Come Home

by Raleigh Ruebins

  That I was finally doing something that she would appreciate.

  Because success mattered, sure. On some level, I knew that it always would. But what mattered more was working to make sure the people I loved would be taken care of, even if it meant sacrificing a project I’d thought would be so important.

  When I left the studio, things only began to feel more surreal. They thanked me for coming on the program and ushered me to the back door, and as I stepped outside the first thing I noticed was the sunset, rays of light shooting through the clouds, pink and orange and shades of purple on the horizon.

  The second thing I noticed was that a crowd of people had formed at the edge of the studio lot. A few people turned and began to cheer as I walked out, islanders who had probably booed me just last night at the hearing.

  And as I raised my hand to wave at them, smiling wide, I saw movement from the corner of my eye. It was Royce, coming toward me, shaking his head.

  “Just a second,” I started to say to him before his closed fist connected with my cheek, and I fell back onto the pavement.

  “You motherfucker,” he said, his voice low.

  I was in a daze as I shouted, gripping my cheek in one hand, squinting back up at him. The crowd of people had taken notice, running over and screaming in our direction.

  And then Royce socked me again, and all I saw was black.

  “He needs to go to the hospital,” someone said.

  My eyes were still closed, and I was clearly somewhere a lot more comfortable than the pavement. Every single part of me was aching but my face felt like it had been hit by a steamroller.

  “No he doesn’t. He got in a couple good punches, but he didn’t get him that bad. Gavin’ll sleep it off.”

  That voice I knew. It was Caleb.

  “Remember when Terry Shandon socked me when we were back in school, Linny?” That was Hunter’s dad, who laughed like he was trying to keep quiet but failing. Don had never been good at modulating his voice, and Hunter’s mom immediately shushed him.

  “That was different,” Linda replied. “You didn’t stand a chance. I’d have shoved you in a locker back in school, too.”

  “Like hell,” he replied. “You were the one who was a teacher’s pet. With a secret crush on me.”

  “God, what I wouldn’t give to have that metabolism again,” Linda said.

  “Both of you, be quiet,” Hunter said. God, even here, as my face was throbbing and I still hadn’t been able to open my eyes, his voice was like a beacon. Hunter was here. He was close to me again. “Gavin just saved our island and all you guys can talk about is your high school stories.”

  Caleb snorted. “Saved our island from himself,” he said. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  A tickle bubbled up in my throat and started to make me feel like my chest was on fire. I coughed, which hurt more than a little bit, and when I finally attempted to open my eyes, only one of them actually complied.

  “Told you,” Caleb said. “He’s just fine.”

  “Holy shit,” Hunter said.

  I was in Hunter’s living room, lying on the long couch against the wall. Everyone was there at the other side of the room except for Hunter, who had come to kneel on the ground at the foot of the couch near me. The air inexplicably smelled amazing and sugary.

  “You’re up, hey,” Hunter said softly. “Don’t try to move the right side of your face too much. Royce got you pretty bad.”

  “What year is it? What’s your name? What’s six plus seven?” Linda asked, and I had no clue if she was being serious or not.

  I tried to respond, but it came out more like a small groan.

  “Well, clearly, if he doesn’t know six plus seven, he’s toast,” Don said. He had a gin and tonic in his hand.

  “Shut up and let him talk!” Hunter said, watching me.

  I pulled in a long, slow breath.

  “Happy birthday,” I mumbled, my voice weak.

  Hunter’s eyes widened, and his mouth quirked up in a lopsided smile. “Oh no,” he said softly. “Oh no.”

  Behind him, Linda and Don immediately locked eyes and smiled. “Happy birthday to you…” they started singing in tandem, continuing with the song as Hunter grimaced through it.

  “First thing he says when he wakes up is happy birthday to you,” Caleb told Hunter. “You’re telling me you didn’t know it was love?”

  “You guys promised you wouldn’t sing it,” Hunter said.

