Last Friday Night (ManxMan) ✔️

Chapter 32

(A/N: I've never watched the movie discussed in this chapter so please don't use any of my comments as fact.)

The restaurant Hunter chose was bigger than most. Crystal chandeliers hung over all the available seating. Waiters had to peruse two levels of seating to serve corporate groups and boujee couples. River and Hunter sat in the center, surrounded by people on all sides. The sound of other conversations helped to fill the silence from their own.

It had been a month since Nia came back and River still refused to say a word about what was happening. The shift from her presence was immediate and strong.

"Is the wine good?" River asked, taking a sip of it himself. Hunter nodded quickly, meeting the older man's eyes. River's smile was tense but polite. Hunter tried to return the favor and smiled too.

"Very," Hunter replied.

He wanted to say more, keep the conversation flowing. But all the questions he had were ones River wouldn't answer.

At first, Melodie struggled to accept the new figure in her life. She was confused and hesitant. But these days, Nia was someone she brought up constantly. Melodie loved to boast about their shopping trips and visits to the park. Like any new guest, Nia was shown plenty of Melodie's drawings. Any criticism or critique Nia had for a piece was quickly rectified and the piece was presented once more.

Hunter never saw the dynamic, only heard about it through Melodie's storytelling. Selfishly, Hunter used his time with Melodie to get more information since her father was tight-lipped.

"How's Cassie doing?" Hunter added. It was a weak question but it gave him something to say.

"Good." His glass clinked softly when he set it down on the table. "Her and my other manager are becoming close. They're begging me to give them more overlapping shifts."

The two laughed. The sound was so different from the silence that followed moments later. Hunter could have spoken about a lot of things. With so much more free time these days, he was really exploring his hobbies. Getting back into the gym again was nice. And he finally could get started on the shows all his friends raved about.

But he only had that free time because River didn't need him. Nowadays, if Hunter asks to watch Melodie, the offer is rejected.

"It's covered," he'd say. "Nia's watching her."

Hunter hadn't seen the woman since that first night but her presence constantly affected him. Nia being back in Toronto affected the decisions he made every single day. And he still knew so little about her. His curiosity was getting out of hand.

With it, came the most dangerous thought. What if Nia was coming back for more than her child? What if she came back for her family? Late at night, Hunter would replay the story River told him about his ex-wife. He'd sounded hurt and betrayed but never spiteful. If Nia had come back to fully re-enter their lives, what chance did Hunter have to stop her? The idea had been taking root, a persistent seed that refused to stop until it broke through and reached daylight.

"Hunter?"

The younger man blinked, registering pain in his palm. His fork was shaking, vibrating from the force he squeezed it with. Hunter opened his hand, dislodging the metal from his skin. Leaning over the table, River pulled the hand towards him, gently pressing into the marks.

"Does it hurt?"

His calloused fingers created little tingles where they scraped against Hunter's skin, but he loved it. Hunter didn't respond for a while. Each second he didn't speak was another second River touched him. The tingling from his touch felt so good. Hunter reveled in it. He didn't realize how much he missed that feeling.