I changed the ending of chapter 26, so please reread it before reading chapter 27.

Chapter 27 - KMCF

Whenever I wanted to include input to the conversation he created, I immediately had to recall the reason why I was restraining myself. I couldn't let a new day filled with nostalgic memories and content blind me from all of his wrong doings.

"Let's go," Hunter expressed. He separated himself from his seat and left his hand for me. Ignoring my temptations and his request, I shoved all my belongings into my bag and stood up.

We walked towards the exit, while Hunter wasn't aware of the eye strain the brunette was throwing, I noticed. I didn't know if it was jealousy or if I was just being protective. Once we stepped outside the blasting of horns and loud speeches of people passing by rang simultaneously in our ears.

"Bye," I spoke while I walked away from him, yet at the same time I felt history would repeat itself. Hunter grabbed hold of my hand and restrained me from moving forward.

I was mad at him and I was hurt by all of his actions, but no matter how much I was trying to drown my feelings a part of myself yearned for him. No, needed him, like he was my missing half. So, what better way to avoid these feelings than to get as far away as possible from him.

I yanked back my hand before I turned towards him and also, I creased the space between my eyebrows. "You can't walk back."

I thought over whether I should've responded or simply keep walking, but I had an urge to hear what he had to say. "Why not?"

"Jen, it's almost twenty blocks away," Hunter replied with a twinkle of disbelief.

"So?"

Good thing you're not wearing heels today.

Slowly he began to chuckle, only for a bit. "Let's go by car instead," Hunter said.

Walking a mile is a challenge plus, I didn't have any money on me for a taxi, because like I said I left my condo in a hurry. However, if that was the risk I had to take then so be it.

"No," I said accompanied by a stern voice. With that said, I took my leave. I began to pace down the street as the sun beat down on me. "Stop following me." I ordered without turning around. I noticed replicating steps and figured he wouldn't let me leave that easily. 

"I'm not doing anything bad, I'm just walking you back." He said.

Again, without getting a glance at him, I replied,"stop it."

He didn't say anything after that, we simply and silently kept walking. I couldn't force him not to, in order for me to do that, I'd have to break his legs.

From the corner of my eye, I could see something else following me. It was the same vehicle that had dropped me off, however, with a small motion coming from Hunter it made an immediate U-turn.

As long as we didn't talk to one another, kept our distance, or didn't look at each other, I could handle it. I just had to ignore a few feelings.

** **

It was late at night, I was snuggled up in my silk pajama shorts while while watching episodes of one of my favorite TV shows. I was completely done with anything single piece of work that was related to Marcos. I was relaxing on my sofa with a cat laying on my lap.

Right when I stepped into the store, there was no sign of Marcos. Though, he did leave me some things to look over and a little note asking about my suppose date with the billionaire who only followed me halfway to Anders. If only he knew about Hunter the way I did, things would be a tad less stressful. Miranda didn't dare to ask me questions, I guess she could read me very well. So, for the rest of the work day, Miranda and I finished up some business we needed to clear up. We hung up a 'Help Wanted' sign, wrote down a list of potential real estates we wanted to check out, and cleaned the entire store. In total we completed our top priorities.

Later in the day, it was coming into Miranda's consciousness that the men were almost done with building the display, and in order to keep the final product a surprise, she sent me home early and even insist I come back to work an hour than usual. No matter how much I protested she was eager to make it a surprise. I couldn't argue with her anymore, so I took my leave.

It was nearly eleven o'clock and you'd be wondering why I wasn't in bed considering how much I complained about not getting enough sleep, the thing is, I was waiting for Marcos. He was supposed to come over and get the leftover assignments he gave me to finish. 

Ding dong!

Immediately I knew the person who had rung the door and I felt both relief and disrupted. I was glad he was here, meaning I'd be allowed to sleep, yet I'd I have to get up. I walked towards the door, unlocked it and opened it. Revealing a tall man with one of the most charming accents I've ever heard.

"Hey," I grinned.

Marcos looked tired, but not exhausted. "Sorry for being late," he said.

"It's okay, it can't be helped." I replied. I walked over to my coffee table to gather the stack of papers I left. "Here," I placed them onto his already opened hands.

"Thank you," Marcos shined a big enough smile for a sleepy person.

"No problem," I returned. "Oh, and thank you for dealing with the paparazzi. Sorry, I didn't get to thank you earlier."

He shook his head in disagreement. "It's alright, I didn't really do much. Once Manning showed up, none of them seemed to care for Martinez and Anderson."

During his speech, I hoped him bringing up Hunter wouldn't start a new conversation centering him. If I could hardly talk to my best friend about him, what made it easier to talk to Marcos.

"So, how was it?" He grinned in playful manner.

I played dumb, believing that he might've dropped his attempts to get me to talk. "How was what?"

"Your brunch with a billionaire," His eyebrows were shaped in a way to highlight the I-can't-believe-you-could-forget face.

It wasn't in me to get into the specifics as to why it wasn't good. Today was definitely not the time and place to reveal to him, that the billionaire was none other than my childhood friend. "It was okay."

"Just okay? He was willing to destroy a company for a date with you and it turned out to just be okay?" He questioned with the same disbelief expression he had when I rejected Hunter's invitation.

"It wasn't a date." I stated with a fraction of a frown pressed on my lips.

Marcos's eyes roamed all over my face for a moment or two before he said anything. "You don't like him, do you?"

"He's a selfish lunatic who feeds off of anger and toys with you for the sake of pleasure. So, no, I don't like him." I didn't mean to express any attitude or opinion about Hunter to Marcos, I guess it just slipped.

A chuckle coming from Marcos erupted, "you got all of that, just from spending a few hours with him?"

My heart skipped, it was like I was exposing the fact that I know Hunter so well. I quickly had to cover up my track, "I can read people very well."

He slowly grinned. "How about yourself?"

"What's that s-"

"I don't know about you, Jennifer, but I'm beat. I'll see you later, okay?" I couldn't tell if he meant to cut me off, but I easily brushed it away.

"Good night," I smiled.

"Night and thanks for not declining Manning's offer, I owe you one." He waved goodbye as I did the same and walked further away from where he stood last.

I shut my door and locked it. I wasn't in the mood to watch TV or do anything else, so I made it my objective to just head to bed. However, the doorbell rang only minutes after Marcos had left, so I figured he wanted to say something he forgot to mention.

I opened my door, but no one was outside. I didn't think it was a prank, who would attempt one so late in the night. My eyes then caught hold of a light blue rectangular box decorated with a neatly done ribbon, sitting on my doorstep. I picked it up cautiously before bringing it inside. I placed it on my kitchen counter after I locked the door again.

There was no note or anything attached to it, so of course I'd be little scared to open it. But, when I did, I wasn't ready for the shock it came with. Inside the baby blue box was a dozen s'more cookies and I knew there was only one person who could've done this.

Hunter.

** **

Had the worst case of writer's block, so I couldn't finish on time. Thanks for being patient with me though.