To My Immature Ex Boyfriend (The Inappropriate Bachelors Book 5)

by J. S. Cooper

  I took a deep sigh and then opened the door.

  “Well, there you are.” Nellie was sitting cross-legged on the bed with Shelby. “I was wondering what happened to you.”

  “What do you mean? I told you I went to go and get a newspaper.”

  “And where is the newspaper?” She looked at my empty hands.

  “They didn’t have any,” I lied. I hadn’t gone to get a newspaper. I’d just needed to get out of the room. Shelby and Nellie had been chatting incessantly about some guys that they knew from college, and they were driving me absolutely crazy. I just needed time to think and process.

  “So, did you call Birdie?” Nellie batted her eyes at me.

  “No, I didn’t call Birdie. I literally just got done seeing her an hour ago.”

  “Yeah, that doesn’t mean you can’t call her. I love it when guys call me right after a date. It makes me feel like they really like me and that they care about me.”

  “That wasn’t a date, Nellie. Birdie and I were just hanging out.”

  “Uh huh.” Nellie looked over at Shelby. “Did you think it was a date or what?”

  Shelby tilted her head thoughtfully. “Well, I guess I wouldn’t technically call it a date because we were there. And what sort of a date would that be? But,” she looked at me with a grin, “it did look like you guys were really getting on.”

  “Well, I wasn’t really asking you guys for your opinion on everything. We all know that it wasn’t a date. It was just a short hike followed by some ice cream in Berkeley, followed by a quick trip to the bookstore.”

  ”Which, by the way, why did we go to the bookstore?” Nellie asked. “You couldn’t care less about reading.”

  “Yeah, but you know Birdie likes to read.”

  Nellie’s eyes gleamed. “So you admit the reason we went to that bookstore is that you wanted to impress Birdie.”

  “How am I impressing Birdie by taking her to a bookstore?”

  “Because they just happened to have a first edition of Little Women that you just happened to buy for her as a ‘So sorry’ gift.” Nellie smiled triumphantly.

  “Fine,” I admitted. “I just happened to find out that there was a first edition of Birdie’s favorite book in Berkeley. And so, yes, we stopped so I could get it for her because, as you’ve told me, little sister, I have a lot to make up for.”

  “You do have a lot to make up for,” she agreed, “but I don’t think buying her expensive books is going to be enough. Do you, Shelby?”

  “I don’t think that’s enough, either, Hunter,” Shelby agreed. “I mean, you could buy her all the expensive gifts in the world, but that doesn’t mean that you have changed. That just means you’re trying to buy her love. If you really—”

  “Enough.” I glared at my sister. “Nellie, I don’t know what you’ve been telling Shelby about me and about Birdie, and I’m not going to ask because I don’t want to get mad at you, but you should not be talking about my business with anyone. You don’t even know the full story of what went down.”

  She gave an exasperated huff. “Hunter, we all know what went down. You were a typical immature, asshole, football jerk.”

  “That’s why I would never date a jock,” Shelby mused.

  “And did anyone ask?” I glared at her.

  “Don’t be rude to my friend,” Nellie chided me. “We’re just being honest. We’re trying to help, here.”

  “I didn’t ask for your help. I don’t need your help.”

  “Uh-huh.” Nellie giggled. “This is what I mean, Shelby. Guys are so hardheaded. They do not like to own up to the facts.”

  “What facts?” I snapped.

  “The truth of the matter, dear brother, is that you are totally and utterly in love with Birdie and you just don’t want to admit it. And I understand why, because you totally screwed up and it’s very unlikely that she’ll forgive you. But if you really want to try, you’ve got to do a lot better than that. Taking her on a crappy hike—”

  “It was not crappy!”

  “I mean, it wasn’t the best hike. What about Yosemite? What about King’s Canyon? What about the Grand Canyon?”

  “Really, Nellie? Are you joking me right now?”

  “I’m just saying you need some sort of grand gesture. Yeah, okay, it was fun and maybe she enjoyed it, and maybe she’ll be friends with you again.”

