His Demure Mate

Chapter 4: A New Path

The restaurant was empty, the last diners long gone, but I stayed behind, wiping down the tables as if scrubbing could erase the mess of my thoughts. The folder with the manager’s offer sat tucked away in my bag under the counter, its presence nagging at me like a secret waiting to be spilled. Greece. It sounded like a dream, but was it mine? Could I even take a step that big?

I leaned against the counter, staring at the dim reflection in the window. My life here was a dead end; I knew that. But walking away? It felt like severing the only thread I had left connecting me to something—anything.

The soft chime of the door startled me, and I straightened, gripping the rag in my hand. Who could possibly be here this late? When I turned, I saw a man walking in, his strides confident and easy. He looked young, maybe a few years older than me, with dark blond hair swept back and sharp green eyes that seemed to take in everything at once.

“Are you Mishele?” he asked, his voice steady and smooth.

My stomach tightened, and I hesitated. “Who’s asking?”

The man stopped a few feet away, close enough to feel his presence but not enough to intimidate. “Name’s Hunter. Kody sent me.”

The mention of Kody immediately made my heart race, but not out of fear. Kody’s name carried safety, something solid I hadn’t felt in a long time. But that didn’t mean I trusted Hunter. Not yet.

“What does Kody want?” I asked, crossing my arms.

Hunter smiled faintly, his expression calm but unreadable. “He thought I might be able to persuade you to take the manager’s offer. He knows it’s a big step, and he didn’t want you making it alone.”

I narrowed my eyes, studying him. “Why does Kody care if I leave?”

Hunter shrugged, his green eyes locking onto mine. “Because he thinks you deserve better. And he’s not the only one.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. Deserve better. Did I? My mind screamed yes, but my heart didn’t know how to believe it. “It’s not that simple,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It never is,” Hunter replied easily. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t take the first step.”

I looked away, gripping the rag tighter in my hands. “Even if I say yes, I have things I need to handle first. My stuff… my life.”

Hunter tilted his head, his expression softening. “Then let’s handle it. I’ll go with you.”

I blinked, caught off guard by how easily he offered. “Why would you do that?”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he said, flashing a small grin. “Besides, Kody wouldn’t let me off the hook if I left you to figure it out on your own.”

For the first time in hours, I felt the smallest flicker of hope. I nodded slowly. “Alright. Let’s go.”

Homebound

The drive to my house felt like forever, though it couldn’t have been more than ten minutes. Hunter stayed quiet, which I appreciated. My stomach churned with nerves as we pulled into the driveway, the familiar sight of peeling paint and darkened windows sending a chill through me. This house wasn’t a home—it hadn’t been in years.

I stepped out of the car, Hunter trailing a few steps behind me. As I opened the door, the familiar scent of mildew and beer hit me like a punch. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

“Finally decided to show your face,” my father called from the living room, his voice slurred but sharp. He didn’t even bother looking up from the TV. The flickering light cast his shadow across the room, making him look larger than life. The beer bottle in his hand wobbled dangerously on the armrest.

“I’m just here to get my things,” I said, keeping my voice as steady as I could.

His head turned slowly, his bloodshot eyes narrowing. “Your things?” he scoffed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling at my sides. “I’m leaving.”

The words hung in the air like a challenge. For a moment, all I could hear was the low hum of the TV and the faint crackle of the beer bottle as he gripped it tighter.

“Leaving?” he repeated, his voice rising with each syllable. “And where the hell do you think you’re going? Who’s going to take care of you out there?”

My stomach twisted, but I stood my ground. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”

His laugh was cold and bitter, slicing through the room. “You think you’re better than this? Better than me? You’re nothing without this house, Mishele. Nothing. And if you walk out that door, don’t think about coming back.”

His words hit harder than I wanted to admit. For so long, this house had been all I knew, no matter how much it suffocated me. And now he was dangling it over my head like a leash, daring me to break free.

“I mean it,” he said, his voice cold. “You leave, you’re dead to me.”

My chest felt tight, my breaths shallow, but then I felt a warmth at my back. Hunter. He hadn’t moved or spoken, but his presence was steady, grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected.

I lifted my chin and met my father’s glare. “I won’t be coming back.”

For a moment, his face twisted with rage, his grip on the beer bottle tightening. But I didn’t stay to hear what else he had to say. I turned and headed for my room, Hunter following close behind.

The Final Goodbye

My room was as small and cramped as ever, the walls covered in peeling paint and old posters. I grabbed my bag and started packing, my hands moving faster than my thoughts. Clothes, toiletries, a photo of my mom—the only piece of her I had left. And the folder. I shoved it all into the bag, zipping it closed just as Hunter stepped into the doorway.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice quiet.

I nodded, though my hands were still trembling. “Let’s go.”

As we walked back through the living room, my father was standing now, his face red with anger. “You’re making the biggest mistake of your life,” he spat. “Don’t come crawling back when you realize how stupid you are.”

I stopped in the doorway and turned to face him one last time. “I’m not coming back,” I said firmly.

His lips curled into a sneer, but I didn’t wait to hear more. I stepped outside, the cool night air hitting me like a breath of freedom. Hunter was right behind me, his steady presence keeping me from looking back.

A Step Forward

We drove in silence for a while, the darkened streets stretching endlessly before us. My heart was pounding, my hands gripping the strap of my bag like a lifeline. It was over. I’d done it. I’d walked away.

“You okay?” Hunter asked, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

I nodded, letting out a shaky breath. “Yeah. I think I am.”

He smiled, and for the first time, I felt the weight on my chest begin to lift. For the first time, I felt like I was moving toward something better. Toward something that was finally mine.

A/N

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