  “Gavin started it,” Linda protested, with a big shrug. “And what better way to wake him up? Now we have to get that cake out of the oven.”

  That explained the incredible sugary smell. Don and Linda made their way into the kitchen and Caleb stepped over toward Hunter and me, crossing his arms and smiling down. “The hero of the hour,” he said, watching me. “There is an impromptu parade going on down on Hill Street right now, just so you know.”

  “Very funny,” I said.

  “He’s actually being serious,” Hunter replied. “People were very fucking happy to see you on TV tonight.”

  “How long was I out?” I asked, sitting up a little more, struggling.

  “Hey, relax,” Hunter said, willing me to lie back down. “You were only out about twenty minutes. I rushed over to the studio as soon as I saw what you were saying on TV, and then came right back here immediately after what happened.”

  Meatball lumbered over from the side of the room, licking my outstretched hand at the edge of the couch.

  “I take it Caleb pulled Royce off me?”

  “No, actually, Caleb wasn’t there. It was Marcie Luna.”

  “Oh. That makes sense, too.” Marcie was tough as nails, and I wasn’t surprised to hear she showed up at the lot.

  “So Gavin, I have no idea if you were in a fugue state, or you just lost your mind on TV,” Caleb said, “but if you go back on your word now, I’m going to be the one who socks you next.”

  “Jesus, Caleb, this isn’t the time for that,” Hunter said, glaring up at his brother. “Asshole.”

  “I get it,” I said. “It was… insane. Here.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket, my back killing me in the process. I unlocked it, showing them the screen. There were two hundred and forty-seven unread text messages, sixty-eight unread emails, and one hundred and three missed calls.

  “Christ,” Hunter said.

  “Yeah,” I replied. “Trust me, Caleb, there’s no putting that genie back in any bottle. But… I’m not going to change my mind, or go back on my word. I made my decision, and it’s the right one. Even if Alto Ventures is in a smoldering pile of wreckage right now.”

  “Caleb! You gotta help me with this icing!” Linda’s voice came from the kitchen.

  “Oh, for God’s sake,” Caleb said, turning to walk over. “You can’t put icing on a hot cake.”

  And then I was alone with Hunter. A wave of emotion washed over me that I hadn’t let myself acknowledge before.

  “How did you…” Hunter started, his eyes searching my face.

  “I don’t know,” I replied. “I don’t know why I did it. I still don’t really feel like I’m in my own body, and I’ve had, I guess, one half hour of sleep in the last thirty-six hours. If you count being knocked out as sleeping.”

  “But… what you said is true, right?” he asked. “You’re not going to change your mind?”

  I shook my head, then stopped, wincing at the pain in my neck. “I’m sure. I made the right decision, even if I… probably should have gone about it in a better way. But I couldn’t wait longer, Hunter. I couldn’t.”

  He nodded once. “I understand. Well, I don’t fully understand, but… I hope I will at some point.”

  “I’m playing things by ear,” I said. “For the first time in my life.”

  “Now you know what it feels like to be me,” he said. “If you had told me yesterday that this all would happen, I would have laughed.”

  He was mostly joking, but his words stung a little.

 
I knew I had left more than just Alto Ventures in a state of upheaval. I had caused unnecessary harm for so many people, probably Hunter the most. He hadn’t wanted to speak at the hearing, and in the classroom last night, he’d looked like he’d been wounded.

  “I’m so sorry,” I sad, my voice low. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  There wasn’t much else I could offer at the moment, and only through time and lots of effort could I ever begin to repair the trust of everyone on the island. A few people had started rejoicing that I didn’t want to support the bridge project anymore, but that didn’t mean I had anyone’s trust back.

  Including Hunter’s.

  “I understand if you hate me, Hunt,” I whispered.

  His eyes were so expressive it almost hurt more than my physical pain. The last time I saw him he’d been so closed off from me, so doubtful of our friendship, something I’d never seen before and hadn’t begun to know how to handle.

