Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Elliot
“Where are we going?” I ask for the fourth time since we got in the car ten minutes ago.
“It’s a surprise,” he answers. Again.
I huff like a petulant child and look out the window at Lake Shore Drive passing by. “It’s like you’re punishing me.”
His laugh comes out in a quiet breath, and then his hand lands on my thigh and squeezes.
“You’ll love it, I promise,” he says reassuringly, then asks, “Do you trust me?”
I turn my attention back to him. “Of course I do.”
The problem is, I’ve never been very good with surprises because I don’t know how to react.
There were times when I was younger when I was super excited over a gift, and my mom told me to calm down.
Then there’s the pressure not to upset someone if I don’t like the surprise.
I don’t want to hurt their feelings, and I’m a shit liar.
But I trust Hunter. I know he wouldn’t do something I didn’t like or wouldn’t enjoy. It’s going to be good because it’s him.
“How’s your brother enjoying New York?” he asks.
Blaine and Alex left for New York yesterday to take part in the All-Star event. He chartered a private plane so they could take Ernie with them, much to my disappointment because I wanted him for the week.
“You need to focus on getting your knee back to full strength, not running around after my dog,” Blaine argued when I tried to kidnap Ernie in the middle of the night before they left.
He had a point. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. He ruins all the fun.
But as it is the All-Star break, Colleen has arranged with Coach Harris for me to have Boomer for a few days.
It will be the first time he’s been able to stay over, and I’m excited for our snuggle sessions, especially now that Hunter is back at work, so I won’t be alone.
He went back last week, and it’s been strange not seeing him every day.
I know it’s for the best, considering we’re still in the early phase of our relationship, but it doesn’t make me miss him any less.
“Good, I think. He likes these events. They’re kinda showy and flashy.”
“Have you ever taken part in one?”
“Yeah, I’ve done a few, but I declined the option to go this year. I was still feeling very… up in my feelings about Blaine getting married and all my friends coupling off. All the players take their families to these events, and the last thing I wanted was to be surrounded by even more couples.”
He hums. “That’s understandable.” He glances over to me before focusing back on the road. “Maybe one day, you can take part again, and I’ll come with you.”
My mouth drops open as surprise flickers through me. “You would?”
“Of course I would. I know my shifts are long and can be shit sometimes, but I get time off, and we have what we call Kelly days, which are like extra days off.”
“And you’d use them for me?”
“Yeah. I mean, I used some the other week to take care of you.” He takes the exit, then stops at a red light. He twists to face me, and there’s a soft smile on his face. “One of these days, you’re going to believe me when I say I’ll do anything for you.”
My heart lurches in my chest, my mouth twisting as I try to hide my smile, but I fail. I grin so wide, the muscles in my cheeks ache.
Only when he pulls up into the parking lot for the zoo, my smile drops, and I narrow my eyes, shooting him a questioning look.
“What are we doing at the zoo?”
“I’ve arranged a special experience for you. Something fun. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
We get out of the car, and Hunter immediately takes my hand. He leads me through the gardens, and we stop in front of the otter enclosure. With an audible gasp, I let go of his hand and walk as fast as I can to the large window that looks into one of the areas.
“Oh my god!” I shriek as a river otter dives through the water, swimming up to the glass. “How did you know I love otters?”
He snorts. “El, it would be concerning if I didn’t know you loved otters. You talk about them all the time and send me photos.”
He slips his phone from his pocket and brings up the photo I sent him the other day of an otter with a water gun and the caption “Navy SEALs to be replaced with Navy OTTERs.” I bark out a laugh, remembering how funny I found it.
“Plus, when you genuinely asked me the other day how many otters you’d be able to fit in the bathtub, it was a bit of a giveaway,” he adds.
I grin. Okay, he has me there. “I still think I could fit two in there comfortably.”
He shakes his head, smiling.
Another otter dives into the water. I laugh as I play with him through the glass.
He chases me as I dash from side to side of the enclosure window, and twirls through the water as I wave my hand around.
Hunter’s chuckling to himself when a woman in beige pants and a green fleece appears from one of the hidden doors.
“Hunter Bowen?” she asks.
My spine stiffens, and I spin around to face her.
How does she know his name?
“That’s me,” he answers, extending his hand. “You must be Helen. Your dad has told me a lot about you. Thank you for arranging this. I really appreciate it.”
