Because of that Night (Book1)

chapter 19: Lila

"So, I think it could be a good idea to get the licensing for it," Hunter was explaining. They were sitting down to dinner with Aunt Nova while Dylan ducked out of dinner to go watch TV. "You can make a good amount of cash bartending, and I think this way, going back to school could be more affordable for me."

It made Lila elated that Hunter had not just shrugged off her recommendation of him going back to school. She knew that all of it was easier said than done, but she couldn't help but notice an unusual energy in Hunter's gray eyes. They shined that lighter blue like they had when they had gone into Boston. Hunter was excited about this possibility, and it made Lila excited too. She smiled at him, even going so far as to reach under the table and squeeze his knee gently. He glanced at her hand briefly before looking back up into her and Aunt Nova's smiling faces.

"Well, I think that's just wonderful," Aunt Nova exclaimed. "Where were you thinking, Webhannet State?"

Lila suddenly saw Hunter's expression change a bit as he reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, maybe, I don't know. I haven't really narrowed down where exactly yet." He cleared his throat a bit, glancing at Lila who looked at him dubiously before he quickly looked away again.

"But anyways, dinner was really great. Thanks again for letting me join," he said, and Aunt Nova waved her hand at him.

"You know you're welcome here anytime, Hunter."

He bowed his head a bit, giving a grateful smile. He suddenly looked so young to Lila there, and it was almost like they were living in some alternative universe where Michael had never existed. Would things have ended up like this had she and Michael never dated? Sometimes she thought on these questions too often, wondering if in those separate universes, it all ended up the same; with her and Hunter together in the end, no matter all that happened before.

Hunter took his dish to the sink, beginning to rinse it off before Aunt Nova gently chided him, letting him know she would get to it later and that he shouldn't worry about it. He dropped the dish hesitantly into the sink, but Aunt Nova gave him another reassuring smile to let him know it really was okay to not help with every single thing for once. Hunter rubbed his neck then, acknowledging how it was already beginning to get late and that he needed to be at work early tomorrow. Lila perked up at this and offered to walk him out.

Ever since their Boston trip, Lila couldn't help but feel a stronger closeness to Hunter. That day had been so different than all of the days before then. She had felt like they had finally experienced what it was like to be normal; to be able to walk around in the pure daylight and simply be with one another. It made her ache for those moments again. Being back in hiding made her almost depressed, and she knew both of them were still thinking on what she had said about saying something about all that had happened with Michael and Hunter and her to Zooey. Really, at that point, Lila wanted to say something to anyone that was willing to listen.

Aunt Nova had shifted her eyes between the two of them as Lila guided Hunter out of the room, but just as quickly she seemed to go back to finishing her final bites of dinner before moving to the sink to begin cleaning. Hunter gave a quick goodbye to Dylan who attempted to get Hunter to stay just a little while longer and play with his hot wheels track he had set up, but Hunter kindly rejected the offer.

"Next time, bud, I promise, okay? I just have a busy day tomorrow."

Dylan was clearly disappointed but didn't put up a large fight. It had been a few weeks since his morning meltdown about his fear of losing Hunter, so though he still was a bit attached to keeping Hunter around him as much as possible, he had become better at releasing him with an understanding that they would see each other again soon enough.