LISA RYAN
Copyright © 2023 by Lisa
Ryan
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Prologue – Luna
1. Hunter
2. Luna
3. Hunter
4. Luna
5. Hunter
6. Luna
7. Hunter
8. Luna
9. Hunter
10. Luna
11. Hunter
12. Luna
13. Hunter
14. Luna
15. Hunter
16. Luna
17. Hunter
18. Luna
19. Hunter
20. Luna
21. Hunter
22. Luna
23. Hunter
24. Luna
25. Hunter
26. Luna
27. Hunter
28. Luna
29. Hunter
30. Luna
CONTENTS
31. Hunter
Epilogue Luna
Boss's Fake Fiancee: A Billionaire Surprise Pregnancy Romance
Chapter One of Boss’s Fake Fiancee
PROLOGUE – LUNA
I’mnotsupposedtobehere.
I know I’m not supposed to be here, but that only makes this delightful Saturday night that much more delicious. Hell, if Tim really didn’t want me to come to his firm’s masquerade ball, then he shouldn’t have gone on about it so much. How am I supposed to resist something that sounds so much fun?
And my God, is this fun! So cool. I always knew my step brother had a cool job, even if I don’t really know what a hedge fund manager does, and this just proves it. His firm rented out an entire hotel with a grand ballroom for the masquerade ball. Everyone looks fantastic in their regency era dresses and suits, the masks covering their eyes and at least half their faces only adds to the mystic and magic of the evening.
I love it, it adds the sensation that anythingcan happen. Which is why I’m pretty sure Tim won’t be too mad if he ever finds out that I snuck in behind him…
Well, maybe not. Tim is quite protective of me, and has been ever since his mom married my dad six years ago. He takes his role as step brother very seriously, at twenty-eight, he’s only a decade older than me. He finds it hard to remember that I’m legally an adult and sees me as pretty rebellious, but whatever.
Anyway, I’m sure he won’t see me. This room is massive, with dark lighting to complete the mysterious vibe flooding this room. The vaulted ceilings have scalloped edging, decorated with twinkling
lights to look like stars. Thick velvet drapes hang from the walls, darkening the room some more. There are white trees that look almost real, sprouting around the room. Maybe it’s more like an enchanted forest, or maybe a Midsummer Night’s Dream situation. I can definitely hide, especially if I keep my eyes on Tim all the time. If I know where he is, he won’t know where I am.
There. I spot Tim. I only recognize him because I know what he’s wearing. But I definitely recognize the man he’s talking to. He isn’t exactly trying to hide his identity. Maybe his face is covered, but I’d know those tattoos down his arm anywhere.
HunterMoore.
My God, Hunter Moore is the best looking man I have ever laid eyes on. Yeah okay, so he’s in his late thirties, I think I heard Tim say once he was thirty eight years old, but that doesn’t mean I can’t look, right? He’s a fucking sex God, dominant and a total alpha male, a real bad boy with a permanent frown etched on his face and muscles to die for.
Tim hasn’t even bothered to warn me off him, because I’m sure he assumes I wouldn’t have a crush on his best friend and mentor. I don’t suppose that makes my feelings okay, but it is a lot of fun. Seeing Hunter adds to the overall seduction of the night. Maybe I will even try and speak to him if I get the chance…
I head to one of the small bars set up in the corner of the room to get myself a drink. Since I’m already here and risking everything, I decide to risk ordering alcohol as well. Just one drink to take the edge off so I can fully enjoy this. I’m not questioned about who I am, nor my age, which is great. I’m definitely going to have fun tonight…
With my drink clutched between my fingers, I edge my way around the room. At first I stick to the walls, just observing from the outside, but soon someone talks to me, then another and another, they all seem to simply accept me as one of them. I have no idea what they’re talking about so I nod occasionally and jump in to tell people notto talk about work while partying – that one always gets a great laugh. This is great! On top of everything else, there has
been no sign of Tim spotting me so I actually might get away with this…
“Excuse me, Miss.” Ooh a pair of hands on my hips makes me jump. A fizzle of excitement runs all the way through my body, making my heart pound faster. “I just need to pass.”
