Always Here

Chapter 4

Hunter’s POV

I walked into the house with my sister with the smoothie in our hands meeting with the sweet aroma of my mom’s cooking. Whenever my mom cooks means one of us is in trouble somehow or she was trying to please us for something she did.

“What did you do?” I turned to Casey.

“What?! I did nothing!” She raised her hands up in mock outrage. She quickly walked towards the kitchen sticking her tongue out one more time. My eyes rolled automatically at her childishness.

“Hard to believe you’re turning eleven in a few weeks.” I started walking into the kitchen greeting my mom with a kiss on the cheek.

“Haha very funny” Was the answer with an eye roll from Casey.

“So kids how were your day” My mom asked ignoring our banter.

“It was okay. But I would say something different about Hunter...” Casey replied ignoring my death stare.

My mom raised her eyebrows at me. “Really huh? What’s the secret?”

I rolled my eyes  “Nothing mom she’s being a girl”

“Last time I checked I am a girl and he was flirting with the cashier in ‘De La Cafe’” Casey said answering mom’s question, her blue eyes staring back at me, her eyes screaming ‘I win’.

“Wait was this the same girl who you insulted when she bumped into you?” Mom asked with a smirk.

“Yes” My answer was short and direct.

“Casey mind your own business and Hunter stop teasing your sister” Casey stuck her tongue out and left the kitchen to her room.

"So your father called." I looked at my mother waiting for her to continue.

"He wants to see you again" she said quietly.

"Well I don't want to." Was my answer.

My mom looked at me "Sweetheart....Listen. You don't have to cut off all ties with your father just because I wasn't able to--"

"Don't. Mom just don't even finish that sentence."

She tried to speak again when the hatred for my father came out of my voice.

"Don't you dare try to cover for that bastard. Okay? You did nothing! It was all him. He was the one who decided that he didn't get laid enough! He was the one who fucking decided to cheat on you with some blonde whore who's barely eighteen!! And he was the one who decided to fucking leave us! So don't even try to finish that sentence and make it your fault... It was his fault and it will always be his fault mom… HIM not you. And I don't want to see him or hear anything about him! He treated you like shit mom.... And I'm not letting him hurt you again."

By the time I was finished with my rant, there were tears streaming down my mom’s face. She hugged me tight and my arms wrapped around her waist gently.

She looked up at me "You're the best son ever."

"And you're the best mom ever." And she smiled a teary smile at me and kissed my cheeks. She let go of me and wiped her tears.

"And damn it you're so tall... I barely reach up to your shoulders" My mom replied laughing lightly.

"That's a very good thing mom... No more embarrassing kisses on the cheek and hugs." she hit me gently on the chest and told me to get out of the kitchen.

"I'm going!" I said about to walk out, my mom's back was towards me when I called out.

"Mom?" She turned around. "Yeah?"

"You deserve way better" I said and she smiled at me "I already have the best children… I don’t need anything or anyone else."

I smiled back and walked out to my room.

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