A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) Read Free Page B

the whole damn thing about her taking the place of a dead child! Every time she looked at him, she was reminded of what she didn't know.
    Hunter looked her way with curiosity. Did he hear part of what she said?
    Ten minutes later, the game ended. Hunter's team won. The few spectators sitting in the stands with Becca and Joe ran down to the court, throwing high fives and fist bumps.
    Becca made her way over, followed by Joe. Hunter stood by Alan, and she overheard their conversation.
    "That was awesome. You still know how to kill it!"
    "I had a blast!" Hunter's voice was full of enthusiasm. Then he flicked his gaze to Becca, a smile lighting up his face even more. He held his arms wide open, ran toward her, and scooped her up in his arms.
    "You were fantastic!" Becca squealed. He really had been.
    "Thanks for gently pushing me to do it. You of all people know why I hesitated, but I'm so glad I played." Hunter kissed her before setting her back down. He wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his hand, still grinning.
    "Good game, man," Alan said again. "Hey, all three of you come on home with me for lunch. We'd love to have you."
    Hunter wrapped his arm around Becca's waist. "What do you two say?"
    "I'd love to." She wasn't about to object to Hunter spending time with a childhood friend.
    Joe gave his response of yes as well.
    "Awesome. We walked up here, and it's not a long way to the house."
    "We walked here from the old house, too," Hunter said.
    "Dad, I want Hunter on my team next time!" The younger of the two boys bounced the ball.
    "Hey!" Alan shot back. "Are you saying he's a better player than your old man?"
    Everyone laughed by then.
    "Well, he helped me win." Becca tried to remember his name.
    "Man, you're winning over my kids already!" Alan threw his hands up in the air in jest. "You always were the king. Guess some things haven't changed. Becca, how do you keep your future husband in line?"
    She laughed, knowing how much fun she could have with this. As they walked away, Hunter reached for her hand and curled his fingers over hers. "I can't reveal my secrets," she teased.
    "I like her." Alan nudged Hunter. "How did you two meet?"
    Becca decided she wasn't going to answer this one. She'd never thought about how they'd explain this to anyone who asked. Hunter did so much better with words.
    Hunter squeezed her hand, but hesitated before answering. "Childhood sweethearts. Becca and I met not too long after I left here."
    This was the first time someone outside of their close circle of people asked about their meeting, and at Hunter's hesitation, Becca wondered if it would always be this way. Most couples had a happy explanation of how they met. A chance encounter, or an embarrassing moment that led to a lifetime of love.
    Their meeting had been surrounded by tragedy, which seemed to follow them in life, always keeping them rooted in the past. Maybe it was time to let go and move on. It wouldn't change their past and the way they met, but Becca wondered if always looking for answers would do either of them any good. Hunter got a piece of his life back in good memories, but she'd never get that chance. At least, at this point, that was what she believed. For the first time, Becca wanted to quit. Quit looking for answers that they weren't any closer to finding.

Chapter Two
    "Then we finished the game in the pouring rain!" Alan sat at the head of the table and told another childhood memory he had of Hunter. Things he'd tucked away in the deepest part of his mind now resurfaced.
    "That sounds like something I would do." Hunter chuckled, glancing at Becca. She'd been quiet, but would pipe up here and there with her own thoughts about him in the present.
    "Now I know why you've always done crazy things in a thunderstorm," she teased. She had a smile on her face, but Hunter knew deep down, something bugged her.
    "I remember a time Hunter's father and I made a big fort in the yard with a bunch of boxes. He was about five.