It’shim.
It’s hard to stop myself from freaking out as Hunter touches me. My God, I always knew there would be some kind of electricity burning between us, but I didn’t know it would be quite this intense. Holy shit, he’s almost knocked me off my feet.
Emboldened, I step closer to him, feeling the magic of anything canhappen.
“Oh you don’t need to worry.”
Anxious excitement thunders in my chest. I’m worried he might recognize me, even though we’ve only officially met a couple of times. But he doesn’t. Through the mask I can see his eyes lighting up as he examines me. I arch my back to thrust myself towards him more, I need him to see me, to reallysee me at long last.
“Are you enjoying the party?” The fact that Hunter doesn’t seem to want to leave my side either is utterly intoxicating. What is happening? I don’t know but I’m loving it. “Do you need another drink?”
I nod and hold up my empty glass. I wasn’t planning on having anything else to drink but if Hunter is offering then I will take anything. I follow him to the bar and wait patiently until he’s served. The whole time I feel like I’m living in a dream.
“You’re easily the best looking woman here,” Hunter growls into my ear, moving closer to me as we drink, encircling us in our own little world. “You’re enticing me.”
Holy shit, I’m enticing him? That’s insane. I mean, look at him. He’s a God. A shiver of delight tears down my spine. I can hardly contain myself. Every time he whispers something flirty into my ear, I can’t keep control of myself. So when Hunter asks if I want to come for a nightcap in his hotel room, of course I agree.
I will never get a chance like this again so I want to take full advantage of it.
There are others in the elevator with us, thankfully not Tim. He keeps shooting me delicious looking cheeky smiles which sets me alight. I think I’m doused in flames, unable to control myself.
Hunter holds out his hand to me when we reach his floor, and I take it eagerly, barely able to contain my giddy giggles. Not that Hunter minds. By the time we crash through the door into his room, all pretense that we’re getting a simple drink goes flying out the window. He loops his arms around me and starts kissing me frantically, knocking our masks up just enough so our lips can connect. I have a feeling our eyes may stay covered, which works out well because it’s best he doesn’t know who I am. I would much prefer to sneak out of here without him ever discovering who I am.
He presses me dominantly up against the wall, and drops to his knees before I can gasp and gather myself up. I’ve never felt dizziness like this as Hunter glances up at me, and edges my dress up over my hyper sensitive thighs. Holy shit, this is better than any fantasy I’ve ever had, he is phenomenal. His fingers running up my legs is almost too much.
“Ooh, nice tattoo,” he chuckles as he spots a part of me that no one has ever seen before. “Very cute.” He runs his fingers over my cute little duck laughing. “Does it mean anything?”
“Do all your tattoos mean something?” I shoot back teasingly. “I just like it.”
Plus I drew it myself, but since I don’t talk to anyone about my comic book style art, I don’t see why Hunter should know about it. Even if he’s looking at it as if he likes it.
He presses his lips to mine, which pools wet heat in my panties in a way I really wasn’t expecting. My knees turn to jelly, I can hardly remain upright. Luckily Hunter is there to hold me upright. If I’m going to lose my virginity to anyone, I’m glad it’s him!
Ever so slowly, he peels my panties off, running kisses all over me as he does. I try to grip onto anything to keep me upright, but of course there’s only the smooth wall behind me. I end up having to dig my nails into the shoulders of the man as he’s on his knees, the God who looks like he is worshiping me!
Eventually, Hunter stops teasing me. He crashes his mouth to where I’m throbbing for him, and he becomes a madman on a mission. His tongue is all over me, trying desperately to coax an orgasm from me. He alternates between sucking and teasing my clit, and massaging my insides with his mouth, until I can hardly take it any longer.
Fucking hell. I am going to lose my damn mind.
