Chapter 34
Gracie
One Week Later
Three brownie pans sit on the stovetop, each batch undercooked because I was impatient and convinced myself that people will eat brownies that are practically liquid in the middle. And by “people,” I mean me.
I dig into the coolest pan and remove a square from the center, where it’s practically goo. I catch a drip on my tongue as I shove a corner into my mouth and bite. The chocolate and sugar hit, and I feel slightly calmer.
I let out a big exhale and take a swig of my coffee, thinking about the Devils event with my former company tonight, where I know I’ll run into my ex.
I realize that for the first time since my breakup with Peter, I feel ready to face him.
I’m more fulfilled by my job with the Devils than I was at my old company. I love it in LA despite my affinity for the Bay Area. I’m in a good place in my life. I want to show him that he didn’t end me despite how I felt when we broke up.
And Tatum is right. I should try to look good. I should walk into that room with an air of confidence and show him that I’m fine. He didn’t break me. In fact, he did me a favor, leading me here.
Another bite of brownie confirms it.
This is the earliest I’ve been up in a while, and I can almost see why Kyler likes waking up before dawn and heading out with his surfboard. It must be nice on the ocean as the sunlight illuminates the sky and the cool morning air feels still.
“Is it…morning?” Hunter comes up behind me, puts his hands on my shoulders, and nuzzles my neck. My head falls back, and I let out a little moan of approval. One tiny touch, and this man has me at his mercy.
“Mm-hmm. Go back to sleep. But don’t because that feels too good.” He kisses my cheek and then my lips.
“Chocolate. Smells like a bakery in here.”
“Yeah, sorry. Did I wake you?”
He stretches, and I take note of his bare torso, the lean muscle of his abs, and the V leading into his low-slung plaid pajama pants. “Not really. I was reading. There’s a new Karin Slaughter book out.”
“You love a good thriller.”
“I do. I’m halfway done already. Why are you up?”
I debate telling him the real reason. I could say I had an early phone meeting, and he’d believe it. But then I decide that I want a real relationship where I’m open and I trust my partner.
“The event tonight with my old company. I’ll know people there. And I feel like I’ll be judged.”
He studies me, nodding. “Your ex? The one who cost you your job?” Hunter grabs a green apple from the bowl on the counter and bites into it with a juicy crunch.
“Probably,” I say, trying to sound as though it’s not the focus of an hour of stress baking.
“That going to be okay?”
I nod, probably too enthusiastically. “Sure. I probably won’t even cross paths with him. Totally fine.” I wish my voice didn’t shake as I say the words.
Hunter puts an arm around me and pulls me close. “You’re better off without him. And better here with the Devils. You’re doing good work. Tonight is part of the job, nothing more. Fuck him.”
“I know. Thank you.” I nestle into him. “Any chance you’ll be there?”
“Nah. Most of the players aren’t going. Just a few for photo ops, I think. Apparently, Ashley thinks I’m too controversial. Or that I’ll send social media tongues wagging by doing something dumb.”
“Ha, well, she needs to get an updated idea of you.”
He rubs a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. Somehow, it looks even better. “Yeah, maybe. I’m not bothered.” He holds me away and assesses me. “You doing okay?”
“I am. Thank you. Get back to that book. You can probably finish it before training later.”
He kisses my cheek and shuffles back to his room, while I decide what to do with three dozen brownies. People at work will probably inhale them, so I start wrapping them up.
I pack a bag so I can change after work without coming back here.
I don’t have a lot of fancy options, so I pull out my black dress.
It’s slinkier and more revealing than anything I wore when Peter and I were together, but maybe that’s the point.
I’m different now. If I have time after work, maybe I’ll stop by Sephora and have one of the women there do my makeup.
I want to look like I’m miles away from the plain nerd girl who lost her job over a mistake with a guy.
And then I want to come home to Hunter and show him how much I appreciate him.
Maybe even surprise him with a healthy dinner I’ll cook myself.
If I get the timing right, I can be at the event for an hour and still have enough time to cook before Hunter gets back.
I assume he has training as usual, so I’ll ask him to meet me here after eight.
I text Kyler, knowing he’ll be able to voice text from the car, and ask him for cooking advice.
Me: SOS healthy vegetarian cooking help
Kyler: Assume you’re feeding Hunter?
Me: Yes. Please don’t make it weird
Kyler: Make something with pulses
Me: See? Weird
Kyler: Trust. Pulses
Me: Hold please while I look up WTF pulses are
Kyler: Haha. Beans. Lentils. Easy to make a one-pot dinner with some whole-grain bread and a berry bowl for dessert. Boom.
Me: That doesn’t sound delicious, but I’ll trust you
He sends me a bookmarked list of recipes that makes my job easy, and one or two actually sound decent.
Later, I text Hunter and tell him the plan.
Me: Meet me at the house later? Anytime after 8
Hunter: Sure. Everything okay?
Me: Yes
Hunter: Awfully brief response for a woman of words
Me: More words not needed. See you later
Hunter: Ok
I’m purposely vague. Better if Hunter walks in tired and hungry, and then I’ll blow him away with my dinner of pulses. That’s a sentence I’ll never say again.
Everything will go according to plan, and I’m a woman who likes a plan.