  He wasn’t so closed off now, though. His eyes were big and open as ever, though he did look a little worried.

  “I could never hate you,” he said. “Oh, God, Gavin.”

  He leaned over and put his arms around me, gently at first, making sure he wasn’t hurting me in any places. But I squeezed him back, tight, and he sighed in my arms.

  “I still don’t know why you did it,” he whispered. “And I hope to God it wasn’t just to appease me. But I know right now what you need is sleep. Everything is going to be okay.”

  “I know it is,” I said, and I was surprised to find that I meant it. “I’m home.”

  15

  Hunter

  God damn it.

  Damn it to hell.

  I had been trying so hard not to cry. And now here I was with my arms around Gavin, and the waterworks had started going just because he’d said he was home while he was in my arms.

  Or maybe he’d just meant that the island was his home. Whatever. Either way, the message was the same. I never, ever would have thought I’d hear him say anything like that, anywhere near the island, and after last night, I had been sure that our friendship had ended.

  But it was pretty clear that Gavin couldn’t be “using” me to get bridge project support if he wasn’t even supporting the project anymore. And while tonight was like a Twilight Zone alternate version of my life, deep down I knew that Gavin wasn’t going to go back on his word.

  I pulled back, smiling even though there were still tears rolling down my cheeks.

  Gavin’s face was lightly bruising at his temple already, but his eyes were on mine, steadfast. He’d finally opened his right eye, and it was the slightest bit droopy, but no worse for wear. I watched him as the sounds of my parents’ voices floated in from the kitchen.

  “Seems like they found out about your birthday even before I said it, huh?” Gavid said, smiling gently.

  “Yeah, unfortunately, my parents always remember my birthday,” I said. “They promised to just help Caleb make a cake and not sing, but… things don’t always work out the way you think they will, right?”

  Gavin laughed, even though it looked like it hurt his face. “You’re damn right about that. Ow.” He put his hand to the side of his face, sighing.

  “Do you want to go upstairs and lie down?” I said. “Anything you need—ice pack, painkillers….”

  He shook his head gently, blinking. “No, nothing like that. I’m sure tomorrow morning I’m going to want the painkillers, though. I just…”

  He trailed off, blinking a few times until the blinks became fully closed eyes.

  “Pepper, are you okay?” I asked. “Shit, maybe we do need medical help—”

  “No, no!” he said, opening his eyes again. “I promise you, it’s not because of the punch, it’s the lack of sleep. And maybe I’m about to change my mind about your offer to go lie down,” he said, stifling a yawn.

  I smiled. “I thought so,” I said. “Give me a sec.”

  I slipped into the kitchen for a moment, grabbing a couple Advil, a glass of water, and a handful of gummy bears for if he woke up in the middle of the night in dire need of sugar.

  “I’ll be back down in a few,” I told Caleb and my parents, who were covered in icing, surrounding the cake.

  Caleb waggled his eyebrows at me, but I just rolled my eyes and headed back to the living room. Gavin had stood up, but he looked more than a little woozy.

  “Come on,” I said, linking my arm in his and starting up the stairs.

  He smiled. “I feel like we’re school kids on a field trip, being told to link arms like this,” he said.

  “Yeah, well, school kids usually don’t get punched in the face for ruining people’s dreams of being billionaires,” I said. “Unless your experience of childhood was a lot different from mine.”

  “Fair enough.”

  I led him down the hall to my room, and shut the door behind us with a soft click.

  It wasn’t even a moment before he was sliding his hands around my waist. His eyes were wide, as wide as they could be, and he sighed softly.

  “I’m sorry—” he said, “—I know things have changed, and we should probably just go back to being friends, but tonight I—”

  I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, closing what was left of the distance between us. I kissed him, slowly, so aware of the bruising on his face.