  “Yay,” I grumbled.

  “But you want more than that, let’s be real. And if you want more than that, then you need a grand gesture. Haven’t you watched any romance movies or read any romance books?”

  “Do I look like the sort of guy that reads romance books?”

  “You don’t look like the sort of guy that reads romance books, but then, you don’t look like the sort of guy who’s a dumbass when it comes to love, either. You know what, I’m so going to tell Mom and Dad.”

  “You’re going to so tell Mom and Dad what?”

  “That you brought me to San Francisco to help you get back with your ex. Okay. They’re going to really be happy about that.”

  I’d had enough of this conversation. “You know what? I think I need to go, uh—”

  “What, go and call Birdie?” Nellie looked eager. “I agree. You do need to do that.”

  “I’m not going to go and call her right now. I just left her.”

  “Um, okay, so you’re not interested in speaking to her?”

  “Well, of course I’m interested in speaking to her.” I was exasperated. “Oh my gosh, Nellie. I’m surprised I’m not gay, you know that? Having a sister like you would be enough to drive most men gay.”

  “Whatever.” She giggled. “You’re lucky that you have me. And you’re lucky that I’m honest.”

  “You really are,” Shelby agreed. “I think most guys would die to have a sister like Nellie.”

  “What are you, her biggest cheerleader or something?”

  “What? Best friends have to speak up for best friends, even when it comes to their family.”

  I shook my head. “You two are absolutely killing me.”

  “But you still love me and you know what I’m saying is true.” Nellie straightened up. “So go and call Birdie and then come back and tell us what she said.”

  “Do you really think I’m going to do that? You’ve got to be joking.”

  “Do you or do you not want my help?”

  I sighed, considering my options. Nellie’s mention of a grand gesture had gotten me thinking. It wasn’t a completely bad idea. I knew women well enough to know that they liked grand gestures, and I realized that I hadn’t really done anything to let Birdie know that I had really changed. Sure, I’d said a few things to try to convinced her, but words were cheap. I knew I had a lot more to do if I really wanted another chance with her, and I was slowly admitting to myself that I did.

  “Fine,” I said. “I’m going to give her a call, but only because I want to talk to her about tomorrow.”

  “So she said she’s going to meet up with you after all?” Nellie looked surprised. “I guess that’s good.”

  “Well, not exactly. She said she’ll have to see,” I admitted. “And honestly, this is not something I need to be thinking about right now. You know I have the meeting with the bank managers tomorrow.”

  “So? It’s not like they’re the owners or the CEOs.”

  “Yeah, but I’m meeting with the bank managers to get their feedback on what they think of the bank before I meet with the CEOs, so I really need to make sure I do my due diligence and find out—”

  “Blah, blah, blah,” Nellie fake-yawned. “Boring. You know I’m not interested in that stuff.”

  “I know. I don’t even know why I brought it up. To think that you would care about the family business.”

  “Oh my gosh. Don’t be like Dad.”

  “I’m not like Dad,” I chided her. “Take that back.”

  “Take what back?” she teased me.

  “You know what? Fine. I’m going to go and c
all Birdie. I will see you guys in a little bit.”

  “Okay.” She gave me a little wave. “Good luck!”

  “Thanks,” I replied on my way out the door.

  I was going to need it.

  Chapter 20

  Birdie

  I knew that it shouldn't be this hard to figure out how I was feeling. I knew that I was overthinking everything that was going on. I needed to just go with the flow and let Hunter show me who he was now. Hunter was different from the boy I'd known years ago. He was different than I remembered. It was hard to stay angry at him. I tried to forget that he'd been my first love, my first lover, my first everything. I tried to remember how he'd betrayed me, how he hadn't cared about my feelings and had been an asshole, but I was failing terribly. I picked up the phone and I called Olivia. She was always the voice of reason in situations like this. She would help me to get my head on straight.

