I could feel the tension at the table as I looked at the stunned look on Nadia, Celine, and Mrs. Washington's face. I didn't know what the fuck was going on, Nadia never had the chance to tell me and I kinda wish she did.

This is not how I saw this night going at all.

Releasing a shaky breath, I decided to take the initiative to get rid of the tension. I'm not one to be nervous when it come to talking to people, but as I began to stand up from the table to face Nadia's father—I felt my heart beat a little faster.

Looking back down at Nadia, I saw her eyes go wide at what I was about to do—almost like they were telling me to 'sit my ass down'.

Ignoring the look she gave me, I turned my attention back to Mr. Washington. I could tell this man does not play. I was taller then him by a few inches, but that didn't stop the slight intimidation I felt.

Brushing the feeling off and sticking my hand out towards him to shake, I smiled, "we haven't met yet, but I'm Hunter Reece"

"I know who you are, everyone knows who you are around here" he laughed lightly shaking my hand with a firm grip "Darius Washington"

"Pleasure to meet you" I said with a grin releasing his hand.

"Pleasure's mine" he said forcing a smile out "so you're dating my daughter am I correct?" He asked raising a brow. I pretty sure he knew the answer to his own question, but I answered back politely anyway.

"I sure am" I nodded "She's an amazing girl, you raised her well" I said shooting a smile a Nadia who looked kind of horrified at our exchange

"You know the thing about that is-" he started out before being interrupted by his wife.

"Darius I think that's enough" she said tight lipped "you are here to celebrate our daughter's 24th birthday"

"My apologies" he says to me "it's nice meeting you Hunter"

"Oh, you too" I said back

I was a little surprised how nice he actually was from what Nadia made it seem, he wasn't too bad.

Sitting back down I looked at Nadia who had shock written all over her face. Shaking her head she turned to her father

"What are you doing here?" She asked

"I came to wish you a happy birthday and to apologize" he said nervously "may I join, if that's okay with you?"

Nadia seemed a little hesitant before finally responding

"No" I heard Celine faintly say below her breath but I wasn't sure if anyone else caught it

"Oh, uh, sure" Nadia said getting up off the table to probably get an extra seat

Putting my hand out I stopped her " I'll get it, you sit" I said with a small smile before getting up and stealing a chair from another table and placing it next to Mrs. Washington.

"Thank you Hunter" he said nodding in appreciation.

"No problem" I said quickly as the hostess walked up to the table.

"Hello, welcome to Toulouse. Can I start you off with anything to drink?" She asked looking at me a little too hard.

Ignoring it, I decided to look to Nadia's family. "Would you guys like me to order two bottles of wine for the table or do y'all want something separate to drink?"

"That'd be a good idea" Mrs. Washington nodded "I like red wine"

"Then we could do one bottle of red and one bottle of white, I personally prefer white" Nadia said

"Red or white, I don't care just get me some form of alcohol" Celine mumbled as she looked over the menu

Laughing lightly I turned to the hostess "we will take your best red and best white then" I nodded

"Okay" she said visibly blushing at the eye contact I made with her as she wrote down what said on a note pad.

"Would you like to put in food orders now, or do you still need time?" She asked biting her lip

Glancing at Nadia, I could see her rolling her eyes.

"I think we will need some time" Mrs. Washington said dismissing the waitress with her hand

"Okay, A waiter will be with you in a couple minutes with your bottles of wine and to take your order" she said quickly walking away

Once she was out of sight, Mrs. Washington spoke up "the disrespect, you saw that Nadia"

"Mmhm" Nadia said shooting me a look as if it was my fault the waitress was giving me googly eyes.

"So Hunter football huh?" Mr. Washington said with a grin "Congrats on winning that playoff game today by the way"

"Thank you, Sir. It was a tough one" I said modestly causing Nadia to scoff beside me

"Tough one? You blew them out completely, not one score!" Her father laughed

"We did, did we?" I said jokingly

I was having a separate conversation with mom and Celine, but I couldn't help but to look over at my Dad and Hunter's interaction every now and then

It was fucking weird to see that the whole dinner, my father was becoming buddy buddy with Hunter. I don't know if he was doing this in hopes to get on my good side or what the hell was happening.

"I mean it was a wild play! I flicked that ball in the air and didn't know who would come up with it" Hunter said animatedly

"I watched that game!" My father pointed out excitedly "that one took a miracle"

This is how it's been going for the last twenty-five or so minutes.

Screw me right? It's not like it's my birthday or anything.

"So how did you and my daughter meet?" My father ask taking a sip of his wine gingerly.

"We actually met on a plane from Miami to New York" by this time I had fully tuned in on the conversation

"Oh" my father said dryly before placing a smiling back on his face

Hunter's phone rang disrupting the moment as he looked at his caller ID. "Imma just take this, it's important" he said getting up abruptly and waking towards the back outdoor area the restaurant had.

The way he left so quickly made me curious as to who was on the other end of that call.

A clearing of a throat by my father brought my attention back to the table.

"Now that he's gone I could finally get out what I have to say. I want to start of by apologizing to all of you." He said before clearing his throat a second time "I didn't like how things ended and the time I spent alone in my hotel room gave me time to think" he said looking at all of us

"Is that right?" Celine asked raising an eyebrow

I nudged her quickly in disapproval. I wanted to hear what he had to say uninterrupted.