  But then he kissed me back harder. It was as if he didn’t care at all about the pain, or anything that had happened, or anything that might happen afterward. It was a kiss that felt necessary, his tongue sliding against mine.

  “I missed you,” I said, pulling back slightly as he nestled his head at the base of my neck. “I know it wasn’t that long, but…”

  “But it feels like a fucking lifetime. I missed you so much, Hunt. I don’t want to be away from you again.”

  “I want to be near you, too,” I said.

  “I mean, I don’t want to go back to Seattle,” he said, staring me in the eyes. If I can do this—if I still have the ability to invest in Kinley Island, I am going to try to stay here.”

  I paused, barely able to process what he was saying. “You can’t mean that, Gavin,” I said.

  “I think I do, though,” he whispered. “I don’t think I ever really hated this place—I hated the memories, the time I had in school, and mostly hated losing my mom. But you know what my mom loved more than anything?”

  “Well, you,” I said. “But also Kinley Island.”

  He nodded. “I want to try to start again,” he said.

  I had never seen him in such a vulnerable place. I knew he was delirious and tired, but I also knew that this was genuine—that something had really happened to him on the island and his outlook was shifting completely.

  “I’m so sorry for what I said,” I told him. It felt vital to let him know. “I knew you weren’t—you couldn’t be… using me. I was just out of my mind with emotions, and fucking Barrowfield got in my head—”

  “Forget about him,” Gavin said. “It was all a huge mistake, and I was so stubborn.”

  I nodded, smiling weakly. “Yeah. You really were damn stubborn, you know that?” I said.

  “Yes.”

  “But you know what?”

  “What?”

  I ran my fingers through his hair, pushing it back. “I still love you.”

  Gavin reached for my hand, pulling it down and clasping his fingers in mine. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything,” he said. “More than any project. More than the damn company.”

  I fell against his shoulder, kissing his neck, squeezing him as tight as I could without actively hurting him. “God I hope this isn’t all some dream I’m about to wake up from,” I said.

  He puffed out a laugh. “You’re telling me,” he said. “It’s very likely that this is all a hallucination, considering how long I’ve been awake.”

  “Oh please, my high school students pull all-nighters all the time.”

  “Do they really? That is so bad for their develo
ping brains. Doesn’t anyone know the importance of a good night’s sleep?”

  I smiled, looking back up at him. “Okay. That confirms it. You’re definitely the real Gavin, not some dream-impostor. You rambled about something health-related.”

  “You want to know something?” he said.

  “I always do.”

  “I had a big plan for what I was going to do after the TV show,” he said. “I was going to come over here with a big bottle of whiskey and flowers, and I was going to give you the best birthday sex.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “Whoa, is that right?” I said. My cock twitched in my pants even though this was clearly the worst time for it. “And what makes you think I would have accepted this birthday sex?”

  “I had a sneaking suspicion you might,” he said, backing up and loosening his tie. “No better way to celebrate the downfall of my career than by fucking my best friend, right?”

  “Christ,” I said, stepping back and watching him as he tossed away his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” I said, reaching down and rubbing my cock with my palm through my jeans. “Just—you. Talking about… that.”

  “What, about fucking you?” he said, unbuttoning as he raked his eyes over me. He was slowly revealing the muscles along his chest, then down to his defined abs….

  “Good lord,” I said.

  He knew what he was doing. I just hadn’t been expecting it—especially not right now, and especially not from him. He was usually so much more… inhibited around me.

  But he’d also had a crush on me, apparently for a long time, and I hadn’t had a fucking clue.

  Maybe there was a lot that I didn’t know about Gavin Bell. And that thrilled me.

  My skin was growing hot as he reached the last button of his shirt and moved to pull it off.

  “Ow, ow,” he said, wincing in pain, his shirt only half off.

  “You alright?” I asked, putting a hand on his arm.

  “Yeah. It’s my shoulder,” he said. “From when he knocked me to the ground.”