22. Hunter #3
“Sutton,” I say, my voice low, “I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember. But I never knew if we’d make it here. If you’d let us happen.”
Her lips part, but I place my finger over them.
“So,” I say, palming her cheek, “I figured maybe if I showed you what I wanted in little ways, you’d feel it. See it.” I swallow, thumb grazing the soft place near the corner of her mouth. “Want to know why my kitchen cabinets were sparse?”
“Why?”
“Because I was really hoping you’d fill them someday.”
Her breath catches, her lashes fluttering. “Hunter.”
“And the drawers I filled with clothes for you?” I smile. “You’d sleep over and end up wearing nothing but one of my old shirts. Not that I minded. You know I love you in my clothes. But I also wanted you to have things that were yours.”
Her fingers curl lightly into the front of my flannel, and she leans into me.
“I wanted you to feel like my house was our home. Because I prayed one day it would be.”
The vulnerability in her eyes flickers, like something she’s kept locked away for years is finally being opened. She exhales shakily. “You make it really hard to keep my walls up, you know.”
“That’s kind of my whole plan,” I whisper. “I don’t want you to keep me out.”
I kill the engine and hop out of the truck to meet her at the front. I wrap my hands around hers before she can wind herself back into the neat, put-together spool she always presents to others.
The second I raise my hand to knock on Greer’s door, it swings open. Luke stands there holding a strand of garland that looks like it fought back. “About time. We were placing bets.”
Sutton blinks. “On what?”
“On how late you two would be.” He smirks. “I won. Obviously.”
“Luke,” Greer hisses. “Don’t start.”
“Not starting anything,” he says, stepping aside to let us in. “I’m just stating facts. You both look very . . . cheerful?”
Sutton nearly chokes. “Cheerful?”
“Radiant,” Greer corrects, crossing her arms, eyes dancing with teasing. “It’s definitely radiance I’m seeing.”
“I’m going home,” Sutton mutters, turning toward the door.
I snag her hand before she can bolt. “No, you’re not.”
Grace pokes her head out from the kitchen, a spool of ribbon hanging around her neck like a scarf. “Oh good, the lovebirds have arrived.”
Sutton covers her face with both hands. “You guys are the worst.”
Adam appears right behind Grace. “We are, but that’s why you love us.”
As we step into the entryway, Vinnie walks by carrying an entire box of ornaments like it’s nothing. “Finally, the happy couple arrives.”
Sutton groans, but I tug her into my side.
“Told ya they’d all notice,” I whisper in her ear.
“Think they’ll let it go any time soon?” Sutton asks.
“Probably not,” Vinnie says. “Plus, we needed a break from Luke and Adam fighting over who’s better at fluffing wreaths.”
“There is no fight,” Adam says. “I am objectively better.”
Luke balks. “Grace, tell him—”
“Absolutely not,” Grace says, walking away. “I’m not getting between your holiday egos. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen putting away the last of the Halloween crap.”
“You take that back,” Greer says, tossing a wad of spiderweb at Grace. “It is not crap.”
“No, but Adam’s wreath fluffing abilities are,” Luke mumbles.
Greer snorts. “See? This is why I needed reinforcements.”
Sutton steps into the living room with cheeks flushed, but she’s smiling now.
A real smile. She drifts toward Grace, getting swept instantly into the chaos.
Adam is arguing with Luke in the background about ribbon angles.
Vinnie is humming Christmas music off-key.
Greer is giving instructions no one is listening to.
I linger in the entryway a second longer before going inside, watching Sutton tuck cobwebs into a plastic tub and laugh as Luke pretends to faint over a crooked bow.
Sutton smiles at me over her shoulder and gestures for me to come closer. I snake my arms around her waist and pull her to my front, leaning forward to kiss the slope of her neck. When I look up, everyone is staring at us.
“Will you guys stop making this awkward?” Sutton says with an eye roll. “I’m pretty sure you all knew we were in love before we did.”
Grace and Greer break into matching smiles. “In love?” they ask in unison.
“Obviously,” Sutton says matter-of-factly. “Now, let’s get back to work, people. Santa’s coming!”
Everyone bursts out laughing, but I have no idea what’s so funny. Navy’s right, I need some lessons on pop culture.
Sutton hands me the last box of Halloween decorations. I turn toward the garage, but she stops me with a hand on my forearm and mouths, I love you.
There was a time I thought moments like this would only exist as fantasies. I’d imagined them in the quiet corners of my mind, too afraid to voice them out loud or else they wouldn’t come true. But here she is.
Choosing this.
Choosing us.
Something settles deep in my chest, like I’ve finally reached the place I’ve prayed for all these years.
If she lets me, I’ll build a thousand moments like this. A whole life full of them. Because Sutton Bradley isn’t just the girl I’ve loved for half my damn life. She’s the future I’ve been waiting to get to.