There’s a vibration deep in my chest, a rumbling I can’t quite get hold of. I don’t even realize that it’s me screaming until I tumble head first into the abyss of pleasure and shatter at the tip of his tongue. I crumble and fall apart, losing everything that makes me, me. In this moment, I belong completely to Hunter.
Oh my God, I didn’t know it could feel this good. I honestly had no idea.
The waves of pleasure are never ending, it’s a tsunami of burning hot bliss which does nothing to douse the flames overcoming me. I’m overwhelmed, empowered, in heaven. I never want this feeling to end…
It seems like Hunter feels the same way as I do, because as soon as he rises to his feet to cascade his mouth to mine once more, he whips me from my feet like I weigh nothing, and he throws me on the bed. I fall like a willing rag doll, nowhere near done with him yet.
As Hunter climbs up on me, like a predator coming to consume his prey, I can’t catch my breath. I’m like an addict, one taste of him has me utterly under his spell. It’s a shame this will only ever be a one-time thing because it is fucking amazing.
He rests his forehead on mine as he gently thrusts himself within me. I squeal as I wrap my legs tightly around him to drive him in deeper. The fact that I’m still drowning in the post orgasmic bliss makes everything about this wonderful.
He bucks his hips, thrusting inside of me again and again. Hunter might be the one on top, but I’m the one controlling the movements. This gorgeous, badass, powerful man is following my commands, driving deeper within me, picking up the pace as I need it. He’s even grinding perfectly, hitting all the right spots, so I can’t help but
succumb to the pressure of pleasure again. My toes curl, my back arches, my whole body shudders.
By the time my orgasm swallows me up whole again, I’m not alone. Hunter grunts and groans in ecstasy as well. Knowing that I have sent him over the edge, intensifies the pleasure within me. I already know this is a moment I will never forget. I’m going to hold on to this glorious sensation forever, desperately wishing I could hold him again.
Who would have thought this magical mysterious night would end like this?
I’m so glad I broke the rules, it always works out in my favor.
Chapter One
HUNTER
10yearslater…
I scroll through my phone, walking through the office building on autopilot, knowing where the elevator is without having to glance up from my emails. Thank goodness it’s Friday. This has been one hell of a week! I step inside, grateful I don’t have to deal with anyone in this small space. This building is usually such a busy one that I don’t get much time alone. I breathe deeply and smile.
Today is going to be a good day.
“Wait!” a voice calls out, just as the elevator doors are about to close. There’s such panic in the woman’s voice that it stops me in my tracks. I might have pretended not to hear otherwise. “Wait, please, let me in. I need to get in the elevator.”
“Right. Sure.” I slam my hand against the button to keep the door open as the woman in a giant cascading white dress comes flying inside. “Oof!”
She doesn’t stop herself in time, and slams into me, knocking me backwards against the wall. The apology comes flying out of her eyes though, I can see how bad she feels about what just happened. I am in shock. I don’t know how to process what I’m seeing. The strange woman in a wedding dress looks like she’s about to burst into tears…
“Are you here on a modeling job?” I ask her with confusion. “What floor are you meant to be on? I can press the button for you…”
“Modeling? You think I’m a model?” she laughs awkwardly. “No, nothing like that. I’m actually here looking for a friend of mine. I need to talk to her because I just… well obviously, I just ran away from my wedding, so I need a supporting friend, and..”
Oh God, I never should have gotten involved in this. I should never have said a thing. She’s sobbing and I really don’t know how to handle it. What do I say? I stand back against the wall in the elevator, trying not to take up too much room – which I need to do anyway because of the size of her dress – but I don’t think anything will stop her from talking now.
“It’s because of my best friend, you know,” she continues, stammering awkwardly, clearly needing to get it all out whether I’m listening or not. “Or the woman I thought was my best friend. The person I trusted with everything, without knowing she would betray me. Cora… I just found all the evidence that she has been sleeping with my fiancé, Billy. Today, on the day that I am supposed to be getting married. I found them together, I saw all the messages and photos they’ve exchanged. It’s been going on for ages. Basically for the same amount of time that me and Billy have been together… the whole time…”
“That’s terrible. I’m sorry that happened to you.” I say politely.
