The Wrong Choices

27. I'm hooked.

Chapter Twenty-seven.

"How does a pig get to the hospital?"

"How?"

"In a hambulance."

"That's so pathetic," I say, although I can't prevent the burst of laughter that escapes from my mouth, "that it's hilarious."

"Alright, my turn," I say when I've composed myself. "How do you embarrass an archaeologist?"

"How?" Hunter asks, the anticipating smile on his face.

"Give him a used tampon and ask him which period it came from." Hunter grimaces, as if he doesn't know whether to laugh. It's the only joke I could think of and, yeah, I probably should have thought about the fact that my audience is a guy. "Oh, come on, Hunter. Who doesn't like a menstruation related joke?"

That gets him. He puts his hand on my arm, stopping me from walking, and he laughs. It's like music; the tone getting higher as he loses his breath, then lowering when he sucks in a breath. It tickles my ears, his rough laugh is like ecstasy to my senses.

And I'm hooked.

As we approach our neighbouring houses, Hunter swings his arm over my shoulder. It shocks me and I let out a stupefied gasp because a) I thought he was further away than that and b) his touch just has that effect on me. I'm glad of his arm around my neck not just for the obvious reason but, also, because it offers some extra warmth to protect me from the

January chill.

"Have a great birthday, Lil," he murmurs close to my ear as if there's someone beside us that he doesn't want to hear. He studies my face for a moment and, despite my heart thumping in my chest, I manage a slight smile.

"I'll try."

He clicks his tongue in his mouth then I feel his arm slip off my shoulder as we part our ways, walking up our individual paths to our individual lives.

"Later?" he calls to me. It sounds like he's asking me to confirm whether I'll be alive, which sounds absurd because it's not like I'm going anywhere.

"Later," I echo, confirming. I enter the house, dropping my bag in the hallway. I troop towards the kitchen, pulling the handle and pushing the door with my shoulder.

Food is on my mind, as usual, so I head straight for the fridge, pulling a mini chocolate bar from the pack that has been there for God knows how long. In my periphery, I can see Mum, Bella and Theo sitting at the table. Theo must have got the bus

home this morning, unbeknownst to me. Of course, it's not like people tell me anything around here.

"Lil."

I frown, looking up. He stands up from his seat and the chair slides on the ground, making that screeching sound like nails sliding down a chalkboard. I realise immediately that it wasn't Theo that I saw, it was-

"Daddy?" I whisper disbelieving, my voice catching in my throat. He walks towards me and, before I know it, I've wrapped my arms around him tightly. I can't help it, soon the tears are falling down my cheeks. "I missed you so much," I sob, never wanting to let go of him again, because him leaving would ensue me letting go.

"I missed you too, honey," he whispers, giving me one of those scratchy kisses on my forehead that only dads can give.

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"I volunteered to attend a conference in Galway city on Monday. The company sent me over, free of charge," he tells me when I finally (and dejectedly) let go of him. "And I couldn't miss my girl's seventeenth birthday," he smiles warmly, adding absentmindedly, "We'll have to get you a driver's licence."