Chapter 44
Chapter
Forty-Four
Natalie: Are you behind this?
Hunter: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Natalie: No? You don’t know why the hockey team is so hungry tonight?
Hunter: Athletes need a lot of calories.
My cheeks hurt from smiling as another GrubHub order comes through on my phone. It’s the seventh one tonight at Hockey Hall. For every one of them, Hunter has somehow stopped by during my delivery. He doesn’t slow me down or try to distract me, just waves or gives me a kiss and a complement.
The way you take care of everyone is a turn on,was scrawled on a Post-it, handed to me by the guys in 1D. Somehow, he wrote, I admire your work ethic, on the receipts from 2B. At my last delivery, he gave me a bag of snacks and a coffee.
No strings attached. No pouting about how I’ve been too busy for him. He didn’t ask for anything in return. Obviously, he’s inspired (threatened?) the hockey team to have a craving for takeout. Because these are the best tips I’ve ever gotten. Not to mention the great ratings.
So I hustle to pick up the latest order. It’s from the Mexican place Hunter likes, and it’s massive. Who orders eight burritos? I check the delivery address again. 3B. That’s Hunter’s apartment.
My heart soars. This is my last delivery tonight. It’s late, but maybe I can stick around for a few minutes and thank him for everything.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I check my reflection in the rearview and swipe on a coat of lip gloss before heading in the building and to the elevator. I wish I had on a cute outfit, but I’m most comfortable driving in leggings and Hunter’s hockey sweatshirt. So much for being a fashionista. I suspect he won’t notice, though.
Knocking on the door to 3B, I call out, “Delivery!” and my voice carries a note of anticipation.
I’m not disappointed. Hunter opens the door, greeting me with a hug and a kiss that leaves my knees weak. Pulling back, his blue eyes twinkle as he takes the brown paper bags from my hands.
“Hi. How are you?” he asks.
“I’ve had a surprisingly great night.” I smile. “Would you know anything about that?”
He shrugs. “Hockey players are hungry.”
“I’m sure the local restaurants and delivery drivers are thankful.” Taking a step closer, I drop my voice. “I don’t want to interrupt your dinner, but once you accept that order, I’m officially off the clock.”
I should go home and study for tomorrow’s final, but I can always cram in the morning.
Hunter holds up a finger, then turns and yells down the hallway. “Guys, dinner is here!”
His roommates plus Jasmine tromp into the kitchen. She gives me a quick hug, with a whispered promise about seeing me later. Evan roots through the bags, leaving two foil-wrapped burritos on the counter.
Then he salutes me.“Thanks for bringing dinner. We’ll get out of your hair.”
I raise a brow at Hunter as Jonas does the same, taking two burritos. Cooper and Jasmine wink, grab a bag, and then they all disappear out the front door.
“What’s this?” I gesture at the empty apartment, suspicions dawning.
“Hang on.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and taps the screen. “They are taking theirs to go, but I need to tip my GrubHub driver…”
My phone dings with an incoming notification, and I check it. I just received a hundred-dollar tip on my last order.
“That’s too much. You shouldn’t—”
“Nope.” He cuts me off with a kiss, and I forget to protest. “I realized something the other day.”
“What’s that?”
“Relationships aren’t fifty-fifty. It’s about giving one hundred percent.” I raise my brows, and he elaborates. “Okay, Cooper helped me realize it. But you—you take care of everyone around you. Sometimes too much. But that’s all I did here. I saw a need, and I met it, just like you would. I’m all in, one hundred percent, Natalie. So I can wait. I know we’ll both have times where we have to give a little more, and that’s okay.”
Tears prick my eyes, and I hide my emotions by kissing him again. It’s a good thing he’s holding me up because my legs barely support me, and heat curls low in my belly.
“Will you stay for dinner?” he asks when we come up for air, forehead resting on mine.
I nod, lacing my fingers through his. I want to soak up every minute with him, tether myself to him and not let go.
Instead, I sit at the barstools at his counter and eat with my left hand so I can keep holding his. Half the insides fall out of my burrito, but I don’t care.
“So, how were the hockey road games?”
Swallowing a bite, he nods. “At first it was really hard. Being back but not playing was rough. But Cooper helped me get my head on straight about it. I can still be a part of the team, even if my role is different. It ended up being good.”
