There’s something about touching raw meat or fish that makes me freak out. Whenever I touch food at home, I have to wash my hands in between each step. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t stand the residual texture it leaves on my skin.
I eye the bucket of raw salmon chunks, hating that I’m like this. Why can’t I be normal? I want to feed the otters, for fuck’s sake. But knowing I’ll have the oily feel lingering on my fingers without any way to wash it off has my skin prickling and muscles tensing.
Hunter steps closer. He lowers his mouth to my ear and quietly says, “Will it help to wipe your fingers in between? I know we can’t wash them, but will wiping them help?” He pulls out a packet of wet wipes from his pocket, and my vision blurs as tears well in my eyes.
He knows. He knows what I’m like and came prepared so I didn’t miss out on this experience.
The urge to tell him I love him is on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it down.
But I do. I really fucking do.
Wordlessly, I nod and let out a shaky exhale.
Hunter takes the bucket from me with one hand and keeps the wipes in the other. I carefully sit down on one of the logs and get my knee in a comfortable spot. It takes a few minutes for the otters to show themselves, but eventually, one of the otters comes over. Their nose sniffs the air, clearly able to smell the fish. Hunter hands me a piece of salmon, and I hold it out. The otter takes the chunk from me with their little paws and starts eating next to me.
I suck in another shuddering breath, trying not to cry as my smile threatens to split my face in half.
Hunter hands me a wipe, and I wipe my hands before accepting another piece of fish. The second otter comes barreling over, taking it from me, then moving up onto the log to eat it.
We do that until all the salmon has been consumed, and then Helen hands over some toys, which I throw, and they chase them like happy puppies.
I’m unable to stop the tears flooding my eyes as one of the otters climbs up my legs and into my lap. He bites the string of my hoodie, while another shoves his head into the front pocket, trying to climb his way inside.
“This is the best day of my life.” I let out a choked sob.
Hunter places his hand on my shoulder and gives me a gentle squeeze.
Tilting my head up to him, I whisper, “Thank you.”
He winks. “Anything for you.”
“He hates me,” Hunter grumbles from where he’s sitting behind me on the couch.
I’m leaning back against his side, and Boomer lies between my legs, his head resting on my stomach. He hasn’t taken his big brown eyes off Hunter since he sat down and kissed the top of my head.
This is the first night of three that Boomer’s staying with us. It’s nearing the end of the break, so I’ll take him back with me when I go to the rink for the first practice back.
“No, he doesn’t.”
“Yes, he does,” he argues. He goes to kiss my head again like he did five minutes ago, and Boomer lets out a low, rumbling growl.
“Okay, so maybe he doesn’t like you right now, but he doesn’t hate you.” I take Boomer’s head between my hands and smush his face and put on the cutesy dog voice. “You don’t hate Hunter, do you? You’re just protective over your favorite person.”
“Well, I’m pretty protective of my favorite person too,” Hunter mumbles. “Who knew I’d get jealous over a dog.”
Grinning, I twist to look at him. “Aw. You’re jealous?”
“Mhm.” He scrubs his face, then rests his arm across the back of the couch. “I might have to put a hard limit on him sleeping on the bed though. He’s not claiming that space next to you. It’s mine.”
I press my lips together, trying to hold back my laugh. “Lucky for you, he prefers to sleep in his crate.”
“Thank fuck for that.” His adorable frown has my laughter slipping free.
“You’re so fucking cute,” I tell him.
He cups my chin in his palm and presses a quick kiss to my lips. Boomer’s head vibrates on my stomach with another growl, and I giggle.
Pressing my chin to my chest, I look down at him. “Boomer, you need to make friends with Hunter so we can have more sleepovers.” I gently stroke over his head. “We can have epic cuddle naps together.”