To be honest I have no idea what she’s going on about, I certainly don’t know what I can say to make things better. I’m not the person she needs in this situation. But how can I get her to someone useful? She hasn’t yet said anything about who she’s here to meet, and she’s still upset so I don’t think I can ask her yet. I haven’t managed to get a word in edgeways.
“I mean, why did Billy even ask me to marry him if he’s fucking my best friend? Why would he bother? And why has Cora always pretended that she likes me when she doesn’t? I mean, she can’t, can she? Why would she do this to me if she did? I’m starting to think maybe she was just friends with me so she could try and find out all my secrets.”
“I… I’m sorry.” Fucking hell, I sound like an idiot. This poor young woman needs someone to help her out on the worst day of her life. “That has to be really hard.”
I don’t think I’m saying any of the right things. I don’t know what to say, this isn’t the sort of situation I’ve ever found myself in. Practical questions about money, and advice about what I think people should do with it, I can hack. But this… this is way out of my league.
Thankfully the elevator door pings open, right outside my office. Since I still don’t know what this woman is after, I don’t feel like leaving her alone is the best idea.
“Did you maybe want to come with me and have some water while you wait for your friend? I have a cooler and probably food in the fridge as well…”
Since I already know she’s looking for someone, it surprises me when she nods in agreement. It was more a polite offer than anything else. But I can get her water, I suppose I can help her calm down, there’s nothing stopping me assisting her in that way.
Then as soon as I find out who she’s looking for, I can send her on her way.
“Yes, water,” she gasps. “My throat is really dry. I just ran here from the wedding, I wasn’t really thinking about what I was doing, you know? I just knew that I needed to get away. I’m not exactly great at running, especially in these heels which I spent a fortune on, to try and look good today. Because I thought it would be amazing. And I look amazing, right? Or at least I did when I first got dressed this morning. When I thought I would be walking down the aisle. But for what? Billy didn’t even get to see me in the dress, and now I realize he doesn’t even deserve to see me looking this good. He deserves nothing.”
Shit, does she want an answer? I really think she would be better off with her friend. If I say anything, I’m afraid I might make it worse.
“Mhmm, so tell me about who you know here, because I’m sure your friend will be able to look after you…”
I don’t say better than I can, but I’m pretty sure those words cling to the air regardless.
“Oh, Violet, yeah her name is Violet. I used to work with her years ago at my part-time job at an ice cream shop just before college. I don’t know what floor she works on, or even what department. It’s been a long time since I last saw her. But she’s the only person I could think of off the top of my head who was nearby and not invited to the wedding.” She groans loudly. “God, that makes me sound horrible, doesn’t it? I know it, but I just didn’t think about it. I didn’t think about her.”
Her breath catches in her throat as I gesture for her to sit down. I had a lot I wanted to get done today, but now, it seems I’m going to be looking after a stranger in a wedding dress instead.
“Do you think Violet will be pissed off at me?” she continues, really tying herself up in knots now. “I don’t want that. I don’t want her to be upset by me. I don’t know if I can handle more emotion today, I’m already all fucked up over this…”
She cracks and bursts into painful ricocheting sobs all over again. This time leaning forwards and resting her head in her hands. As her shoulders shake, I find myself admiring a little cartoon bear tattoo on her shoulder. Probably not what I should be concentrating on now, in the midst of all this disaster, but I’m drawn to it. I can’t seem to help myself.
Cutesy carton tattoos aren’t usually my thing, but this one is different. There is something about the art on this woman’s shoulder that jogs something along in my memories. I can’t stop staring at it. Her beautiful shoulder helps… but then all of her is gorgeous. I noticed that right away. I’m surprised any asshole lucky enough to have this woman walking down the aisle to him would cheat. But then beauty and connection isn’t enough for some people. I know a lot of men who will always be looking for more, no matter what they have. Something is missing within themselves, which is why they can’t resist poking around to see what else is out there.
