Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Was Hunter on drugs? No. He wouldn't be doing that in front of a stranger. Would he?

Walking slowly closer, Eve caught sight of the label. Insulin.

"Harper! Time for your shot, baby!"

Eve's eyes got wide. She remembered her childhood with a diabetic father. "Hunter? Is that for Harper?"

"Yes. She has childhood diabetes. One of the main reasons Victoria didn't want to be a mom. It was a lot to adjust to and I think she honestly didn't know how to deal with it. Especially for someone who didn't want to be a mother to begin with. They diagnosed Harper right before my last Superbowl win. We almost lost her a month before. She went into a diabetic coma and was in and out of consciousness for about three days. I don't know what I would have done if I lost my baby girl. She's my world."

He looked over at Eve, who had tears in her eyes, thinking about how hard it must be. She remembered her father's struggles and having to give him shots when he was too sick to do it on his own.

"I guess you realize now why I retired. Harper needs me more than the NFL did."

"Yes. Totally understandable that you would care for your daughter and make her your first priority. That's commendable. Did you miss playing football?" Eve went over to watch him as Harper ran into the room with her dolly.

"I do, but at least now I get to help new talent get their start. It's something I always wanted to do, anyway. I get to spend extra time with my baby girl, so it's worth it." He picked Harper up and sat her onto the cabinet.

"Daddy. I don't want to. It hurts."

"I know, baby. Soon you will have a pump and won't have to take the shots. Remember what I told you?"

"It's my go-go juice," she whimpered.

Eve went over and took her hand. "Just look at me, Harper. Tell you what. Let's sing a song."

Harper perked up. "A song?"

"Do you know Pop Goes the Weasel?"

"Yep."

"Great. We will sing the song and when the weasel goes POP! Daddy will give you your go-go juice. Ready?"

"I ready!" she said with a smile.

They sang together, "All around the mulberry bush… POP goes the weasel!"

Hunter gave the shot, and Harper didn't even flinch. "Hey! Daddy, it didn't hurt. Thanks, Evey!"

"You are very welcome, princess. My daddy used to have to take those shots too. He hated them."

"Did you sing to him to make him feel better?" Harper reached for her to pick her up, and Eve instinctively lifted her onto her hip.

"Nope. But he sang to me when I was hurt, though. It makes it so much better. Don't you think?"

Harper smiled and hugged her neck tight. "Yep. You are the bestest friend ever. I like new friends."

"Me too. I think we will be great friends."

Hunter smiled watching his little girl with this woman. Eve seemed comfortable with her as well. He rarely let anyone meet Harper, to protect her from media drama. Not to mention Harper didn't do well around women except for his sisters, and he assumed because his ex wife had abandoned her. The little girl was smart for her age and knew her mother didn't want her. He could tell with Eve that wasn't even an issue. She was a genuine soul and Harper warmed up to her from the start.

Harper wiggled down and went to the kitchen table, eating her chicken strips while Hunter went over running his hand down Eve's arm. "Thank you for that."

Eve smiled up at him. "No need for thanks. I'm glad to help."

"How are you holding up? I know my brother really hurt you."

"Sad. Confused." Eve shrugged, saying, "Numb. I feel everything and nothing at the same time."

"I know we just met, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry. My brother is wrong for what he did to you."

"It's not your fault. I appreciate your kindness, and I can't say enough about how grateful I am." Eve gave him a light side hug and went to the table with Harper.

After dinner and time with the little girl, Eve and Hunter sat in the TV room watching the weather report. Hunter flipped the TV off and turned to Eve. "Looks like you are going to be here for a couple of days. At least the worst of the storm is going to miss us. Do you think you can handle me and a rambunctious three-year-old?"

"She's a doll. I'm sure it will be great. It gives me a chance to really get to know my new boss."

"Not bragging or anything, but he's pretty spectacular." Hunter puffed up, pretending to dust off his shoulders.

Eve giggled. "And, completely humble, too, right?"

"Oh, sure. Best guy you ever want to meet. Do you want to talk about what happened at the restaurant?"

"What's to talk about? It was pretty much the most humiliating experience in my life. I'm sure you all thought I was the other woman, so to speak. His mistress. I promise I had no idea about his marriage. I know how much family means to you all, and it's embarrassing that your family witnessed all that. Family means a lot to me too and I'm sick to my stomach about it all."

"Eve, none of us blame you. Grace had suspected something was up all along. To be honest, I don't trust Adam. I think there is more to the story than he is telling my father. Dad is trying to make up for lost time, but I think Adam is just using him for his money. Sorry... I shouldn't be bringing this up."

"No. It's fine. May I ask why you feel that way?" She asked, needing to figure out whatever red flags about Adam that she may have missed.

"Well, look what happened to you. It's not like he is as perfect as he pretends to be. I just don't feel good about any of it."

"That's what my best friend Greg says. He doesn't trust him either. Greg asked his agent to look into him, and the guy has never heard of him."

"Agent?"

"Yep. Greg is a baseball player. He just got picked to play for the Marlins."

"Wait? Greg Stapleton? He's a great player. I've followed his career since college. He was a great quarterback. Too bad he went to baseball because we could use someone like him at the OFL. He's a great all-around player."

"Greg will be glad to hear that. We both were big fans of yours. He wants to go back to football someday and I've been trying to get him to try out. He'd be honored you have watched his career," Eve said excitedly.

The thought of Greg being a football player would be perfect for the best friends who hated spending a single second away from each other.

"So… Greg. How close are you?"

"We've been best friends for years. He… he's all I have. My brothers don't speak to me much and my parents are gone, it's been a struggle to deal with all that."

"How did your parents die?"

"Both were sick. It wasn't long after my father passed that my mother became ill. I honestly think she died of a broken heart."

Seeing the tears in her eyes, he hurt for her.

"Hunter, why did he do this? What's wrong with me?" she said, as she broke down weeping again.

Hunter reached to wrap his fingers around her wrist, tapping in a rhythmic thump against her pulse, beating steadily with the beat of his heart. Rubbing his thumb over her palm, a quiet stillness loomed between them. Her eyes slowly watched as his large hand enveloped hers with a gentle squeeze.

"He doesn't deserve someone like you. A real man would never hurt someone he cares for."

Glancing up through her lashes, she mimicked his gesture. "A real woman wouldn't hurt someone like you either."

With a soft smile, Hunter pulled her to his side, rubbing her arms soothingly. "We're going to be alright, you know. We're going to be good friends, Eve. I can see it already."

"Yeah, I know. Maybe it's fate."

"What's fate?"

Leaning her head on his shoulder, she laced her fingers through his hand with kind compassion, knowing he was working to mend his own heartbreak. "Two people who are hurting, meet by pure coincidence. Maybe this storm was a way to get us here to talk out our pain, together. There must be someone watching over us to explain that we are meeting this way."

Nodding, he agreed. "Two strangers lost in the world of lies thrown together in the middle of a hurricane. I can believe that. Hell, what else could explain this crazy night."

"Dumb luck," she giggled.

"That too."

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