I narrow my eyes again. What is he up to?
“That’s me, and it’s no problem.” She smiles. “It’s not something we offer to the public, but when he mentioned who it was for, I knew I had to figure out a way to make this happen,” she says, then turns her attention to me. “It’s great to meet you, Elliot. I hear you’re a big fan of otters.”
My jaw drops, and I whip around to look at Hunter. He’s watching me with a proud smile on his face.
“Is this the surprise?” I ask.
He nods. “Sure is.”
It’s like the energy dial inside my brain goes from mid-level calm to buzzing overload. I bounce on my toes, excitement bubbling in my veins. There’s no way I’m going to be able to stay calm and hide how I really feel. This is possibly the best day of my life.
“Yes, I love them!” I answer Helen’s question. “They’re my favorite. I used to help out with a rescue sanctuary when I lived in Vancouver, but with my schedule, it was hard finding time to dedicate to it.”
“I can imagine. You have a very busy schedule. Has Hunter told you what we’re doing today?” Her eyes flick to Hunter.
“You’re going to feed them,” he tells me.
I whirl around to face him again, my eyes widening. “The otters?”
He nods, grinning. “Yeah. I figured, seeing as you can’t keep one as a pet, then this is the next best thing.”
How is this man so fucking perfect?
I close the distance between us and jump, throwing my arms around his neck. He catches me, and I wrap my legs around his waist, clinging to him like a koala. He kisses me, and I feel like I’m floating on the damn moon for how gone I am for him.
Hunter puts me down, and we follow Helen through the magic door. She gives us special coverings for our shoes, and then we wash our hands.
“I should warn you, you may get dirty,” she says, then picks up a bucket from the counter and leads us through another door.
I have to stop myself from dropping to my knees when two Asian small-clawed otters pop their heads out from one of the alcoves, watching us with avid curiosity.
“Oh my god,” I gasp, my heart pounding in my chest. “I think I might cry.”
“As I’m sure you already know, these are our Asian small-clawed otters,” Helen explains. “They are the smallest of the otter species and are incredibly intelligent and sociable. So they may climb on you.”
I press my lips together, trying to keep my emotions contained. Fuck. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry or scream in excitement. I’m so overwhelmed.
“Would you like to feed them?” she offers, handing over the bucket.
I take it from her and tense at the sight of the raw fish.
There’s something about touching raw meat or fish that makes me freak out. Whenever I touch food at home, I have to wash my hands in between each step. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t stand the residual texture it leaves on my skin.
I eye the bucket of raw salmon chunks, hating that I’m like this. Why can’t I be normal? I want to feed the otters, for fuck’s sake. But knowing I’ll have the oily feel lingering on my fingers without any way to wash it off has my skin prickling and muscles tensing.
Hunter steps closer. He lowers his mouth to my ear and quietly says, “Will it help to wipe your fingers in between? I know we can’t wash them, but will wiping them help?” He pulls out a packet of wet wipes from his pocket, and my vision blurs as tears well in my eyes.
He knows. He knows what I’m like and came prepared so I didn’t miss out on this experience.
The urge to tell him I love him is on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it down.
But I do. I really fucking do.
Wordlessly, I nod and let out a shaky exhale.
Hunter takes the bucket from me with one hand and keeps the wipes in the other.
I carefully sit down on one of the logs and get my knee in a comfortable spot.
It takes a few minutes for the otters to show themselves, but eventually, one of the otters comes over.
Their nose sniffs the air, clearly able to smell the fish.
Hunter hands me a piece of salmon, and I hold it out.
The otter takes the chunk from me with their little paws and starts eating next to me.
I suck in another shuddering breath, trying not to cry as my smile threatens to split my face in half.
Hunter hands me a wipe, and I wipe my hands before accepting another piece of fish. The second otter comes barreling over, taking it from me, then moving up onto the log to eat it.
We do that until all the salmon has been consumed, and then Helen hands over some toys, which I throw, and they chase them like happy puppies.
I’m unable to stop the tears flooding my eyes as one of the otters climbs up my legs and into my lap. He bites the string of my hoodie, while another shoves his head into the front pocket, trying to climb his way inside.
“This is the best day of my life.” I let out a choked sob.