“Well, you take this drink,” I say, resting the glass on the table in front of her. “And I will make some calls to the other departments in this building. I’ll see if I can locate this Violet.”
I try to drag my eyes off this woman, but I can’t seem to do it. Not completely. It’s almost as if I fear she might vanish if I stop staring at her. She doesn’t stop crying, not even for a second. Even as she takes a drink of the water, she still looks like she’s being pulled through the ringer.
But then anyone would, wouldn’t they? If they discovered such a huge betrayal on their wedding day.
I don’t know why, but this reminds me of the moment my father walked out on me and my mother, with no real explanation. Sometime after, we discovered there had been another woman in his life. For years he had lived a completely different life with her and at one point he decided to simply abandon us.
That hurt. It left a giant hole in my heart knowing I wasn’t good enough to keep my father around. As a kid, that was the only way that I knew how to read the situation. I thought I was to blame, and I held on to that feeling for a very long time.
I should use some of that and try to work with this woman. Try to communicate with her on a different level. But I’m not exactly known for accessing my emotions easily, certainly not on a whim like this. Fuck, I don’t quite know what to do right now.
I make some calls as the woman makes her way to a futon in my office and curls up on it. As uncomfortable as I feel right now, if I can offer her some comfort in this terrible hour of need, then so be it.
Unfortunately, finding someone I don’t know isn’t easy. Data protection exists even if I work in the building. It doesn’t seem like this Violet is anywhere. Either that or she’s hiding from the crazy woman who came flying into the building in her wedding dress.
Yeah, who knows? But she’s here in my office now, so it’s clearly on me to help.
“So, it doesn’t look like Violet is here. Is there anyone else…”
The words fall apart on my lips as I notice that she’s fast asleep. I can’t believe it. In the heat of her stress, she has drifted off. What do I do? I guess I just leave her there, right? And carry on with my morning.
But it does admittedly feel a little strange to have a young woman in here. As a man in his late forties, I wouldn’t want to be mistaken for something going on here. I might have a reputation for a bit of a playboy, but that doesn’t mean I would be an asshole like this…
With a deep sigh, I take a seat behind my desk and switch my computer on. I still can’t take my eyes off the beauty spread across my futon however hard I try. What is it about her that has me so captivated? I really am in awe of her. And not just because she was strong enough to run away from her wedding day as soon as it became obvious the marriage would be a disaster, but because I can sense something special in her already, which is weird because I don’t even know her name.
Chapter Two
LUNA
“Nicetattoo,” he murmurs, his words vibrating against my thighs. He kisses my cute little bird over and over again as I spread my thighs wider, needing more from him. So much more. “You really are intoxicating,youknowthat?”
Am I back to the eighteen year old girl who snuck into the masquerade ball, or is something more happening here? I mean, of all the people to run into on the already most humiliating day of my whole damn life, did it have to be him? Did it have to be Hunter freaking Moore?
I haven’t really seen him since the masquerade ball, but I know he’s still very close with my step brother, Tim. My life has been busy, and presumably so has his.
But now we’ve been brought back together in the worst way possible.
He pulls my panties down with his teeth. But they aren’t the sexy, sweet wedding underwear I picked especially for tonight. They aren’t what I thought I would have taken off me on the first night as a wife. And not by this person either.
No, these are the lacy panties I was wearing then.
This doesn’t feel real, I think I’m drifting in and out of sleep, into the fantasies that kept me alive for years. Until I met Billy in college that is, and told myself that I couldn’t think about Hunter anymore because that was a one-time thing, gone forever. Not the sort of night I would ever be lucky to have again.
No, Billy never made me feel like that. He didn’t have the same power with his tongue, the orgasms didn’t seem never ending, I didn’t always soar through space and want so much more… but I assumed that was normal. Complaining about men being bad in bed is so normalized I didn’t think anything of it.
