hunter clenches his jaw.

With anger, I pour out everything I’ve discovered these last few days. “It was all over the gossip mags. I saw it with my own eyes, but I didn’t want to believe it. You were with her. Hugging her. And Jax said—”

“Oh, great, continue. What did Jax say? This I have gotta hear.” He stops walking and folds his arms.

“He said you and Jess met when we were in Florida and you fucked her. Did you? I feel sick.”

“You didn’t just ask me that, did you?” He drops his head. “I would never, ever cheat on you. I have always been faithful to you, with all my girlfriends. Unlike your ex.”

Jamie clumsily walks out of the heavy door with a clatter, then stumbles and weaves toward us.

“Speaking of the devil.” Hunter glowers.

“Don’t listen to him, Eddy. He’s lying to you,” Jamie slurs.

“Am I now, and how would you know? You fucking drunk. Fraser’s filled me in on all your latest antics. Your life’s a mess. No home. No job. Alcohol dependent. You need help.”

“Shut it, Hunter. You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jamie mumbles.

“Shut up, both of you,” I yell. “Jess told Jamie all about your secret rendezvous, Hunter, and how you’ve been planning a life together when you leave here. Jax even confirmed it. He said our relationship is a lie and we would never last. You have women everywhere you go.

“You’re only using me while you’re here. But Jess, well, she supposedly fits right in, no commitments, no ties, easy girl, and knows the golf scene.” I hold back the tears I feel forming. “You lied to me the other night when you said you were going to a meeting late at night. You weren’t there. I checked.”

Someone must have alerted Toni, Beth, and Ella as I watch them tentatively join our Jerry Springer Show moment in the hotel parking lot.

“Great. An audience. Well, why don’t I fill everyone in where we’re up to, shall I?” Hunter says a little too calmly.

“Eden here thinks I’m cheating on her with Jess. I’m a lying, cheating asshole and our relationship is a lie. Isn’t that what you said?” he turns to ask me through narrowed eyes.

The girls all stand in complete shock.

I don’t like this at all.

“Oh, and the best part, that information came from Jax and this jerkoff here…” He points to Jamie. “…and Jess apparently too. Three fine human specimens with no backbone, no loyalty, and not a scrap of honesty between them. You actually believe them over me?” He points to his chest.

“I don’t know,” I answer, because I really don’t know anymore.

“Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve had the best day of my life today. I win The Cup and the girl, and you pull this shit on me.” He shoots me a furious glance.

Resting his hands on his hips, he raises his head to the sky, trying to calm himself down. “I wished you hadn’t done this tonight. Do you want to know the truth, Eden? Because you could have asked me. Or is it because you’re so wrapped up in Jamie since he came back that I’ve been swept aside so you can make way for him.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” I sniffle.

“Pah, really, who’s lying now? You’ve been quiet, reserved, holding back. Not sharing every thought with me, which is most unlike you. The icing on the cake, I asked you last night what you’d been up to yesterday, and you never told me this asshole visited Chloe’s tree with you. I saw you.”

“I didn’t want to upset you,” I whisper.

“But, here, now, this is a better time to upset me?” He paces. “You know what. I can’t do this. You’ll never believe me. He may have cheated on you, Eden, but I never would. I am nothing like him.”

“Fuck off, Hunter,” Jamie mumbles.

“No, you fuck off, Jamie. I’ve learned more about this girl in a few weeks than you ever took the time to in seven years. I know what’s going on here. You saw Eden in the papers, getting her life back, with me, and you’re fucking jealous. But you left; you walked away from this incredible girl and your baby. You don’t want her, but no one else is allowed to have her, is that right? Fuck, I bet you’re loving this. Tell me, did you concoct all this crap about me alongside Jax to cause what’s happening here? To place doubt in Eden’s mind? From what I hear, manipulation is one of your strengths. Did Jax pay you to tell these lies?”

Jamie’s sheepish face says it all as he looks away from us. He lied to me about Hunter and Jess. It’s written all over his face.

I cover my mouth with my hand and let out a muffled shriek.

“I put money on the fact he told you he’s still in love with you. Did he tell you that too, Eden? The other day in the kitchen? Is that what he told you, because you told me jack shit about what you spoke about. Did he?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

He shakes his head in disappointment. “You’ll always be searching for reasons not to be with me. Let’s face it, you’ve been looking for an excuse since we started dating to get rid of me or waiting for me to fuck up. Because of course you don’t deserve happiness and love in your life, isn’t that right, Eden? You deserve scum like him.” He points at Jamie again. “This time it’s cheating on you. The other week it was because I live too far away. Then it was because of things Jamie made you believe. Even though I’ve done everything to show you otherwise. You drew up a master plan for us to be together. I’m one hundred per cent all in with you. Or was that a lie from your end? Was all that a ruse to make me believe this would work?”

“No, it was never like that, Hunter,” I’m not lying, I love him. A cold sweat breaks out across my skin as I start to panic.

“Well, it feels like it.” He pulls his hair. “Do you really want to know what I’ve been doing sneaking around and who I’ve been meeting at night?”

I don’t get a chance to answer.

“Realtors, or estate agents, whatever. I’ve been buying land so I can build a fucking house to move here, so I can be with you. Man, I feel like such a fool.” He rubs his hands into his eyes. “I’ve had meetings with my realtor via video calls this week, staying up late so we can list my house in Florida, getting all the paperwork in order.”

What have I done? My world plummets around me.

