Never let you go

Chapter 17

Grey:

For the next few days I go to school and then after class I go over to Hunter's and we sit on his bed and he reads to me. I brought over a couple other books for him that he let me know he wanted to read. He has a very nice reading voice and I enjoy listening to him read for hours. I could listen to him forever. I'm always tempted to curl up into his side and rest my head on his shoulder or in his lap but I restrain myself from doing so. Baby steps Grey. I do scoot closer to him though so I'm no longer sitting on the edge of the bed. He doesn't seem to mind so I guess it's safe.

It is now Friday and seventeen days have passed since the accident. Had it really been seventeen days? I guess so. It just still didn't seem entirely real to me. Anyway, today was D day. Today was the day Hunter was going to the hospital to get his stitches out and I'm assuming the doctors permission for him to travel. Hunter had spent much of yesterday assuring me that he wasn't leaving but after a while I'm not sure whether or not he was trying to convince me or himself.

I was worried and spent much of last night pacing around the living room instead of sleeping. I was too anxious to sleep and I was grateful I didn't have classes on Friday because I really don't think I would have been able to focus if I did. Hunter texted me when his mom and him left for the doctor's. That was an hour ago. Surely it didn't take that long to take out stitches. I was beginning to become more worried as I imagined that maybe something else was wrong. Maybe there was a delayed complication from the surgery that they hadn't noticed before. No, I tell myself. He's fine. Then my mind drifts to another place I don't want it to go. Maybe he just up and left again without a goodbye. No, I tell myself again. He wouldn't do that. Not this time.

Two hours later I still haven't heard from him and I'm officially in full blown panic mode. I decide I can't take it anymore and I grab my jacket and run out the door and head towards Hunter's apartment. The whole time there I mentally prepare myself for the image of his empty apartment and I try to hold myself together. You can't fall apart yet Grey, I tell myself.

When I reach his building I see Hunter's mother outside and she's carrying luggage towards a taxi. My stomach drops. No. But then I realize I'm not too late. He hasn't left yet. I can still stop this.

"Mrs. Williams!" I practically shout as I run over to her. Her head snaps in my direction and I expect to see that distasteful look on her face when she sees me but I don't. She just looks tired and defeated.

"Hello Grey" she sighs.

"Mrs. Williams I can't let you take him" I tell her desperately. "I know you love him and you want what's best for him but that's all I want too. I know I have absolutely no right to tell you anything about your son but the truth is I think that going back there will only hurt Hunter. Like I said he has never really told me about his past but I can tell something bad must have happened to him there. I see the darkness that he carries inside of him but I don't care. I love him anyway. I am crazy about your son and he has healed me in ways I never thought possible. Not after everything I lost. So I want to help him. I want to help heal him like he healed me. I want to be there for him in anyway he'll let me even if that means I'm only ever his friend. I love him. I'm in love with him. So please, please Mrs. Williams, I'm begging you don't take him from me."

I finish my speech and she stares at me for a few moments wearing that unreadable Williams' expression and I grow anxious. Did I fail?

"He's inside Grey" she finally tells me as she exhales a defeated breath. "He isn't coming back with me. He was adamant about staying here."

I'm stunned and I feel a little silly for the speech I just put her through. He's staying.

"I was wrong about you" she tells me after a moment.