But now that I’m here with Hunter again, even if it is only in my sexy little imagination, I’m starting to wonder did I settle for less? Did he not care about my pleasure because he was too busy worrying about Cora’s? Or was he just reallybad?
Maybe it’s a good thing I’m not going to marry someone who doesn’t make me feel like this. Because I can remember exactly how it felt to be tasted by Hunter, and that is a sensation I will never be able to let go of. The way he knew exactly where to rub his tongue, exactly how I needed his lips pressed against me, the places that felt amazing…
He brought that older man experience to the table, and it was everything.
My body stiffens, my toes curl, I want him to take me, to fuck me, to make me forget my own name, never mind the shit show that today has been. I need Hunter more than ever before, and again I don’t think he even knows who I am…
Shit. I bolt upright, realizing that while this is a fun little fantasy, part of it is also real. As in, I actually have been fucked over on my wedding day, and I’ve somehow managed to find myself in Hunter Moore’s office. It really isn’t a good idea for me to be daydreaming about him.
“Oh, are you okay?” He looks a little startled. “Sorry, I didn’t want to wake you. After the day you’ve had, I thought you might need a little bit of sleep.”
Now that the initial panic is over, the events of the day wash over me. It’s really hitting me now how much I’ve lost. Because it isn’t just my wedding day I lost, is it? It’s everything. The future that me and Billy were going to have has gone flying out the window, the honeymoon, the children, all of it. It’s just gone. But it’s not just the future we lost. It’s the present as well. I live with Billy, and I work for his father’s marketing company. Just like Billy and Cora do.
Urgh. damn it, I bet a lot of their affair has been going on right under my nose. I bet everyone knows but me. They’ve all been laughing and making jokes, while I’ve been happily planning my wedding, with my vision board in the office and everything, hanging proudly above my desk, like a fucking idiot.
There aren’t any words for how much I hate Billy and Cora. Not only have they betrayed me in the worst way possible, but they’ve humiliated me too. I don’t even know what’s happening at the wedding, but I know it’ll be turned around on me. Billy’s good at placing the blame firmly on my shoulders.
When I think about all the things I told Cora… that’s worse than Billy for sure. I shouldn’t have expected anything more from him really. He did tell me when we first got together that he had cheated on all his girlfriends. But then he also told me that I was special and different, and I was foolish enough to buy it.
But Cora… the person I was most vulnerable with and opened up to. The one who was there for me when I struggled in college and thought I might have to drop out. The one who listened to me, all giddy and excited as the first flows of love ran over me, who was there for me to complain to when Billy was getting on my nerves, and who was the first to celebrate my engagement with me. I feel violated by her. I feel like she’s taken my insides, pulled them out to stomped on them. I can’t breathe with the pressure of it all.
“I think it might be best for me to call someone,” Hunter’s voice rises above the shock screaming in my brain. “It might be a good idea to have a family member or a friend here. I tried to find Violet for you, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. I’m sorry about that.”
Oh. No Violet. That makes me sad, but I suppose it was a long shot, wasn’t it? Sure she worked in this building when we last saw each other, but that doesn’t mean she was still here. She might not want to see me again anyway after all this time. Certainly not in this state.
“I want to call my parents,” I mutter, almost under my breath. “But they are at the wedding.”
It makes my stomach churn to actually think about what might be happening there. As soon as it became clear I wasn’t going to
appear, I bet the panic started, and the yelling, and the accusations from Billy because he will do anything to keep his reputation intact. Well, aside from acting like a decent human being, obviously. That seems out of his range.
Cora will defend him, because to her, fucking him must have been so much more important than me. They will probably go on my honeymoon together and have the best time, not caring one iota about the damage they have done to me.
