Chapter 27
Hunter
Six Months Later
“Keep your eyes closed, my love,” I say as I walk Gina down the street blindfolded. She’s stumbling and giggling, and I can’t wait until we get to our final destination. I have been planning this moment for three months, and I can’t believe the time is finally here.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but this is driving me crazy,” she giggles. “Where are we going?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret,” I say, wanting so badly to tell her.
Gina is my soul mate, and I’ve loved every second of the last six months.
I often wonder what my life would look like if I’d never met her.
I can’t even imagine it. Never seeing her smile or hearing her laugh.
Or waking up next to her in the morning.
Just being with her is my favorite activity.
“I feel so disoriented,” she says. “I’ve been blindfolded for, like, an hour already.”
“I know, and that’s because I didn’t want you to know where we were going or be able to track it.”
“Hunter.”
“Yes, darling.”
“You can be so infuriatingly annoying at times.”
“And that’s why you love me so much.”
“I guess so. By the way, did I tell you that Otis told me that I’m the best employee they’ve ever had?”
“Yes. You told me that three times, and I’m glad that you love working at the bookstore.”
“I do. It just inspires me because I’m reading all these really amazing books, and I’m writing my book, and life just feels so perfect. Though, sometimes I feel guilty because the newspaper is on its last legs and Emma is barely speaking to her family.”
“It’s that bad?”
“Sometimes I think maybe it would have been better if you’d bought it.
She’s so stressed. Her parents are brothers are treating her like she doesn’t have a brain or a voice and she has no clue what’s going to happen next.
They fired half the staff.” She stops suddenly. “But they kept the Jenny’s. UGH.”
“Well, if you want, I can speak to the Bonds and find out what’s going on?”
“No, Emma would hate that. To be honest, this has given her agency. She’s not willing to wait around on her family to finally see her worth. She’s going to make some moves on her own. I’m just not sure she knows what yet.”
“Well, however, I can be of help, please let me know.”
“I will.” She says softly and squeezes my hand. “I’m so lucky to have you. I wish Emma could find her a Hunter.”
“Is she looking?”
“No, but maybe I will encourage her.” She giggles. “She more than anymore deserves to find love. You know what’s crazy?” she asks suddenly changing topics.
“No. What is crazy?” I ask as we start walking again. I’m trying to keep my voice monotone as I’m starting to get a little anxious about where we’re headed to. I’m excited and can’t wait for this next step, but I really hope that it is going to be a huge surprise for her.
“I was playing spades with your grandma and her friends, and she was saying that she knew from the first time that she met me that I was going to be in her family.”
“Oh, interesting. I didn’t know that. She’s never said that to me.”
“But I was just thinking to myself, did she really know that, or is she just saying that?”
“Why would my grandma just say that?” I ask her.
“I don’t know.”
I stop outside Cristy’s Cupcakes and Coffee and take a deep breath. This is it.
“Okay. We are here.” I squeeze her hand. I can’t wait to see her face when she realizes where we are.
“Where are we, though?”
“I’m not going to tell you that yet.” I peer through the door, and my heart expands with love.
I see Gina’s parents, her grandparents, and her sister.
I see my grandparents and Emma. I see Ginny and Otis and a couple of other friends and family members all waiting there.
And then, on a table right at the front, I see the most perfect part of all.
“Now I’m going to take you to our final destination. Tell me what makes you smile.”
“I don’t know. You make me smile.”
“You make me smile, as well, darling.” I kiss her cheek. “Do you remember the first time we met?”
“You mean when I was running?”
“Okay, the second time we met.”
“Aha. When we were in the coffee shop? How can I ever forget?” She giggles.
“Well,” I say, “I wanted to remind you of the best day of my life.” I open the door.
“Take a step, darling.”
“Okay.” She steps inside, and I press my fingers to my lips to tell everyone to keep quiet.
“I’m going to take off your blindfold in a couple of moments, and I have three gifts for you.”
“Ooh, exciting. It feels like my birthday, even though it’s not. And it’s not Christmas. Oh, boy. Hunter, what did you do? Am I going to be mad at you about something?”
“No,” I say. I can see Emma trying not to laugh. Louise is standing next to her and offers me a small wave. She’s such a sweet lady, and I wave back at her.
“Now, the first thing I’m going to give you—I’m going to tell you before I give it to you, okay?”
“Can I see it?”
“You’ll see it when I take the blindfold off, but I want to tell you about it before I take the blindfold off and put it on you.”
“Put it on me? You’re not going to undress me and put me in a negligee, are you?”
“Oh no, no, no. Nothing like that,” I say quickly. I hear a laugh in the background. Gina’s parents look taken aback, and I can see my grandfather grinning as I shake my head. “So, this is something I got for you all the way from DC.”
“Oh, okay. What is it?” I place the black cap on her head.