“That’s awesome.” Pride warms my chest, but I also experience a stab of guilt. I didn’t know that he was struggling with his role on the team. I wasn’t there to help him or listen to what he was going through. I missed out, because I didn’t make time for him.
“I’ve actually been thinking about it.” He sips his soda. “About hockey and my future. I think—I think if I can’t play, I might like to coach.”
“Hunter, you’d be so good at that.” He was so patient with Jace the day of the kid’s clinic, and always has helpful advice for his teammates. “That would be a great fit.”
His dimple pops out as he smiles. My heart pounds with how handsome he is and how much I love him.
“Thanks. That means a lot from you.” He clears his throat. “How’s your dad?”
“About the same.” I shrug. “It’s a waiting game at this point. They want to keep him in the hospital to monitor his vitals, but he’s stable. He just needs a transplant.”
Hunter squeezes my hand, sending me strength. “Can the doctors give you any kind of timeframe?”
“Nope.” I take a bite of my burrito, the sour cream offsetting the spicy salsa perfectly.
“That sucks.” He frowns, eyes full of sympathy.
“It really does.” I don’t have to deny it or try to put on a happy face about it for Hunter. I can admit that it’s hard. It’s okay to sit in that for a moment.
He shifts on his stool. “The thing is, Natalie. You can’t go on like this. At this pace.”
I bristle at the implied criticism. “Look, I’m fine. I can do—”
“I’m not doubting you.” He runs his thumb over my knuckles, soothing me. “I want to take some of the load off your back. I understand that priorities change in an emergency. But is it sustainable?”
I take a deep breath and think about it. I’ve been running ragged for months. This is the first real conversation I’ve had with Hunter in far too long. I haven’t seen Hadley or Jasmine lately, and I’m cramming my schoolwork in around everything else.
He’s right. It’s okay for things to get busy for a short time, but I can’t keep living like this. I don’t want to.
“No, it’s probably not sustainable.” But I can’t see a solution. I try to speak around the lump in my throat. “The thing is, I don’t know what to do. Sarah’s talking about culinary school and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
Hunter raises a brow. “Culinary school? That’s great for her, but are you sure now is the right time?”
I huff a sad laugh. “I think it’s a terrible time. But she didn’t ask my opinion. All she asked was if I’d take care of Jace more.”
I stare at the countertop, and he tilts my chin up to meet his gaze.
“And what did you say?” His voice is soft and gentle. There’s no judgment in his tone.
“I told her I’d help her.”
Love shines out of his eyes. “You’re amazing like that. But I think you should be honest with her.”
“I think I wanted it to be true.” I stumble over the confession. “I want to be able to do it all and love and support her this way. It’s hard to admit I have limits.”
“You don’t have to be perfect.” The warmth of his words feels like a comforting hug. “No one will stop loving you if you have to say no. And I want to help you, not get in your way. But I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Getting off my stool, I press myself close to him and lay my head on his shoulder, my food forgotten. “I love you. You’re one of my priorities, Hunter, and I’m sorry I didn’t have time for you.”
Standing, he rubs circles on my back. “I understand. We all get busy sometimes.”
I let him hold me. I can’t remember the last time I felt so free. My problems aren’t gone, but having someone who will share the weight makes all the difference in the world. And he’s proven over and over that he’s not going anywhere.
Shifting, I place a kiss on his sternum, right above his heart.“Thanks for understanding. You’re the best.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that rumor.” Bending his head, he nuzzles my neck, sending a flash of desire through me. It’s been too long since we’ve been together. His mouth finds mine, tender and hot, and it doesn’t take long for the heat to build an inferno inside me.
“Humble, too.” My voice is breathy when I finally break away. If he had two working legs, I’d climb him like a tree. I settle for lifting the hem of his t-shirt and running my fingers underneath, over his warm, smooth skin. Goosebumps break out, and I want to tug it off over his head.
He groans. “You know, we have the apartment to ourselves.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
That’s a lie. It’s all I can think about.
Hunter peppers kisses along my ear, my jaw, then meets my lips. I’m hungry for him, needy. I thread my hands through his hair, scratching his scalp, and he moans in my mouth. It sets me on fire as our tongues dance together.
“I wish I could pick you up and throw you over my shoulder.” His breath comes in pants, and my chest heaves.
“Where would you take me?”
“To bed.”
“Then let’s go.”
Grabbing his hand, I lead him down the hallway. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time.