Mine *don't read: being rewritten*

Chapter Eight

(Hunter's POV)

"Hey, Hunter," Ms. Parker says. I walk into her room and sit in the chair by her bed.

"Hi, Ms. Parker."

"Call me Jane, Hunter," she tells me.

I smile. "Okay."

"There was another thing I wanted to talk to you about," Ms. Parker-Jane-says. I nod, listening. "It's big, you have to be ready."

"I am."

"Riley isn't twenty-one yet," she starts, "but you are. Am I right?" I nod. I think I know where she's going with this. "Sammie and Bryce, I don't want them to be separated, or be anywhere but with Riley." I know exactly where she's going.

"When I die, a social worker will be here, ready to take them, you have to stop them." I nod. "Riley's over eighteen so you can still be with her. You won't have to take care of them, Riley's got that. But you have to take them into your custody, please."

"I will," I assure her. "Uh, can I ask you a question?" She nods. "You said that the cancer was stage four," I pause, trying to figure out how to word the question, "and that you told them to stop treating it."

She nods, not saying anything. "So why do you stay in the hospital?"

She sighs. "I wouldn't want Sammie or Bryce to see me like this."

I nod, understanding. "Is Riley feeling better?" she asks.

"Yeah, she's feeling a lot better." I decide not to say anything about Adam, or Riley's little breakdown.

"Make sure she comes before next week," she coughs before continuing, "I'm not gonna last much longer." I nod, and tell her that I will.

Taking that as my cue to leave, I stand and say, "Goodbye, Ms.-Jane." I smile. She returns the smile and bids me a goodbye.

"Hunter," she says as I reach the door.

I look back at her. "Yes?"

"You have my blessing," she says in almost a whisper. "Later, if you want to take her hand; if you want to marry her."

I nod. "Thank you." I flash a smile before leaving the room.

~

"Hello, Riley Ann." I walk into the café where she works with a smile on my face.

"Hi," she laughs.

"Are you here to actually order something or are you going to distract her?" Hannah asks.

I shrug. "I haven't really decided. I was leaning towards being a distraction, but I could actually order something, if you'd like me to."

Hannah laughs at me. "Ten minutes, Riley."

Riley smiles and walks around the counter, giving me a hug. "How are you feeling?" I ask, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.

She shrugs. "Better."

"Good, that's why I came."

"You're crazy." She laughs at me.

"No," I say, a smile making its way onto my face, "I'm just caring."

"Whatever floats your boat." I laugh. "I gotta get back. I'll see you later, Hunter." She stands on her toes to give me a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh yeah, I did have a reason for coming," I say before she goes behind the counter. She raises her eyebrows, waiting for me to tell her. "Your mom wants you to go see her. Before next week, preferably." She nods. I kiss the tip of her nose and give her hand a squeeze before turning to go.