“I don’t know who to call,” I continue, barely speaking audibly enough for Hunter to hear me. Even though there is a little voice in the back of my head yelling at me to at least try and impress Hunter because of the crush I have always had on him, I can’t do it. I can’t make my body listen to my brain, because everything feels so disconnected and weird at the moment. It’s so all over the place. The foundation my life has been built upon has been whipped away from underneath my feet and now I have no idea where I’m supposed to stand. I don’t know what to do. “I left my phone behind when I ran so I don’t have any of my numbers.”
I’m not one of those people who can recite phone numbers off by heart as well. I have never been able to remember things like that, and I didn’t think I would ever have to. I never thought the day would come when I would be without my phone.
“Oh, Tim!” It suddenly hits me. “Tim Ambrose. My step brother. He’s a hedge fund manager and he has a website. I’m pretty sure his cell phone number is on there.”
I leap up and make my way over to Hunter’s computer. It doesn’t even occur to me how rude I’m being until I’ve practically shoved him out the way in order to pull up Tim’s website.
“Sorry, I just…” A heat burns in my cheeks. This might be getting worse by the minute. “I just thought that it might be good to find someone who can take me home…”
It also hasn’t occurred to me that now Hunter will connect the dots. Not that we know one another intimately, thank goodness, I think I’ve managed to tuck away that secret for years, but that Tim is my step brother.
I’ve screwed up royally. My eyes widen in panic, but Hunter doesn’t say anything to suggest that he’s worked out who I am. He just stares at the screen a little bewildered.
“I actually have Tim’s phone number,” he tells me casually, but his tone is slightly off so I don’t think I quite buy it. I’ve stunned him as well. “I’ll call him now…”
Hunter doesn’t meet my eyes as he turns away from me to make the call, but I can tell the atmosphere has shifted in the room. Everything has changed.
I wish I had managed to find Violet because it would have been so much easier than this. Now I feel the need to run again, and I would if I had anywhere to go. But everyone else is at the damn wedding and I don’t know how to get through to any of them.
I sink back onto the futon as Hunter calls Tim, I try to make myself as small as possible in the hope it will take away from some of the awkwardness. But as I watch Hunter have to make the call over and over again because he clearly can’t get through to Tim, panic sets in.
Rationally, I know that Tim wouldn’t turn his back on me. There’s no way he would believe any of Billy’s lies over me, that’s not the sort of stepbrother he is. But I’m not exactly in my most rational state of mind now, I’m sinking deeper into emotional quicksand, and there is no way for me to get out.
I hang my head low, tears dripping from my eyes once more. At this rate, I won’t have any left. I’m empty, drained, and unsure of where life will take me. I don’t know how to begin again. Like everything, from scratch, and with no one.
No friends.
No boyfriend or fiancé. No wedding, no honeymoon, no happily ever after.
No job, because I will never set foot in that place again.
No house.
I don’t know if I’ll even be able to go back to the house to get all of my belongings. If Billy and Cora aren’t on my honeymoon already, then they’re probably having a big party in the backyard, complete with a bonfire to get rid of everything. Again I see them laughing
and having the best time as they tear me down and rip me to shreds, ruining the last bits of me I have left. Without all those things, without the life I was living before all of this, who even am I? Aren’t those the things that make up a person and bring them to life? Now, it’s just me, in this stupid wedding dress, in Hunter’s office, and a never ending flow of tears.
Great.
Today is just fucking marvelous.
Chapter Three
HUNTER
Shit, is this for real? This is actually a mind fuck. I did notrecognize her at all, but now it’s obvious who has been here in my office the whole time. Luna freaking Shears. Step sister of one of my really good friends, Tim Ambrose. Holy fuck.
To make things even worse, Tim isn’t answering any of my calls. I don’t know how the hell I’m going to help Luna to be honest. If no one wants to come and see her, I don’t know what I’ll do. I sigh heavily, trying my hardest not to give up completely. I try Tim one more time, really hoping this time he’ll just pick up so I can assist…
“Hey, Hunter, you good?” Holy shit. By the time Tim actually picks up the call, I can hardly hear him. He’s surrounded by noise. So much noise I can’t take it in. “I’m in a bit of a shit show here. Luna has upped and run off on her wedding day. Can you believe that? Seems like she’s up to her old tricks again. Rebelling, you know.”
