3. Alice
Chapter 3
Alice
I made it through the rest of thebook club unscathed. I enjoy hanging out with the girls but hate being the center of attention. Harper pulled me aside before we left and apologized for pushing too hard. I told her it was no big deal. Then she made me promise to at least try and be friends with Hunter and I promised her I would try.
Pulling into my driveway I glance at the house next door. The lights shine through the big windows. Hunter is home on Saturday night. Everything I learn about him makes him even more perfect. If I found out he was reading the romances his sister recommended right now I might throw myself at his feet.
Damn the consequences.
Shaking my head I grab my bag from the bookstore and head to my front door. I’m about to open it when I notice a note taped over the peephole.
Splat escaped again. I found him in my backyard and took him inside. Come over when you get home. ~Hunter
Great, now I have to face Hunter after talking about him all afternoon with his sister-in-law and the others. I quickly go inside my house, drop off my things, and check my reflection in the mirror. Rummaging through my purse I find my favorite lipstick and apply a new coat.
I can do this. I’m just going to get my cat. After that quick pep talk, I head out the door and across both of our yards. I knock harder than necessary, my nerves getting the best of me.
As the door opens I lose my breath entirely. Hunter stands in his open doorway holding Splat in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. He’s dressed in grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt looking hot enough to entice. I realize I’m staring at his body and quickly glance up at his face. My cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“Hi, um, I came to get my cat,” the words stumble out of my mouth.
“Do you want to come inside for a glass of wine, Alice?” Hunter asks in a calm, soft voice. He’s probably really good with skittish animals.
“I don’t want to bother you. I’m sure you have plans. I’ll just get Splat and leave you alone.” I hold my hands out for my traitorous cat who just curls closer to Hunter.
“Come on. I was about to order pizza and maybe watch a movie. I would love some company. You wouldn’t be bothering me at all.”
He turns around, walking back into his house. At first, I’m caught up watching him walk away, but then I realize I have to follow him or leave my cat with the neighbor. I take a deep breath and follow Hunter into his kitchen where he hands me a glass of wine. It’s deliciously crisp and just what I would have picked for myself. I finish the glass before I realize what I’m doing.
Hunter refills the glass and pulls out his phone. “What do you like on your pizza?”
“Um, I don’t really eat pizza, so I’m not sure. I guess cheese and pepperoni?” I can’t remember the last time I had pizza. My mom wouldn’t let me have it and it’s one of her things that stuck. I’ve tried really hard to break most of her rules, but tonight will be a first for pizza.
“What do you mean you don’t eat pizza?” Hunter looks stunned as if the words themselves don’t make sense. “Like ever?”
I laugh. “My mom wouldn’t let me.” I don’t want to get into the reasons my mom had her rules. It’s obvious when you look at me that I’m not a size two and growing up with a mom that counted every calorie wasn’t fun. I don’t mind my curves, but that’s after work to overcome a lot of my mom's bullshit.
“That’s just…” Hunter shakes his head, “I mean, I’m sure there was a reason, but pizza is a staple. Everyone should have pizza. I’m going to order a few different combos so we can figure out what your favorite is.”
“That’s not necessary, Hunter. I’m sure I’ll like whatever you usually get.”
“This is important. Whatever’s left my brothers will come over and eat tomorrow when we watch football. Nothing will go to waste, I promise.”
He doesn’t let me say anything else before he’s rapidly typing on his phone and then smiles as he puts his phone down. “Order placed. It will be here in about twenty minutes. Let’s move to the living room and pick a movie.” He smiles as he walks by me. “You are gonna stay for a movie, right?”
I don’t know what to say. I just wanted to get my cat, but now I want to stay and spend as much time with Hunter as I can. It’s like being in the sun after spending years in the shadows. When he looks at me, I warm all over.
“I guess,” I whisper as I follow him.
I sit on one end of his large l-shaped sofa and he sits on the other. “What kind of movies do you like?”
“Disaster movies,” I reveal before thinking, then add, “and comedies.”
“I like disaster movies too. My favorite is that one where the whole world turns to ice, but one guy can walk through it and save everyone.”
“Oh, that one’s ridiculous. I love it, too. I like the one where like every weather event hits at the same time and the best-looking geologist on the planet knows exactly how to solve the problem. If that were to happen in real life all the scientists would be fighting over which field should be consulted and who would get credit for saving the day. Everyone would be dead before a decision is made.”
“Have you seen this one?” He asks when a new disaster movie pops up on his giant television.
“No, but I want to.”
“Me, too.” He pauses and looks over at me. “I know I’ve been kind of steamrolling you tonight. If you don’t want to watch a movie or even eat dinner with me, I’ll understand. There will be no hard feelings if you don’t want to. I just want to spend time with you. I think you are so damn gorgeous and I want to know you better. There’s just something about you that I feel drawn to, Alice. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“Did you buy the romance books because of me?” I ask abruptly. I can’t even think about him saying he thinks I’m gorgeous.
“Yes, my sister told me they might help me understand women better. I’m not sure if she was messing with me, but I started reading one when I got home earlier and it was good. Don’t know if I learned anything, but I enjoyed the story.”
“So, you're really a reader?”
“Yes, I spend most of my time off either with my family or here reading or watching movies. I’m a bit of a homebody.”
God, could he be any more perfect?
He watches me for a few seconds and I feel the heat spreading over my cheeks. “I’d like to stay and watch a movie.”
“I promise we’ll have fun,” he says as he pushes play.
Hunter
We’re twenty minutes into the movie when the doorbell rings. We both jump and then laugh.
“This is an intense movie,” Alice says.
“I know. I didn’t expect it to actually be good.” We both laugh. “I’ll get the pizza. Can you grab plates out of the kitchen? There in the second cabinet to the right.”
“Sure.”
Alice gets off the couch and I watch her as she walks before me. She seems looser —more comfortable— than she was at the beginning of the night. I want her to feel comfortable in my home, with me.
I open the door and laugh atthe stack of pizzas in the delivery person’s arms. I overdid it, but the look on Alice’s face when she didn’t know what kind of pizza she liked was sad. There’s something melancholy about her, a cloud that follows her around, but I don’t think it’s who she is. When she opens up, she’s this ray of light that shines so bright. I will do whatever it takes to make her shine, even if that means only being her friend.
I carry the pizza into the living room where she has plates, paper towels, and the wine bottle from the kitchen. Her eyes bug out when she sees how many pizza boxes are in my arms.
“I know I went overboard, but it’s for science,” I say as I sit beside her much closer thanbefore. She doesn’t move away.
“Science?” Alice laughs as she asks. “I don’t think it’s important to the rest of the world that I know what toppings I like on my pizza.”
“Maybe not the world, but it’s important to me ,” I say looking deep into her eyes. “I want to know everything about you, and this seems like a good place to start. If we are discovering it together that makes it even more special.”
“Okay,” she whispers with a small smile peeking out.
I open the boxes and she looks over the different pizzas before picking two pieces. “Pepperoni and veggie deluxe are very good choices.”
She grins as she takes her first bite. “Mmm…” Pleasure beams from her face and I move my plate to cover my lap.
That sound. I want to hear it repeatedly, but not when we’re eating.
“What do you think?” I ask her, putting my pizza on the plate.
“It’s delicious,” she answers with a smile. “Thank you for doing this Hunter. It’s really sweet.”
I’m not feeling especially sweet at the moment, but I’ll take the win. I’ll do whatever I can to spend time with this gorgeous woman.