“A cap?”
“It’s a special FBI cap.”
“Are you kidding me right now, Hunter?”
“What? When I first met you, you told me you were in the FBI, so I figured I would get you something to always remind us of that day.”
“Really?” She giggles. “Can I take the blindfold off now?”
“Yes,” I say. I pull the blindfold off her, and she blinks.
“Darling, what the—” She looks around and gasps.
“Oh my gosh. What is going on? Why is everyone here?” She starts fanning her face.
She’s turning red, and I can’t help but smile.
“Hunter, what is going on? Why are we in Cristy’s Cupcakes and Coffee?
And—hi, Emma. Hi, Louise. Oh my gosh. Preston, Enid.
Hunter, my love. What is going on?” I grab her hands.
“Take some deep breaths.”
“I’m taking deep breaths.”
I head over to the table and pick up a plate. On it sits a strawberry surprise cupcake.
“This is for you.”
“A cupcake?” she says, laughing.
“That day, you were in line waiting for the cupcake of your dreams—your favorite cupcake—and I bought it and ate it. I very much enjoyed it,” I say.
Everyone laughs at my joke. “But I’ve always thought about that moment, and well, I thought, how fitting would it be for me to get you your own special cupcake. ”
“Thank you,” she says. “I appreciate it. I love me a Strawberry Special cupcake.” She licks her lips. “It’s almost as delightful as you. This is so sweet.”
“Well, I have one more surprise for you,” I say.
“Oh!” Her voice is high-pitched, and she’s shaking slightly. I squeeze her hands.
“Thanks to everyone for coming today. I’m really grateful that you could be with us.
I am Hunter Waverly, and obviously, this is Gina Spellman.
” Everyone laughs again. “She is the love of my life. From the very first moment I saw her, I felt something, and I knew she was going to be mine. When she told me that she was in the FBI, I was intrigued—because who wouldn’t want a pretend FBI agent as their girlfriend? ”
I turn to look her in the eyes. “Gina, you had me the moment you said I stole your cupcake, because in that moment, I knew that I wanted to steal your heart. I wanted to be the man you loved and looked at with as much desire as you looked at that cupcake.” She giggles.
“Seriously, though, I consider myself the luckiest man alive. And while we have not been dating for years and years, the last six months of my life—being your official boyfriend, not just your fake boyfriend, I may add…” She laughs again.
I see her grandparents looking at each other in confusion and realize there’s a conversation we have to have later.
“Anyway,” I continue, “the last six months of my life have been everything I could have ever dreamed of and more. I love you more than life itself. I love you more than there are stars in the sky. And I can only think of my life getting better and better with you. You are the best girlfriend a man could ever want, and I would like you to become my wife.”
I get down on one knee, reach into my pocket, and open the small case. “Now, I’ll have you know that I did go to a jewelry store, and I did get you an engagement ring.” Emma bursts out laughing.
“Gina Spellman, will you marry me?”
“Is this for real right now? Oh my gosh,” she says. “Yes. Yes, yes! I love you, Hunter. Oh my gosh.”
I slip the ring onto her finger and stand up, and she reaches for me and pulls my face down and kisses me. “I love you. I cannot believe this is happening right now. How did I not know?”
“Maybe because I didn’t want you spying on me when I went to the jewelry store,” I say, laughing.
“How did you know this is exactly the sort of ring that I would want? I love it.” I stare down at the white gold band encrusted with diamonds.
The single oval diamond in the center of the band looks huge.
It has to be at least 3 carats. My heart thuds in pleasure and wonder.
I never expected I’d seen a ring as magnificent as this on my ring finger. I am in absolute awe.
“Because Emma came with me inside the store this time. She wasn’t outside standing in dog.
” He stops. “Well, she knows what she was standing in last time.” Emma glares at me, and I grin, a smile on joy at her.
I love my best friend and I love that she helped Hunter find me the perfect ring.
I vow to myself then and there I will ensure I do everything in my power to help her find the man of her dreams. She deserves a prince charming in her life as well.
“Hunter. You are amazing. I love you, and I will love you for every day of my life.” She offers me the cupcake, and I shake my head.
“No. It’s yours. You have the first bite. I know how much you love it.”
“I don’t love it as much as you, my darling,” she says. “In fact, you can always have every cupcake, because from here on out, you’re all that matters to me. You matter more to me than a Strawberry Special cupcake from Cristy’s. “Well… maybe not,” she says, and takes a quick bite.
I grab some of the frosting and put it on her nose, and she just laughs.
I never would have believed I’d meet a woman like Gina.
But yet here we were. She is now my fiancée, and I am looking forward to the moment when I get to call her my wife and shower her with everything she’s always wanted because she is the greatest gift of my life.
Thank you for reading The Wedding Scoop of The Year! I hope you enjoyed the book!