“Erm…” Shit, I run my fingers through my hair, wondering how Tim is going to take this next part. I do have vague memories of him complaining about his younger stepsister at one point, and how she would never listen to anyone or do what she was told. But she must have been a kid then, right? Now she’s an adult with very different issues. “She’s actually here.”
“What? Are you fucking joking? What the hell is she doing at your house?”
“No, no, not my house.” I don’t want Tim getting the wrong idea. “No at my office. But it isn’t like she came to see me or anything. She came to see her friend. I just happened to bump into her at the office, and she can’t find her friend, so…”
“Fucking hell. That isn’t too far from here though, is it?”
“I definitely don’t think she wants the fiancé to come.” I don’t know why I feel the need to specify that, but I get the distinct impression that Tim has no idea what’s going on. “I don’t know if you heard but he was cheating on Luna with Cora. So don’t bring her either.”
Yeah that’s gone right over Tim’s head. I can tell he hasn’t heard a thing. I don’t know if it’s the noise causing all the issues, or if it’s the fact that he’s now yelling too.
“Luna isn’t in the best way so please don’t come with either Billy or Cora,” I try one last time, but I still don’t think he gets it. “I will meet you outside.”
I don’t know how much Luna overheard; she seems to be lost in her emotions once more. Crying, I think. It’s a relief to know that someone better equipped to deal with emotions will be here soon, but I really can’t cope with the idea that Tim would bring anyone here who Luna doesn’t want to see.
“I think I will just go and meet everyone downstairs so I can show them where to come.”
Luna doesn’t even look up. I think she’s really spiraling now, and it’s horrible to witness. I don’t like seeing anyone struggle in this way. It’s a real tug to take me away from her, but I know I’m doing the right thing. Getting Tim is the best thing that I can do.
I race to the elevators and make it down before anyone else arrives. I pace up and down in front of the building, trying to calm myself down so I don’t lash out and smack Billy for all the trouble he’s caused. None of this needed to happen, none of it.
“Hunter!” I snap my head up the moment I hear Tim’s voice. The tight knot in my chest loosens as I realize it’s only the parents with him. “Thank God… do you know what the fuck happened? I can’t believe Luna just ran out.”
I wait until Tim reaches me before I respond. I don’t know how much their parents need to know. “Luna found out that Billy and Cora have been having an affair, pretty much the whole time they were together. I think she saw them, and then saw messages on his phone. I don’t know, the story was pretty garbled. But I do know she’s struggling.”
Tim sighs defeatedly. “Fuck, I didn’t know that. That’s definitely not what Billy said.”
My heart sinks. This is going to break Luna more, as if she hasn’t been through enough.
“What did he say?” I shake my head. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. Luna is up there and she’s really freaking out. I think it might be best if someone goes up to see her.”
The parents catch up, and it’s pretty obvious that they are in a panicked state as well.
I lead them to the elevator and take them up to Luna. As her parents rush to her side, to try and comfort her, Tim stays with me. He stands a little awkwardly to the side, same as me, not sure what he is supposed to do in this situation.
“You know, Billy said that Luna had been suffering from mental health issues for a while, but she didn’t want to tell us. Her family doesn’t know. Do you think there could be any truth to that? Because running away from her wedding like that… it does seem a little crazy.”
I roll my eyes. “Tim, she’s not going to marry the guy if he’s been cheating on her. And it must have been a shock to find out the affair was with her best friend. I don’t think anyone would be in their right mind after that.”
Tim nods slowly, starting to really understand the implications of everything. “So, that’s going to affect everything, isn’t it? I mean, I know our parents will let her live at home, so that won’t be too much of an issue. But there’s her job as well.”
“Her job?” She never mentioned anything about that to me, but I suppose work might be the last thing on her mind right now. “She works with Billy?”
