𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉

[Chapter 20] Crazy Thoughts

Hunter doesn't have to know.

I know Lake won't tell him.

I'm sure not gonna tell him.

So how would he find out?

He won't, so it's fine. This is fine.

I look over at Lake, remembering what happened last time I got into his car with him. I then make a mental note to not let it get to that point.

That seems to be the last thing on his mind though.

"Again, I'm really sorry," he reiterates, not taking his eyes off the road as he makes a left. "I wouldn't have said anything if I knew you didn't know."

"It's fine," I verbally wave him off. "I know you didn't."

Partial truth. Hunter was insistent that Lake did indeed know but knowing my brother, I wouldn't be surprised if that was just some lame attempt to get the heat off of himself and on to someone else.

"So, you talked to Hunter about it?" Lake glances at me and I nod. "Yeah."

"What did he say?" Lake asks and I shrug my shoulders. "He was pissed that I found out which is crazy because how do you keep something like that a secret from your family and then get mad when they learn the truth?"

Lake nods in agreement. "True."

"Plus, he got mad at you for telling me--which I'm not mad at all," I reassure him, "because if you hadn't, the kid would probably be graduating by the time I knew he existed."

"I thought you knew," Lake insists, stopping the car at a red light and looking at me. "He can be mad if he wants but that's on him for lying."

"I know, but I just wanted to give you a heads up if you haven't talked to him since, he's probably gonna be in a bad mood," I warn him, thinking of Hunter's last conversation with me. "He keeps calling me over and over, but never leaves a voicemail--probably because he just wants to keep scolding me."

"Well, we're supposed to hang out tonight so I wouldn't be surprised if I get an earful." Lake starts driving again and I hesitate, debating whether I should tell him the full extent of how mad Hunter actually is with him.

"You okay?" Lake seems to notice my silence and I nod. "Yeah, I'm just thinking."

"About...?" he prompts me and I exhale. "Well, I didn't know if I should tell you or not since I'm sure you probably already know Hunter is crazy but...that time at my mom's house...he sort of threatened you."

It feels weird and awkward to say out loud but oh well.

Lake doesn't reply right away, as if thinking and I raise an eyebrow. "Well? Isn't that like...concerning?"

He shrugs a shoulder, turning into the familiar parking lot of Los Tres Sombreros and I scoff a bit at his reaction. "His exact words were, 'I don't want to hurt him but I will'. That doesn't worry you at all?"

At that, he actually laughs, examining the parking lot for a spot to park. "Should I be worried?"

I stare at him incredulously. "I don't know, probably?"

"Look." He finally finds a spot to put his car and when he does, he puts it in park. "We're keeping this between us, right? Just like you said, the party, all of that."

"Right," I agree with little confidence.

"So, I'll just apologize, explain that I thought you knew already and tell him we're not hanging out anymore." He shrugs as if it's the most simple thing ever and I force a smile I don't feel. "Right."