“I hate her,” I seethed. “What a bitch.”
I wanted to go back downstairs and dump an entire bottle of liquor over her. Or kidnap and drag her useless ass to one of the Remington warehouses and do some damage. Like Hunter, I wasn’t violent by nature, but I would do anything for the people I cared for.
“Oh, I think she knows just how much you hate her. That display by the bar was all the evidence she needed.”
“Good,” I said, annoyed by the thought of his rude ex-girlfriend. “I want to hurt anyone who hurts you too, Hunter. How dare she treat you so cruelly? I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve that either.”
“It’s okay, baby.” He rubbed his palms up and down my arms soothingly. “I did therapy for a bit and I’m fine now.”
“Can’t believe we both had shitty exes,” I grumbled and sipped the champagne. “Hey—I have an idea! Maybe for our date tomorrow, we should partake in a fun activity. Go to an axe-throwing range and pretend their faces are the targets. Wouldn’t that be so therapeutic?”
Hunter threw his head back in a full-belly laugh. I grinned, proud of myself. His laughter felt like an achievement. I reckon I was the only girl who made him laugh this hard.
Unable to help myself, I smacked noisy kisses all over his lips and cheeks. I was feral for him. I wanted to squeeze Hunter in my embrace and never let go.
“Yes,” he said in the midst of me planting pecks on his modelesque cheekbones. “That would be therapeutic.”
“Thank you for indulging in my crazy.” I hoped he knew that I wasn’t kidding.
“I love your crazy,” he said. “But who cares about Franco and Ginette, right? We have each other now and that’s all that matters.”
He was right. “And as we agreed, we’re basically perfect, so it’s really their loss.”
In the moonlight, his eyes glittered like precious diamonds. “Exactly.”
There was a feeling in my gut telling me this was going to be good. Us. Together.
“Hunter.” I cupped his cheek and he did that thing where he turned his head enough to kiss my palm. I swooned. “I want you to know that you have more substance than your physical appearance and being a star quarterback. You’re chivalrous, you’re kind, you’re loyal, you’re smart, you’re a good friend, and you have the wonderful ability to set those around you at ease with your calming energy. Anyone who spends more than ten minutes in your presence will agree. I’m sorry Ginette never bothered seeing the incredible human being on the inside.” I pressed a hand over his heart. “Like I said before,thisis the best part of you.”
Before I could blink, he plastered me to his chest for a hug and buried his face in my throat. “Fuck, Gabby.” He kissed the hollow in my throat almost frantically. “You have no idea what those words—whatyou—mean to me.”
If the thumping beat of his heart against my chest and the way he held on to me was any indication, I was beginning to understand just how bad he had it for me.
Hunter may have fallen for me first, but little did he know that I was beginning to fall for him too.
I laid my cheek on top of his head and combed my fingers through his soft hair. “I adore you.”
It was the simplest way to convey what he meant to me.
Hunter’s voice was muffled against my skin, but I heard it all the same. “I adore you, too.”
We continued our game, sharing champagne and sweet kisses in between. One of my darts finally landed on a double and Hunter’s on a single. Though I suspected he purposely missed so I could win.
“Tell me a dream of yours,” I asked softly. “Something you want to accomplish in the next fifteen years.”
He tucked his chin against my collarbone and tightened his arms around me. “It’s cheesy.”
I squeezed my hand over his tattooed forearm. “I won’t judge.”
“I want a home, a wife, and kids. I want the kind of family I was in growing up before my dad passed away.” He skimmed the tip of his nose against the side of my neck, inhaling my fragrance and stopping to kiss my pulse. “And I just want to live a good life with them and have my happily ever after. That’s it.”
Why did that make me teary? “That’s beautiful, Hunter.” I leaned my smooth cheek against his stubbled one. “I hope you find your happy ending.”
“I will.” He kissed my cheek. “And so will you.”
Bliss settled over me.
We played another round and I hit a single. Hunter hit the outer bullseye.
