6. Hunter
Chapter 6
Hunter
When Alice opens the door, I forget how to breathe. She’s standing there in a red wrap dress that hugs her curves just right, her blonde hair loose in soft waves over her shoulders. She looks so damn beautiful.
She looks down shyly, but when her gaze meets mine, she’s smiling, and it lights up her whole face. “Hi, Hunter.”
“Hey.” I clear my throat, hoping to sound normal. “You look gorgeous.”
She glances away, a hint of color creeping into her cheeks. “Thanks.”
There’s this quiet moment between us, where we’re just looking at each other, and I feel this overwhelming sense of gratitude that she’s giving this a chance. But I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, so I shake myself out of it, taking a step back to make room for her to walk out.
As we head to the car, I look over at her. “So, what are you in the mood for tonight? I have a reservation at the steakhouse downtown, but if you’d rather keep things lowkey, we can always go to the diner.”
She looks thoughtful for a second, biting her lip. “You know… I could really go for a milkshake.”
I laugh, nodding. “Then the diner it is. A milkshake sounds good.”
We drive toward the diner, talking a little here and there, but mostly I’m just trying to take in this moment. There’s an easy comfort with Alice, even in the quiet moments. I haven’t had that with anyone before. When we arrive, I get out first and open her door, my heart beating extra fast as she takes my hand to step out.
Inside, the diner is warm, filled with the familiar smell of coffee and burgers on the grill. We settle into a booth near the back where it’s a little quieter. Alice studies the menu with a thoughtful expression. It’s adorable, the way she focuses, her brows furrowed just a little.
“So,” I say, leaning back in my seat, “Any idea what flavor milkshake are you going to get?”
She laughs, a soft, melodic sound that I want to hear again and again. “Strawberry, I think. It’s my favorite.”
After the waitress takes our order, there’s a pause, and Alice looks a little nervous, her hands fidgeting in her lap.
“How’d you end up with Splat? He seems like quite the character.”
Her face softens, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her cat. “I adopted him right after I graduated college. I’d just moved into my first real apartment, and I wanted a companion. It sounds silly, but he was the first cat I looked at and he just stared at me like he was sizing me up.”
I laugh, “So he picked you .”
“Pretty much,” she says with a chuckle. “His name is another story. I was unpacking my last box and he decided to jump off a stack of books, he missed the couch and landed flat on his side. He was fine, but I thought… that’s it. This cat is a Splat.”
I laugh, picturing it. “It suits him.”
“He has this way of pretending he’s uninterested, but then he’s always right there when I need him. Like this furry shadow that cares in his own stubborn way.”
I can’t help but smile. “Splat’s a lucky guy.”
She studies me for a moment, her eyes curious. “Have you always wanted to be a vet?”
I nod, a memory sparking in my mind. “Yeah, since I was ten and my dad found this injured bird in the yard. I did everything I could to help it. I think that was the moment I knew I wanted to spend my life doing that— helping animals feel safe and well again.”
Alice smiles, and it’s this soft, genuine smile that feels like a little piece of her guard slipping away. “That’s really sweet, Hunter. I don’t know a lot of people who’ve known what they wanted since they were ten.”
“I guess I’m just stubborn like that,” I say, grinning. “But what about you? Was there something you always wanted to do?”
She looks down at her hands, a slight smile on her lips, and for a moment, I think she might not answer, but then she says, “I’ve always loved books. Books are my happy place. I didn’t always know I would work in the library at the elementary level, but I love it. I did have a brief space phase when I was five and thought I would be the first female pirate in space.”
I burst out laughing. “A space pirate? Now that’s ambition.”
She laughs too, shrugging. “What can I say? I aimed high.”
I lean back, still smiling. “A pirate in space. You must have been the coolest kid ever.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “No way. I’m a nerd and have always been a nerd.”
“Nerds are cool,” I tell her with a wink.
Our milkshakes arrive and we both laugh as we try to sip through the ridiculously big straws. Right now, with Alice sitting across from me, I can’t imagine ever enjoying a moment more.
As we talk, I’m falling more and more for her. There’s something genuine, something so real about her. It’s rare to meet someone who isn’t trying to impress or put on a show— she’s just herself, and that’s all I could ever want.
Alice
To my surprise, I’m having more fun tonight than I’ve had in a long time. Maybe ever. Hunter makes it so easy. He’s funny, charming, and so genuine that my fear and nerves dissolve little by little with each story he shares.
The more I listen to him talk about his family, the more I find myself drawn to him. He tells me about his brothers, and I can see how much he cares for them even when they drive him crazy. He tells me about their sibling group text that’s apparently a never-ending string of jokes and teasing, but something he can’t live without, and the way Hunter describes his sister Clara with such affection, admitting she’s a handful but also his confidante, makes my heart melt. I’d always thought of family as complicated, something to keep a safe distance from, but with him, it sounds like heaven.
“Your family sounds amazing,” I say, stirring the last bit of my strawberry milkshake with my straw. “Not to mention a little overwhelming.”
He laughs this rich, warm sound that makes me want to laugh along with him. “They’re a lot to handle, yeah. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything. They’re my people.”
“I know what you mean,” I say, thinking back to my afternoon with Harper and Bridget. “I spent the afternoon with your sister-in-law, Harper, and our friend Bridget. I haven’t had that much fun in a long time, either. They’re both really great.”
As we finish our food, Hunter looks over at me, a slight hesitation in his expression. “Are you up for a walk?”
I start to overthink but push that voice aside and just answer. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
The words leave my mouth before I can second-guess myself, and when he smiles, a flutter beats in my stomach. We step out of the diner and onto Main Street, where the streetlamps are illuminating the sidewalk in a warm glow. There’s a light breeze, but I don’t feel the chill.
We walk up and down the street, before making our way back to Hunter’s car. When we reach his car, he opens the door for me and I slide into the seat. The drive back home feels relaxed like we both know we’re sharing something that can’t be rushed.
He pulls into my driveway instead of his own, making me laugh. “You could have parked at your house. It’s not too far for me to walk home.”
“I’m a gentleman, Alice. I’m going to take my date to her door.” Hunter says before stepping out of the car and walking around to my side. As he holds his hand out to me to help me out of the car my heartbeat picks up. His hand is so warm and after I’m out of the car I take the risk and don’t let go.
We quickly reach my door, and he turns to me, his eyes soft and warm, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
“Thank you for coming with me tonight, Alice,” he says softly, and I can hear the genuine gratitude in his voice.
“Thank you,” I reply, barely above a whisper. “I had a nice time.”
For a second, he just looks at me, and then he leans in, slow and gentle, giving me plenty of time to pull back. But I don’t want to pull back. I lean forward, meeting him halfway, and his lips touch mine softly, a perfect, lingering kiss that makes my heart flutter and everything else disappear.
When he pulls back, he’s smiling, and I feel myself smiling too, despite the nervous thrill running through me. I don’t know what will come of this, of us, but right now, I don’t care. This is perfect.
“Goodnight, Alice,” he murmurs, his hand resting gently on my arm for a moment before he steps back.
“Goodnight, Hunter,” I whisper, watching as he turns and walks away, my heart still racing long after he’s gone.