  "Hey girl, what's going on?" She answered after a couple of rings and I smiled at how I could always rely on her to be there for me.

  "Hey, not much. What are you up to?" Small talk was always the way to go when you felt confused and conflicted.

  "I was just watching TV," she groaned. "You know how it is when you want to be productive, but you also want to be entertained?"

  "Yeah. Watching anything good."

  "Have you seen the Good Fight?"

  "I'm not sure. It doesn’t sound familiar."

  "It's a series set after the Good Wife, remember that show with Julianna Margulies."

  "Oh, kind of. I didn't really watch it, but I've heard of it." Small talk was helping to get Hunter’s face out of my head.

  "Yeah, well I'm just watching the Good Fight right now. It’s about a law firm, so completely out my whole world purvey." She laughed.

  "It's really good, huh?"

  She groaned. "Oh my gosh. It’s so good, it’s addicting. Sorry, I’m sure you didn’t call to hear about my love for TV...."

  "Hey that's okay."

  "So what are you up to Birdie?"

  "I was just here chilling, thinking about, you know, who." Finally, I was ready to talk about him.

  "Uh oh, good thinking or bad thinking?"

  "A little bit of both, if I'm honest." It was always good and bad when I thought about Hunter.

  "Oh boy."

  "Yeah. Today was fun. We actually went to Oakland."

  "No way. He took you to Oakland?" She sounded as surprised as I felt when we had arrived.

  "Yeah. We went to the Oakland Hills. It was kind of cool. He took me on the short little hike and we got to see this really scenic vista."

  "A scenic vista, huh?"

  "You know what I mean."

  "Kind of, so you had fun?"

  "Yeah," I paused. "Well, you know..."

  "That sounded like an enthusiastic yeah to me," she was too observant. "So did you guys kiss again?"

  "No!" I shouted a bit too forcefully. "His sister was there and his sister's best friend Shelby."

  "Ooh. Okay. Interesting."

  "What's interesting about that?"

  "I'm just surprised that he took his sister."

  "Yeah. I mean, I told you he was going to though, right?"

  "Oh, maybe I can't really remember. So are you coming to work tomorrow?"

  "Yeah. I ‘ll be there. It’s just that..." I paused.

  "Okay Birdie, let it out. What's troubling you?"

  "I just feel weird you know?"

  "What's got you feeling weird?"

  "I don't know. Hanging out with Hunter again after all these years."

  "Do you not like it?"

  "I mean, that's the problem I think. I had a really great time. It actually reminded me of when we were dating and the good times that we had."

  "That’s not a bad thing then, is it?"

  "It shouldn't be a bad thing, but he wasn't a good boyfriend. Well, I mean, in the beginning he was a good boyfriend, but towards the end, he wasn't."

  "Yeah, I guess I understand that. So we're not going to see him again?"

  "I don't know what to do. I mean, he'd liked to hang out again and he'd like to be friends I think. And a part of me thinks that would be really cool. But then the other part of me thinks, am I being a stupid idiot? You know, forgiving him so quickly."

  "Well, I don't really know what you want me to say, Birdie. I mean, only you can make that decision."

  "I know, but I feel like he hasn't even earned the right to come back into my life, you know? Like one little weak apology and that's it."

  "So then make him earn it."

  "How do I make him earn it?"

  "I don't know. Maybe we should have a girls' night and we can all have some drinks and think about the best way that you can make that happen."

  "Yeah, sure. The last time we were going to have a girls night, it was just you and me," I sighed. "And that's the other thing."

  "What?"

  "What if the only reason I'm giving him another chance, even as friends is because I'm lonely."

  "What do you mean you're lonely?"

  "I mean, you all have guys and I have no one and you know, sometimes it just sucks. I don’t know, it’s just that sometimes...."

  "What?"

  "Sometimes I just feel like a loser and I just feel like I'm going to be alone forever."

  "Birdie, you're still in your early twenties."

