Chapter 31 We Finally Made It
WE FINALLY MADE IT
HUNTER
Popcorn. Chips. Candy.
I double-check the list Halle gave me, then grab a bottle of the girls’ favorite wine to add to the basket, before making my way to the register.
A week has passed since Madison came home from the hospital.
It’s been a rollercoaster. Good days that make you think she’s only recovering from a broken leg, and other days where it hits her all at once.
Headaches flare, frustration boils, and the constant questions—Are you okay?
Do you need anything?—feel like a weight she can’t shake.
On those days, there’s nothing I can do but hold her hand, remind her I love her, and promise that a better day is coming.
Last night, I found her curled in bed when I got home from the bar, crying so hard she couldn’t catch a breath.
I held her through it, rocking her calmly until her heartbeat slowed and the tears stopped streaming.
When I asked her what happened, all she could say was that she was so tired—tired of everyone treating her like she was fragile, like she had died.
And then the guilt would hit her, because she knows everyone cares, and she would do the same for any of them.
At her last appointment, I asked the doctor if there was anything more I could do to help. His suggestion was simple: Routine. Normalcy. So tonight, I’m giving her exactly that. One night of our kind of normal. A movie night.
I jog up the porch steps, my eyes catching on a pile of kicked-off shoes, towels draped over the railing, and a forgotten water bottle of Remi’s. A smile pulls at my mouth. The porch is loud, messy, alive, so different from the emptiness it held the day I first came back.
“Pweese. Can we? Pweese.”
Remi’s voice drifts through the house, full of mischief. I step into chaos. The couches and coffee table have been shoved aside, and a mattress lies in front of the TV with pillows and blankets scattered all about.
“Is that my mattress?” I ask, scanning the room.
Halle pokes her head out from the kitchen, smiling. “It made sense for Madi’s leg.”
I glance at the mattress, then at the couches. Huh, she’s not wrong. I should have thought of that sooner. Hell, if this keeps her comfortable, I’ll drag the whole damn bed into the living room myself.
Madison comes down the hallway on her crutches, messy bun undone, strands of her hair brushing her face. She’s wearing my gray sweats, rolled up a ridiculous number of times to stay on her hips. She smiles at me, eyes lingering.
“Hey, handsome,” she says, her voice teasing.
It’s also been a week since we went all in. I told her I loved her, she said it back, and ever since, I’ve been calling her my girlfriend every chance I get. I want the whole damn world to know.
“Hey, girlfriend.” I stride to her, heart hammering as I drop a kiss to her lips. “Are those my sweats?” I tease, though the sight of her like this—in my clothes—makes it hard to focus on anything but her.
She shrugs, patting my shoulder, and walks away, leaning heavily on her crutches, as I stand there, staring after her like an idiot.
“Pweese.” Remi’s voice snaps me out of my haze.
I blink, then turn, handing Halle the bag of snacks and wine, lifting a brow in question.
“He wants to pick the movie,” she whispers, a smile tugging at her lips.
Ace bounds over, barking at my feet, and I crouch down, scratching behind his ears.
“You can’t always have it your way, mister,” Sarah says.
I move closer, lowering myself onto the mattress in front of Remi. He’s perched on Sarah’s lap on the couch, hugging the remote to his chest.
“What’s happening here?” I ask.
“Uncle Hunt!” Remi squeals.
He launches himself at me without warning, and we tumble backward onto the mattress. My laugh bursts out of me as I land flat on my back, Remi sprawled across my chest. I ruffle his hair, his giggles filling the room.
“Dogpile on Hunter!” Connor shouts.
He lands on top of us with a thud. Remi shrieks with laughter. Ace barrels in, barking, and suddenly his tongue is everywhere, licking my ears.
“Ace, no.” I squirm, arms flailing, trying to fend him off.
The house erupts with noise. Loud, uncontrollable laughter bouncing off the walls.
Connor finally pulls back, hauling Remi with him, and I push myself upright, cheeks burning, stomach tight from laughing.
I glance around at the chaos, my gaze landing on Madison, and I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.
This noise, this life. It’s exactly what I dreamed of.
Everyone drifts back into what they were doing. I catch Sarah’s eye, and she mouths help me as she glances at Remi.
