Unbroken

“From the fire…”

“Yeah.”

I nodded slowly, repeating, “Yeah.”

“Was wondering how long it was gonna be before Hunt let you come around here. Feels like damn time—”

“About damn time!” Someone else yelled. I twisted around to look at the young man on one of the couches, smiling widely at me. “Was starting to think it was all in his head.”

Roy laughed. “He’s crazy, but not in that way.”

I didn’t notice the backroom behind Roy until a giant figure stepped out. I tensed, swinging my head up to look at Hunter as he came through. His eyes widened a fraction at the sight of me, but his face remained reserved as he came around the counter. Roy patted his back as he moved past him, lightly saying, “You could have given us a heads up, you little cunt.”

Hunter’s gaze was pinned on mine. He didn’t smile as he responded, “I didn’t know she was coming.”

As he drew near, I took him in. He was wearing his worn-out jeans, plain t-shirt that stretched across his growing chest, but no leather jacket like the rest of them. My eyes immediately pricked with emotion, and before I could say anything, he grabbed me gently by the arm and steered me across the room, to an empty leather couch. He motioned for me to sit down, but I wound up turning to him instead and burying my face in his chest. My arms came around him, and I hugged him tightly, saying nothing as the scent of him flowed heavy around us. Hunter’s heart beat faster against my ear as he wrapped his arms around me, too.

“Hey,” he whispered soothingly.

His shirt was wet with my tears. I missed him. I missed him. I missed him so much. It felt totally alien being away from him—

“Skye,” he said, trying to detach me from him. “Look at me, Nugget.”

I didn’t. I kept my face plastered to him, holding him tightly. My arms barely went around him. He let out a sigh as he held me back, his embrace growing tighter. His head dropped down, and I felt his nose in my hair, breathing me in. His body tensed, and he quietly remarked, “I miss that shampoo you use. The watermelon one.”

He meant the cheap one.

I still didn’t reply, and this time he shook me. “Hey, I need to see you, alright? Look at me.” This time I broke free and forced my head up to meet his gaze. He frowned. “Are you alright?”

I nodded once. “Just…missing you.”

He dropped down on the couch and brought me down over him. I settled in his lap, burying my face in his neck as he stroked my hair. “Why are you here, Skye?”

“You weren’t at the workshop.”

“It’s Sunday.”

“Yeah.”

He continued to cradle me. “Did you come here alone?”

“Leo’s in the car.”

I felt his pulse jump at the sound of Leo’s name, but if this bothered him, he didn’t voice it. “Has he been good to you?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re eating?”

“I’m eating.”

“What about your feet?”

“They’re healed up.”

“Good. That’s good.” He ran his hand down my spine now, pausing at the holes in my top. “You wearing my shirt?”

I cracked a smile. “The Metallica one—”