"Let him finish Celine" my mother said

"I'd like to apologize to you first Celine, it was extremely inconsiderate of me to throw your past mistakes in your face and undermine you like that. I came too strong at you and it was uncalled for and disrespectful on my part, so I'm sorry " he finished. I could tell it was a genuine sorry cause never has the word 'I'm sorry' left his mouth before. He'd usually get away with not apologizing and admitting his faults, but for once he did

"Imma be mature and accept your apology but just know, it gonna take me sometime to fully forgive you" Celine said uncrossing her arms

"I'll take that" my dad said nodding "and to you Nadia, I'm sorry also. I sometimes forget that you are not that sweet innocent little girl that always use to come to me for everything. You're grown up and I guess I forget that sometimes. I'm super protective of you because I know how cruel the world can be and though I'm not proud of some choices you've been making, it's your life. I could see that you've matured and grown into this wonderful woman who is, god I feel old saying this, twenty-four" He said causing us all to laugh lightly

"Hunter seems like a great man, too. I could tell he really loves you" he said meekly as I could tell he was getting the tiniest bit emotional

I immediately got up from my seat, walked around the table where he was seated, and gave him a hug.

"Dad, I forgive you" and I meant it. I knew it took everything in him to put his pride aside and realize he was in the wrong and apologize.

"Thank you" he said squeezing me tight "and Happy Birthday"

"God y'all are gonna make me cry now" my mother said as she attempted to wipe her eyes causing us all to laugh.

"Nadia we have an emergency" Hunter said interrupting the moment

Pulling away from my fathers embrace, I looked at him with worry "what happened?"

"It's Ruby" he said pausing "they found her"

"Nadia what's going on?" my mother asked with worry

"I know you fucking lyin" Celine said shaking her head

"Language Celine" my father said sternly

"Nothing, I'll just...uh...be back in a second" I said  grabbing Hunter's hand and pulling him until we were finally outside

"That's good they could finally arrest her!" I said with more enthusiasm then I probably should have

"Nadia she's currently holding a knife to her throat trying to kill herself" he said seriously

You've got to be kidding me.

That left me in a pause for a few seconds, until I finally spoke "Let the cops handle it, they got it"

"Nadia-"

"What Hunter?! She fucking drugs you and what lemme guess they ask you to talk her off the ledge?!"

"I can't let her die"

"It's Hunter Reece! I told you it was him at that table" a women said to another coming up to us ignoring the fact that we are having a heated conversation.

"Fuck" Hunter mumbled "this is the third time tonight"

"Can I get a picture?" She asked already pulling out her phone trying to take a pic before he could answer

"I'm in the middle of something extremely important, no pictures tonight" he said politely as possible

"C'mon please"

"Not tonight" Hunter said pleadingly almost

"Just one-"

"We are in the middle of something really important can you please go" I said with annoyance in my voice at her persistence.

"And you are?" About to put my heel down your throat.

"My girlfriend and as I said politely, no pictures for tonight" Hunter pressed

She looked between the two of us before nodding and walking away.

"I was this close to slapping the shit outta her" I said making the indication with my fingers

"It's fine, shit like this happens" he said shrugging his shoulder "that's why that phone call took longer then usual"

And then from the corner of my eye, I saw a flash go off.

"This bitch" I said loudly hoping that dumb ass lady could hear me from her hiding spot.

"I say we just go talk in the car for some privacy, I have your keys" Hunter said trying to calm me down

"Okay" I nodded as we walked toward the front of the restaurant and towards our car.

We passed my family's table who looked on in utter confusion.
 
Once we were seated in my car, I looked at him and saw the stress on his face.

"I have to help Nadia"

Sighing, "She won't die Hunter. The cops got it handled they deal with shit like this everyday and I think you should stay out of it"

"Nadia don't be selfish" he gritted out clenching his jaw

"I'm not being selfish just realistic!" I said getting offended he even called me that "your a pro-football player who has no business getting involved!"

"I feel like it's my fault that she's like this! I feel responsible!"

"You shouldn't!"

"When the police called me they said they found her at home. She had a bunch of posters and cut out pictures of me on the walls and there she stood in the middle of it all with a knife pressed to her throat. I did this to her" he said looking at me in the eyes

"Where is this fucking guilt and shame coming from Hunter? After everything she's done to you, to us?"

"Nadia-"

"Go then Hunter, fucking go" I said softly

"You're not gonna come with me?" He asked

"I really don't want to" I said opening the car door.

I should've been supportive knowing he's doing a good thing, but I didn't like this at all.

A/N: maybe I didn't calculate it right the first time but I say we have about 5-6extra chapters left of this book from what I previously thought.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW A CHRIS AND CELINE SPINOFF IS HAPPENING ENTITLED "Lost & Found" ! The prologue is up in my profile

And y'all please don't ask me to update "lost & found". I WONT BE UPDATING IT UNTIL THIS BOOK IS FINISHED AND COMPLETED!

Make sure to comment and vote 🗳

Chapter not edited. Grammatical errors