High Fidelity

31. hundred thousand dollar dinner

Wilson James Taylor

I might've talked to Levi on the phone for an hour and a half. Still, that wasn't nearly enough time to catch up. He told me all about Paris, the city of love. Apparently, it was nothing magical. Although, I planned on seeing for myself.

Paris was a much needed trip, mostly to see my brother after so long. That and I just needed a vacation, somewhere far and different from here.

Something inside of me was... changing. Wes triggered something within me and I didn't like it.

The news article we found in that old frat house brought up some memories I desperately tried to suppress.

I put on something fitting for dinner but in all black. I figured Wes's family would be serving a full course meal, so I wanted to come looking decent at least.

Sydney hadn't reached out to me ever since I dropped her off earlier. I just hoped she was alright.

Just as I put Finn in his room for the night, I grabbed my keys to go but a knock at the front door stopped me.

I didn't want to, but I went to see who it was.

"It's Hunter. Let me in, Will," he squeaked.

I shut the door in his face. "I'm not here."

When I walked away to look in a mirror for the final time and smooth my hair back, the door opened up.

In walked Hunter with his bags.

"How'd you get here?" I asked, dumbfounded.

He stood in the foyer and shrugged. "Uber."

"You can't be here, I have something to do," I rushed, picking the bags back up to put on his shoulders.

His face dropped, like the luggage again. "Where am I supposed to go, Will, huh? Mom still isn't back, yet!"

"Still?!" I repeated, checking the date on my phone. "Dammit."

"Where do you have to go, anyway?" he asked, sitting on the couch.

I normally had more patience for Hunter, who was like a little brother to me, but not at this time.

I picked him up by his collar. "You hear me, you can't be here?!"

"It's her, isn't it - Sydney? She's why you don't want me no more."

"I feel like you're trying to manipulate me here, and it's not working. Hunter, you're fifteen. Soon you'll be sixteen and there's some lessons you need to learn. Just not now and not here."

He slouched. "Come on, Will. I just wanna spend more time with you."

"Why couldn't you have just said that, dumb ass? Come on," I played, pushing his head.

"Pizza?" he suggested, practically skipping to my Jeep.

I stood at the Ford and got in, waiting for him to catch up.

"What, are you going to work, or something?" he asked, fastening his seatbelt once inside.

I glanced at him briefly then pulled out of my driveway.

"Or something," I answered in short, turning the volume up.

***

"Wake up, we're here," I barked, parking the pick-up truck.

Hunter shot up with excitement that quickly faded when he saw we were outside of Anna's.

"Wait, this isn't the pizza shop. No, Will, take me back," he argued, staying glued to the seat.