Page 22 of Forbidden Bliss
Standing my ground, my stays low and firm. “I don’t belong in this world anymore. I’m different now. Someone else.”
Brandon stands there, his eyes narrowing.
For a moment, I see the same pain in his eyes that I feel in my own.
“You can’t keep shutting us out, Hunter. We may have been through hell as a family, but we’re still here. You still have us, even if you’d rather be anywhere but here.”
My face tightens. “Come on, Brandon. You act like you don’t remember what happened.”
He scoffs and shakes his head. “I think about it every single day, but life goes on. You don’t take that pain and hide out in the fucking mountains. You deal with it.”
I tilt my head. “Well, we’re all different, and this is how I cope. Look, I appreciate your concern, but I’ve already decided. I’m headed back tonight.”
Brandon’s shoulders relax just a fraction and his expression shifts. His firm hand grips my shoulder. “Just don’t disappear on us completely, okay? Mom misses you. We all do. Even if you’re a pain in the ass.”
My mouth stiffens as I nod. “Sure. I’ll be in touch.”
Brandon’s hand lingers on my shoulder for a beat before he lets go, his expression softening into something almost brotherly. “Take care of yourself, Hunter. And don’t be a stranger. If you do, I’ll drag you back myself.”
“I will. Watch over Willow and Lana for me.”
Brandon nods, his gaze lingering on me for a second longer before he turns and walks away, leaving me alone once more, surrounded by the noise and the chaos of a world that no longer feels like mine.
The wilderness calls me. The solitude is a balm for my restless spirit. I miss the crisp air, the quiet rustle of leaves, and the vast, open space where I can breathe freely.
Vegas, with its constant noise and chatter, only serves to remind me of all I’ve lost. I can’t wait to return to my life, away from all this.
With one last glance back at the ballroom, I step outside into the hot desert air, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. The city lights fade as I head towards my car. The promise of solitude and the comfort of the mountains pull me back to where I belong.
Love might be what brought us all here tonight, but for me, it’s a wound that never heals, a reminder of what could have been.
Solitude is the only thing that brings me peace now, and I’ll never trade it for anything in the world.