13. Sutton #2
Navy gives a playful smirk. “It’s not a crime to embrace your inner princess. But, for the record, isn’t this Hunter’s bedroom? He doesn’t seem like a blush kind of guy.”
I freeze at the mention of Hunter’s name, my fingers tightening around my cup. “Hunter has an excellent sense of style. Plus, he said—and I quote—‘whatever you want, babe.’”
Greer raises an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smile. “He said that, did he?”
I shrug, trying to sound casual. “Yeah, he’s not the type to get all picky about color schemes. Told me to build us a country house, so that’s what I’m—” My eyes widen, realizing what I’ve said aloud. So much for a few days of anonymity.
Greer’s smile grows larger. “Build us a country house, huh? Now we’re talking. Does this mean you’re building your dream home together?”
“No!” My cheeks burn. “I-I mean, I’m remodeling the house. His house.”
Navy snorts, breaking the tension. She raises an eyebrow. “You sure about that? I mean, we all know you two are meant to be together. You telling me you guys finally pulled your heads out of your butts and are actually doing something about it?”
I blush even deeper, glancing at Greer for help, but she’s just watching me, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Yeah, Sutton,” Greer teases. “Are you and Hunter finally giving in to whatever it is you’ve been dancing around for most of your lives?”
I bite my lip, resisting the urge to squirm under the weight of their questions.
I set down my coffee and grab my paint roller. Anything to distract myself from their questions. So much has changed between me and Hunter the last few weeks. Now, I’m not even sure what to say to Greer and Navy.
I focus on the wall, rolling the paint in steady strokes, trying to keep my breathing even.
Navy watches me for a moment, then drops her teasing tone, her voice softening. “Sutton, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay. But we’re your best friends, you know, and this is kind of our whole purpose, to help you through the maze you’ve created in your mind.”
Greer nods, her gaze shifting between us. “We’re here. No judgment.”
My chest tightens at their words, warmth spreading through me. Growing up with boys as my best friends always made me long for girlfriends, and now, somehow I have two amazing ones.
“I know.” I take a deep breath, setting the roller aside and leaning against the ladder. “I’m scared, alright? Hunter’s the one person I’ve always had. Once we change what we are, there’s no going back to what we were.”
The room grows quiet for a moment, the weight of my confession hanging in the air.
Navy and Greer share a look, and for a split second, I’m sure they’re about to prod me further, but they don’t.
Instead, they grab a paint brush, pour paint into small trays, and proceed to paint the trim around the baseboards on the other side of the room.
After several minutes, Greer is the first to break the silence. “You know, Sutton, it’s okay to be scared. But you can’t let fear hold you back. You deserve this. You deserve him.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “I don’t know if I’m ready to let myself believe it.”
“Well,” Navy says, “you best start to believe it. We’ve been waiting for this moment for months. You two have been circling each other like some kind of torturously slow-burn romance novel come to life.”
“Exactly,” Greer adds, sitting on a nearby footstool. “Honestly, I think half the town has been rooting for you guys for years. I’ve never experienced something as exhausting as watching two people so obviously in love do nothing about it.”
I groan, dropping my roller into the tray. “Please don’t remind me that somehow, we’ve made it into the town rumor mill. Whatever Hunter and I are is not that big of a deal.”
“Um, excuse me, but no,” Navy says, sidling up to stand near Greer. “This is so a thing. Don’t even try to deny it.”
“We’re going on a date tomorrow night,” I blurt, sitting on the ground and crossing my feet. You’d think wearing sneakers would be a lot more comfortable than stilettos, but my feet beg to differ.
“You’re what now?” Navy reaches over and grips Greer’s shoulder, both of them beaming.
“Yep,” I say with a soft smile. “Things have progressed rather quickly, and, well, he’s taking me out on our first official date tomorrow night.”
“Sutton,” Greer practically squeals, “this is so exciting!”
“It’s not like we’re getting married. It’s just a date.”
“It’s the date,” Navy says, pointing a finger in my direction. “And don’t even pretend you’re not excited. Look at you. It’s written all over your face. You’re practically vibrating!”
The cantankerous part of me wants to argue but can’t. They aren’t wrong. I am excited, and nervous, and scared. “What if it’s too late?” The question surprises myself.
Greer’s expression softens, and she sits up straighter. “Too late for what?”
“For us. For this,” I say, gesturing vaguely around the room. “We’ve been through so much, and what if I mess it up?”
Navy steps over to me and squats in front of me, bracing her hands on my cheeks. “You won’t. You know why? Because you and Hunter aren’t starting from scratch. You already have the foundation. The history. All that’s left is for you to finally let yourselves have it.”
Greer nods, her smile returning. “And honestly, Sutton, if anyone deserves a happy ending, it’s you. You’ve been through hell and back, and Hunter . . . he already acts like your boyfriend, so if you’re not willing to go all in, then you have to let him move on.”
My throat tightens, and I nod. Hunter sat with me after my father’s funeral. He held my hand when the doctor shattered my already broken heart with news of the baby. He comforted me when I was too numb to cry. He’s always been there. Even when I didn’t know how much I needed him, he knew.
My gaze drifts toward the box in his closet, where he kept mementos of our life for years.
I cross the room, open the lid, and pull out a worn photo.
It’s of me and Hunter when we were kids, arms slung around each other, grinning like we didn’t have a care in the world. I trace the edges, my vision blurring.
“You okay?” Navy sets her chin on my shoulder, peeking at the photo.
I lean my head on hers as Greer steps up beside me. She takes the photo from my hand and audibly sighs. “This is like the best romance novel I’ve ever experienced,” Greer says wistfully.
I can’t help the laugh that escapes. “I think I’ve been ready for this for a long time. I’ve just been scared.”
Navy snorts. “Well, it’s about damn time.”
“Amen,” Greer adds, handing the photo back to me. “To Sutton and Hunter. May the slow burn finally ignite.”
A huge belly laugh escapes me, warmth spreading throughout my chest as I return the photo and box to his closet. For the first time in so long, the future doesn’t feel so terrifying.
It feels like hope.