City of Kinetics

FOURTEEN ✴ Breakfast Conversations

       The next day, Mila woke up around ten in the morning. She was glad she didn't sleep in too late this time, and immediately freshened up before making her way into the living room when she heard Hunter's voice.

       Stopping at the edge of the hallway, she saw that he was on the phone, standing in the kitchen. Even though she could only see the side of his face, Mila frowned when she realized that he looked angry.

       "You have to stop calling," he hissed into the phone, trying his hardest to keep his voice down. "She doesn't want to stay with you!"

       Mila suddenly had the urge to turn around and go back to the guest room, but her feet remained planted to the floor, unable to stop herself from listening in on his conversation.

       "You're going to call the police?" he scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "I am the police. You're lucky I haven't filed charges against your neglectful ass."

       He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, staring at the island countertop with a hard gaze.

       "I didn't tell her to block your number," he said. "But I'm glad she did."

       Another bout of silence, and suddenly Hunter's face went from angry to seething from whatever the person on the other end of the phone said.

       "Try me," he snapped, his voice raising just a bit.

       Mila's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he suddenly stepped away from the counter and glanced at the ceiling, taking in a deep breath to calm himself. His eyebrows suddenly furrowed in confusion as he pulled the phone away from his ear. Clearly, the person hung up on him.

       His shoulders slumped and he put his phone down, letting out a breath he had been holding. Bracing his hands against the edges of the counter, his head fell, and his eyes closed. Mila had never seen him so stressed out.

       Not sure what else to do, she waited a couple seconds before slowly making her way towards him.

       "Hey," she said lightly.

       Immediately, Hunter's head snapped up in surprise as she stopped across from him on the other side of the counter.

       "Sorry," Mila apologized, realizing she had startled him.

       He straightened his posture. "I didn't know you were awake."

       She wrung her fingers together nervously, her nails scratching at her cast.

       "I didn't want to sleep in again," she said lightly, her eyes going over his face. "Are you okay?"

       His ice like eyes were sharp as always, and immediately he frowned.

       "How much did you hear?" he asked.

       Mila suddenly felt guilty for listening to his conversation.

       "You were pretty quiet, so not much," she lied. "But you look upset."

       Hunter pursed his lips, his eyes going over her as he tried to look at anything else but her. Mila titled her head, wondering if maybe she should back off rather than pry. It was clear he didn't want to talk about it.

       "I'm fine," he said finally. "Just some personal stuff I need to take care of."

       Mila nodded before a silence blanketed over them for a moment. There was obvious tension in the air as Hunter kept glancing at his phone, deep in thought.