Hunter can’t stop his river of defense. “Jax Parks. I fired him this afternoon, straight after my win. He’s been screwing me over for months now. It’s his revenge, Eden. Do you not see this? Getting a drunk involved worked out brilliantly for him. He told you lies about me. It’s fucking fake news, and you bought it. He wants this to happen. I’m surprised he’s not out here ringside.” His voice is suddenly as hard as steel. “I can’t believe I’m having to justify myself when I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Jess?” He paces with fury. “I bumped into her when I had an appointment with my lawyer. To start my visa application to move here to Scotland to be with you.” He points at me.

My bag drops to the ground as I place my head in my hands and sob into them as tears of reality fall. I don’t think I want to hear anymore.

“Jess was at the gym. I decided I didn’t want to hold any bitter grudges toward her anymore. We made our apologies to each other. I let go of the past so I could move on with my future. With you. Tonight she was just saying congratulations. That was all.” He rubs his eyes.

“When we chatted in Florida, she invited me to go to her spinning class with her. I was polite and said I would, knowing damn fine I will not be there, because I’m moving here. My lawyer's office is located next to her gym. It was a chance meeting, Eden.”

Hunter lets out a strangled groan.

“I don’t even think I can stop it now, but my visa application is underway. It takes eight months to process, and I wanted to start as soon as possible. Having spent all that time with you in Florida, I realized I couldn’t be without you. I’m no liar. I’m the opposite of that. I’m the most honest guy you’ll ever meet. Everything I said was true. I love you with everything. But tonight I don’t recognize you.”

I feel bile rising in my throat. He continues his onslaught of honesty.

“I know you’ve been hurt. I know what you’ve been through. But you’ve been trying to convince yourself you’re not worthy of love again. My love. You’ve fucking crushed me with all this high school bullshit tonight. This is such childish behavior. I can’t win with you. You want me, but you won’t allow me to have you. Not really. You’re still wrapped up in him and believe his lies.” He stares at Jamie. “I never stood a fucking chance once he came back. You certainly won’t let me love you fully with my whole heart. I wanted to share my life with you. Last night, when I made love to you, you were saying goodbye to me already. I knew it. I could feel it with every touch. You’d already made your decision we would not work.” With glassy eyes, he rubs his nose with the back of his sleeve.

“You want me to back off and be the bastard you so desperately want to believe I am, then have at it. You’re getting what you want, Eden.” He tugs furiously at his bow tie to loosen it.

“I was moving heaven and earth to be with you. I even signed a deal the other day, in private, behind Jax’s back, with Beth and the Golf Association to set up a new golfing scholarship, identical to the one I have back home. I was going to help run it here, with Luke and Evan running the facility in Florida. I wanted to cherry pick my tournaments, me winning Majors allows me to do that. Then coach, here in Scotland, in between that. Looks like that’s going to change now.”

He looks over to Beth. “I need you to get me out of that contract, Beth. Pronto.”

I yell, “No, Hunter, please don’t do that.” My charming American boy is so hurt. I did this. I’ve never seen him like this before. Pain funnels fast into my heart; I think I may pass out.

He shakes his head at me. “You messed up, Cupcake. The issues you have with trust were never about me. If we don’t have trust, we have nothing.”

We stand in silence. I’m utterly lost for words.

“Long distance will never work without trust, Eden. We are doomed from the start. And please don’t waste your tears. Not for me. Save them for him. ’Cause he seems to get everything. He wins every time with his lies and deceit.”

His eyes full of pain connect deep with mine. “You’ll never trust me being away all the time. It will eat you alive and I can’t allow that to happen. You’ve hurt us both enough tonight. Just so you know, I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. I’ve tried to show you how much. It’s been a whirlwind; you’ve had me in a spin since I met you. Fuck.” He squeezes his eyes tight. “I gave you my heart. You had me.” He glances over at Jamie. “But I can’t live in the shadows of another man. For the record, unlike him, I’m not leaving you, Eden. You pushed me.”

He turns, marching toward the hotel, muttering, and disappears through the glass sliding doors. All I can do is stand and watch as my future melts away like snow in a thaw.

I don’t know what to do.

“What have I done?” I bawl.

“We can be together now, Eden,” Jamie leers.

“Do the right thing for once in your life and fuck off, properly this time.” Toni shoots him a vicious glare.

Detecting the mood, Jamie wobbles away toward the town center.

“How do I fix this?” I look at the girls.

One by one they walk my way. Ella pipes up, “I don’t think you can, babes. He’s hurt. You’ve done some pretty stupid shit in your time, but this takes the biscuit. I would normally stand by you through hell or high water, but you fucked up tonight, Eden. What the hell were you thinking listening to Jax and Jamie?”

Shivers of panic wave like a violent storm.

“I’m going to be sick.” I bend over fast, emptying my pain, sadness, and stupidity all over the tarmac.

When there’s nothing left, I turn back to the girls.

“I’ll call you a taxi.” Beth taps on her phone as they all start walking away.

“Are you not coming home with me?” I ask.

“We’re staying here, Eden. You need to go home, clear your head, get perspective on what happened here tonight. You need to buckle up because the next few days are going to hurt like a bitch. He leaves tomorrow, baby girl. You blew it.” Ella’s stoic voice has thrown me.

My girls always have my back. But not tonight. This is awful.

“I see,” I say, wiping my face, trying to pull myself together.

I turn my back on them. “You can all go now.”

Picking up my bag up from the ground, I walk slowly toward the curbside to wait for my taxi.

Shoulders back, I take a deep breath in, knowing that I’ve just changed my direction forever.

I hold back my tears, the large ever-growing lump in my throat threatens to strangle me.

Behind me, I hear the girls clicking heels go back inside the hotel, and then it’s just me.

Alone again.

Just how it should be.

Destined to be by myself forever.

I blew up my own world tonight.

Tears pool in my eyes again as that familiar friend called pain weaves itself through my veins.

Hello, old friend. Oh, how I’ve missed you.