White Lies

The Hunstman

A tap on the glass sliding door distracts Hunter momentarily. He pauses inking when he sees Daisy waving her hands, urging him to come out. Hunter quirks an eyebrow at her before patting his client on the shoulder.

"Brent, can you give me a sec?"

"Yeah, man, give me some time to breathe too. That motherfucker is painful."

Hunter snickers at Brent. "Remind me to give you a pussyball after. I'll be back." He places his iron down. "Don't touch anything," he warns Brent before sliding the door open for Daisy.

"You've got a phone call. A Trisha? Says it's an emergency about Blanche," Daisy rushes the words out, already walking away from Hunter.

He hurries to clear the steps from his room to the front of the studio where Daisy holds up the phone for him.

"Trisha? Is everything okay?" Hunter feels the loud pounding in his chest. He doesn't care if he sounds worried in front of people, not if Blanche is the reason.

He's found that he cares for Blanche more than he realizes. His epic failure the weekend before haunts him in his sleep. Every single day he has woken up trying to figure out ways to surprise her, and he has stopped short at making her meals and sending her flowers.

When he asked Bee for her to meet his parents, she clammed up and made an excuse to leave. Hunter has been relentlessly worried that she will never forgive him for his stupid slip up. If she ever does, he vows never to look at another woman again. He'll do just about anything to get Bee's forgiveness, but how can he make her believe it?

"I can't get a hold of Blanche," Trisha responds. "I need to talk to her."

"Have you tried her cellphone?"

"I tried everything. She's not at the office. She's not picking up her cellphone. Nothing. I've left her tons of messages."

"I can try my brother."

"Please. I need to find her before it's too late."

"Too late for what?" Hunter doesn't know much Bee's friend, Trisha . As far as he is aware, Trisha is the only person Blanche knows in the city. The last time he was faced with the woman, Trisha yelled at him for letting Blanche believe that he wanted nothing to do with her and their child. She will never ask Hunter for help unless if it's a true emergency. It scares him more now that Trisha is calling him up to look for Bee.

Trisha sighs at the other end. "Her mother's here, in the city. I didn't tell her where Blanche works or lives, but if her mother was able to find my apartment and where I work, she will definitely find Blanche. We can't let that happen."

Blanche has never talked to Hunter about her family, not that he has ever asked, no thanks to his stubbornness and stupidity. "Why is it a bad thing for Blanche to see her mother? What aren't you telling me? Is Blanche in danger? Is my baby in danger?"

"No. I don't think so. I don't know, okay?"

"What do you mean you don't know?" Hunter raises his voice. He ignores the curious looks from people around him. "Should I be calling the cops, Trisha?"

"No! Not like that. Reyna will never hurt Blanche. But... I'm afraid that if Reyna is here, Perry won't be too long."

"Who the hell is Perry? What the fuck is going on?" Hunter grips the phone tighter.

"Look, can we meet somewhere? I haven't tried your place yet and I'm on my way there. Meet me there and we'll talk. Call your brother. See if he's heard from Blanche."

"Yeah, see you at my place."

Hunter hangs up the phone. He can feel the vein on his temporal throb angrily. "Daisy, I have to go."