20 Questions

Chapter 139

Hunter

When I get back to the room, Griffin is there, but Jenna is nowhere in sight. I have a text from Elijah telling me he will be here in fifteen minutes. I don't know what happened between Griffin and Jenna, but he looks like he's about to shoot fireballs out of his eyes. I'm guessing the conversation they were supposed to have didn't resolve anything.

"Where's Jenna?" I ask, elevating the head of my bed with the button on the side rail.

"Downstairs in the cafeteria," he barks.

"I see. I'm assuming the conversation wasn't of the pleasant variety?"

"Understatement of the year, bud."

"You wanna talk about it?" I ask.

"Not much to talk about. I wanted to kiss her one last time, she refused, I got mad, she told me to go fuck myself and we parted ways. That pretty much sums it up."

"Why did she refuse to kiss you?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because she's married to you. I'm no relationship guru, but I'd say I'm pretty on point with my theory."

I know I shouldn't, but I have to laugh. This is such a bizarre conversation and an even stranger scenario. I'm asking another man why my wife wouldn't kiss him and he's blaming me for being married to her. We need a reality show. I don't care how much she cares about him, he had to know she wasn't going to kiss him with me back in the picture.

"Sorry, man. I realize how weird that sounds, me apologizing to you for not being able to kiss my wife, but I get it. You know how stubborn she can be."

"Would you be mad if she did?" he asks, finally looking at me for the first time since my arrival.

"Nah, probably not. I know those feelings don't disappear overnight. There's gonna be a transition period that we all have to work through. Anything I can do to help?"

"Yeah, divorce her so I can have her. If you're not up for that, maybe just see if she's agreeable to an open relationship."

The first laugh from Griffin finally comes and I join him. This whole situation is some real Jerry Springer shit. I meant what I said though. I wouldn't have been mad if they kissed. After everything he did for her - and for me - while I was gone, I'll extend a little grace while we get things worked out. I'm happy to see him relax a little though. I know how headstrong Jenna can be. I know better than anyone. They will find their stride and everything will be fine. He'll come to accept that she is hopelessly devoted to me and eventually move on.

About that time, there is a knock on the door and Elijah strolls in, carrying a bag of takeout food. Because I am otherwise disabled, he gets me set up and I don't waste any time busting his balls.

"You'd make a really good nanny," I taunt, smiling up at him as he rolls his eyes at me. "I'm really looking forward to having you around to be my bitch for a while."

"If you taste something funny in your food, just keep eating," he grunts. "I put a little something special in there for you because I knew you'd start running your fucking mouth as soon as I walked in." He looks around the room and inside the bathroom. "Where's Jenna? Did you piss her off again?"

"Uh, no. This round goes to Griffin."

"You two are some of the most ignorant fucks I know. When are you going to learn to keep that woman happy and stay off her shit list? I deal with the scum of the Earth as a profession and even I'm a little scared of her."

"As you should be," comes a voice from the doorway.

We all turn to see the most beautiful woman in the world bouncing into the room. Her long blonde hair falls over her right shoulder and she wears a murderous look on her face that makes me grateful to not be in the path of her destruction. I almost feel bad for Griffin, but it also feels good to not be the one in the doghouse. She takes a seat next to me and finishes putting all my condiments on the burger.