“Hey, Rem-Rem,” I say, snatching the remote. “How about we let Madi pick the movie tonight?”
“But… but… I love Shrek!” he protests, little fists clenched.
I mock gasp, leaning closer. “No way! You know, that might actually be one of her favorites. I think you should still let her choose, but you could always suggest your favorite to her.”
He looks to Sarah for backup, and she shakes her head at the two of us, hands thrown up in surrender. Remi takes that as his permission and bounces toward Madi, grinning.
“That’s still him getting his way,” Sarah mutters.
“Hey, I’m just the cool uncle,” I say, flashing a grin.
She hurls a pillow at me, and I duck, laughing as it sails past my head.
“Tessa and Jace can’t make it tonight,” Connor says, sinking next to Sarah.
“Why not?” I ask, leaning back on my elbows.
“Something about work tomorrow morning.” He shrugs.
I roll onto my side, pulling my phone from my back pocket.
Me: Hi girlfriend.
Madi : Why are you texting me when I’m sitting across the room?
I smirk, fingers hovering over the screen.
Me: Because I can.
Madi : Okay.
Me: You look really fucking cute in my sweats.
Madi : I’m not giving them back.
I chuckle and type back.
Me: Don’t want them back.
I pause, watching her across the room. Her messy hair, that mischievous smile playing at her lips.
Me: Hey.
Me: I love you.
My stomach flips a little as I glance up and catch her staring at me. Her eyes make my grin widen, a warm buzz spreading through me from head to toe.
Madi : You’re impossible.
Madi : But I love you too.
Dinner and a board game later, I’m in the kitchen, filling bowls with popcorn.
Asher and Connor are out back cleaning up, and the girls are settling in the living room with Remi.
The buttery scent drifts through the air, and I can’t resist grabbing a handful, tossing it into my mouth as I lean against the counter.
“You better not be eating all of that,” Halle says, walking into the kitchen.
“Who, me?” I gasp, hands up. “Never.”
She laughs, grabbing a bowl, and I follow her, carrying them into the living room. Connor launches himself over the couch, landing on his back with an oomph, sending pillows flying. Laughter explodes around the room, voices overlapping, mayhem spilling into every corner.
Halle and I pause, watching it unfold. I glance at her, and she meets my eyes with a soft smile, squeezing my arm.
“Hey, big bro,” she says, voice quiet. “I think we made it.”
I let my gaze wander around the room—the mess, the noise, the love—and feel it settle deep in my chest.
“Yeah, lil sis… I think we finally have.”
Making my way over to my girl, I hand one bowl to Connor before dropping down beside Madison and passing her the other. She looks at me with a soft smile that knocks the air from my lungs, and I lean in, unable to resist, stealing a quick kiss from her lips.
“You feeling okay?” I whisper, as someone hits play.
The opening notes of Shrek fill the room, and I smirk. “Couldn’t say no to him, huh?”
“Have you tried saying no to that cute face?” she whispers back, glancing toward Remi, curled into Sarah’s side.
A quiet laugh shakes my shoulders as I swipe a handful of popcorn from her bowl, watching her, waiting for her to answer my first question.
The longer I stare, the more stubborn she gets, the corners of her mouth twitching as she focuses a little too hard on the screen, plucking popcorn one piece at a time.
She finally caves, her eyes flicking to mine, and I grin as she tosses a piece of popcorn at my head.
“Good day or bad?” I murmur.
“Good,” she whispers. “Really good. The best yet.”
Relief rushes through me, the tension sliding from my shoulders. “That’s my girl. We’ve got this.” I cup her cheek, resting my forehead against hers.
“Thank you,” she breathes. “For everything.”
“Anything for you,” I tell her. “Always.”
She smiles. “Love you, handsome.”
“Love you more.”
We pass the bowl to Asher, and I pull her closer, guiding her head to my chest as I breathe her in.
Her fingers trace slow, lazy scratches over my stomach.
We spend the night listening to Connor recite every one of Donkey’s lines, Remi laughing at him, and somewhere between all the noise, the warmth, and the steady rise and fall of her breath, sleep finally pulls us under.