Read Online Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot - Free Book Online Page A

determined his seat mates were not GuardeRobe fans. When no one else around him had given him a second glance, he’d relaxed enough to curl up against the window and sleep.
    Now the guy next to him was packing up his laptop, and the woman in the aisle seat had just placed her Kindle into a cool looking, paisley bag.
    Both still seemed blissfully unconcerned with him!
    Hunter marveled at the idea that they had been sitting next to him for two hours and knew nothing— thought nothing— about him. The flight attendant had actually scorned him!
    Hunter counted back. It had been at least five hours since he’d been recognized.
    This was some kind of record.
    For some reason he suddenly wanted this disguise to hold. At least for a little while. It was kind of cool being one of the nameless, faceless many.
    The lady in the aisle seat leaned over the middle guy to peer out the window. Hunter had to steel himself from flinching. He hated when strangers came too close.
    “These darn afternoon storms. It’s going to be bumpy on the way down. Going home?” She leaned back, but continued to eye him curiously—but not in an way that threatened him.
    It was so cool.
    “Sort of. You?” he answered, trying to keep his voice quieter than normal.
    “Denver’s home. Been away on business. Where’s home for you?”
    “Uh...Monument.” The word sounded strange on Hunter’s tongue. “I’m moving there to live with my aunt. Haven’t seen it since I was little. Do you know it?”
    “I call it Little Siberia,” the guy in the middle seat said.
    The lady smiled. “It’s beautiful, but you always get extra snow during winter. Nice good-sized town these days, though. Beautiful views of Pikes Peak.”
    “Oh.” Hunter tried to remember the town all over again, but could only visualize his Aunt Nan’s smiling face. He actually couldn’t wait to see her. Maybe get one of her hugs. He could never forget those.
    The plane bounced and jerked. It shot though the edge of one of the giant clouds. Everything shuddered and the carry on bags shifted overhead.
    Why do the people next to me look so calm?
    A rays of yellow-white sunlight blazed through the windows on the other side of the plane. Hunter gripped the sides of his seat as the plane bounced again.
    This time, there was no cloud to blame for the turbulence.
    “Is this a normal landing, or should I be nervous right about now?” he choked out.
    “This is pretty par for the course for late summer. You got a name?” The man held out his hand.
    Hunter nodded.
    Feeling like a total fraud, he peeled his right hand loose from the death grip he had on the armrest and gave the man’s outstretched hand a short shake. He had the strangest urge to smile—probably because he was about to lie to this guy—so he sucked in a half breath and cracked the grin.
    “I’m . . . Dustin . Dustin McHugh.”

8: spotting panic

    VERE

    Vere slammed the screen door. “Mom! Charlie ditched me. I sat in the parking lot for twenty minutes waiting and waiting, and he never showed up or called. I had to drive home ALONE .”
    Her brother’s shout blasted her eardrums as he slammed in right behind her.
    “ UNTRUE . I texted her during last period but she didn’t check her phone. I grabbed a ride with Curtis! We were right behind her in Curtis's truck, so technically she was never alone .”
    Vere glared bullets into her brother’s eyes. “Do you hear him? Mom! He just admitted to disobeying.”
    Charlie laughed, lowering his voice. “Kiss kiss. Don’t be all mad. Curtis drove away. But not before he asked about you. What’s up with that?”
    “Shut up.” Vere shoved past him. “I’m not an idiot. I’m actually positive he won’t bring up my name again.” Vere hung her backpack on one of the mud-room hooks.
    “Vere. Honest. He did. Whatever happened today had him all sappy and weird. Kind of creepy.”
    Charlie blinked his large brown eyes innocently—eyes that matched hers—before throwing