Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
OLLIE
SOUP BEFORE TREES
Time is moving too fast. Christmas will be here in two days. With the holiday fast approaching, it seems like I’ve only seen Hunter coming into my house at night and leaving early in the morning.
Which is why I’m heading to the Naughty Pine now. I left work early, insulated cooler in hand, to surprise him. Hunter is a hard worker and deserves someone to take care of him. He’s built his business from the ground up, and if I can help him during busy season, I will.
Parking my car, I navigate through the busy rows of people trying to get last-minute trees. Precut options lean against wooden barriers. Pine. Spruce. Evergreen. Hunter has them all.
Waving hi to a few of his workers, I head straight for his office. Brooks isn’t here. My guess is he’s out helping customers. This close to Christmas, it’s all hands on deck.
Setting my cooler down on his desk, I pull out my bowls and utensils, plus the loaf of bread I picked up.
One of Hunter’s records spins behind his desk, playing his favorite Christmas music.
Getting everything ready, I pull out my phone and send him a text.
Ollie
Think you could get away for a few minutes?
Hunter
I can’t really leave right now, Ol
Sorry
I know
I’m in your office
You are?
Yes
I came to you
Then I’ll be there in a minute
Shedding my coat, I drape it across Hunter’s chair and drop down while waiting for him. It’s less than a minute before he’s coming inside. Snow sticks to his hat, and a smile peeks out from under his beard. For once, he’s wearing a heavy coat.
“This is a nice surprise.”
He walks around the desk and gives me a kiss.
“That’s a nice way to be greeted,” I say.
“What’d you bring me?” He rests his butt against the desk, peering over his shoulder.
“Chicken and rice.”
“Smells delicious.”
“Eat up. It’s cold out there. I don’t want you freezing.”
He shakes his head, laughing at me as he takes a piece of bread and dunks it into a bowl. “You’re the only one that thinks thirty degrees is cold, Ol.”
“I am not,” I huff. “It’s below freezing.”
“Trust me, when you’re outside cutting down trees when it’s two degrees, you like thirty.”
I shudder. “No, thank you. I like my office job.”
“How’s the library planning going?”
“Great. I found a way we can put a slide in around the reading tree for the kids. It’ll be great.”
“I can’t wait to see it once it’s all done.”
I pull my bowl of soup to me and take a large spoonful. “Don’t worry, I’ll drag you along once it’s finished.”
“Do I get to see the 3-D plans once they’re done?”
“You know it’s not like a computer game with little people moving around.”
“It would be cooler.” He points his spoon at me before taking another bite.
“That’s outside my skillset, Hunter. I don’t have a computer design degree.”
“Why do I think you could do anything you wanted?”
I stand, stepping between his legs. “Like date you?”
“I was an easy target.”
“More like we needed each other.” I press a kiss to the tip of his nose.
“I’m glad we did,” he confesses. “This has been one of the best holiday seasons I’ve had in a long time.”
“Me too. For once, I’m not sad that I’m missing out on Christmas with my family.”
“Even though it means hanging out with me and my mom?”
“It’ll make it an even better day.”
With the exception of the fact that it’s going to be the last time we’re together. Though any reasons we can’t stay together aren’t coming to mind right now.
It was always supposed to be fake, with an easy breakup we tell people about after the holidays, though it turned into something real until Christmas.
Everything with Hunter has been good. So damn good, I don’t want to stop.
“Look, I know you’re busy. I don’t want to keep you.”
I put the lid on my soup, no longer hungry, and stick it back in the cooler. I don’t need to weigh Hunter down with these wayward thoughts. He’s too busy tonight.
“Hey.” Hunter stops me before I can leave, helping me into my coat. “Thank you, Ollie. I would have gone all night without more than a handful of cookies.”
“I’m glad I can keep you fed.”
“Listen, if I can get away, I’m going to try and come over tonight.”
“I’ll wait up.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know, but I want to.”
Because time is ticking away. If it means staying up a few extra hours to be with Hunter, I’ll take it.
Because all the time in the world with him won’t be enough.