  "I know, but I don't know. Just feels like I don't meet anyone that I have any sort of real connection with. Yeah. I make out with some random guys, but that's not going anywhere. And yeah, I still have time, but I just don't even feel like I'm meeting anyone that I'm compatible with. And it feels like I won't ever meet anyone that I'm compatible with."

  "And do you think that's got to do with them or you?"

  "What do you mean? Has that got to do with me?"

  "Like, do you think that the reason you're not meeting guys that you're compatible with is because you're still hung up on one very specific guy?" She spoke softly and all I could do was stand there and think.

  "I mean, I don't know. I can't lie when I see Hunter, I do still feel things for him, but..."

  "I know you don't want to give in to those thoughts because he hurt you and he treated you badly and you didn't really resolve those issues did you?"

  “No. I mean, I don't know if he thinks we resolved the issues just because he said he was sorry," I let out a sigh. "Knowing him, that's what he thinks."

  "He thinks one little sorry means you're going to forgive him?"

  "I think so. But I mean, what else can I say? What else can I do? I don't want to be like the harpy that goes on, and on, and on about it. Especially seeing as we're not dating anymore."

  "Well, you have to be honest with yourself and with him, what are you looking for? And what do you need?"

  "What do you mean, what do I need?"

  "If you're going to continue a friendship with him, what do you need? If you're going to be in a relationship with him, what do you need?"

  "I don't know that I need anything."

  "So you don't want to be friends with him anymore?"

  "I mean, I think it would be cool."

  "So then if you do want to be friends with him, what do you need from him for a friendship to work?"

  "What... Oh, I just don't even know how to answer that or what to think."

  "What do you mean, you just don't know what to think?"

  "I mean, I just don't know what to think." Olivia had asked me some good questions, but I felt like my emotions and my wants were all over the place. Seeing Hunter again had turned my entire life upside down.

  "Oh, Birdie. Let me call the girls and see if we can all meet up for drinks in like an hour, does that work?"

  "I guess so. I'm an idiot aren't I?"

  "Why are you an idiot?"

  "Because I have no clue what I'm doing, or what I'm thinking and-"

  "Birdie enough okay. I think you're totally overthinking everything and that's
okay. This guy has come back into your life out of nowhere, and it's taken you by surprise. And I think you just don't know how to react to that. And that's okay. I don't know that I would know how to react to that either."

  "You know Olivia, you're the greatest."

  "I don't know that I'm the greatest, but I'm trying to be fair to you, and to him okay?"

  "Okay."

  "I'm going to text you the bar we're going to meet at."

  "You don't even know if the other girls will come. You know that..."

  She interrupted me. "I'll make sure that they come."

  "Really Olivia?"

  "Hey, it's one for all, and all for one, right? If one of us is in need, we all need to be there."

  "Thanks, Olivia. I really, really appreciate you."

  "Hey, don't worry. I know you do the same thing for me."

  "Okay. Well, I'm going to go and get ready. Text me where to meet?"

  "Okay, will do."

  "Bye." I hung up the phone and smiled to myself. That's what I needed. I needed to speak to my friends, and I needed a drink, and I needed them to give me some advice because the way everything was going, I was in deep trouble. The phone rang and I grabbed it again quickly.

  "Hey, did you figure out the bar already?"

  "Did I figure out what bar already?" A deep voice said. And I groaned, "Oh, hey, sorry. I thought you were someone else."

  "Who did you think I was?" Hunter didn't sound pleased.

  "Oh, just a friend," I said with a small smile in my voice. He didn't have to know which friend.

  "Which friend?" He said.

  I chuckled, "Oh, that's none of your business Hunter. And you don't really know my friends here. So it doesn't really matter if I give you a name."

  "A female friend or a male friend?"

  "Does it matter?"

  "I'm just curious. Is this a friend that you hang out with and laugh and giggle? Or is this a friend that you hang out with and laugh and make out?"

  "Really Hunter?"

  "What?" He said innocently. "I'm just curious."

  "Well, you can be curious all you want because I'm not going to answer that question. You don't hear me asking you."