“If you analyze how a relationship is or isn’t going to work, you’ll never get past the starting gate,” Liam says. “Just ask yourself this—do you love her? If so, stop fucking around and go get her.”
Christ.He’s fucking right.
* * *
Winter
Rehearsal goes extra late tonight. Good thing the New Orleans Fire had the night off so I didn’t miss another game. I stare down at my phone the entire cab ride to my apartment. My finger hovers over Hunter’s contact information.
I want to call him and hear his voice.
I settle for a text.
How are you? I miss you and Theo.
The message goes through, but I don’t hear back from him.
The taxi pulls up to the curb outside my building, and I pay the driver and hop out.
I’m walking slowly toward my door when I see a figure sitting on the front steps. It’s dark, and the shadows of the nearby oak tree block his face from view.
Hoping it’s not some guy looking to get into the building when he doesn’t have a key, I pick up my pace as I plan to scoot past him. I keep my head down and take a wide angle so I don’t need to get close to him.
When I’m a few feet away, I hear, “Hey, Princess.”
I look over at the man who’s in the middle of rising to his feet. As he steps out of the shadowy backdrop, I see him.
Those unmistakable green eyes that look at me like lasers; a strong jaw with a five o’clock shadow; a smile playing around his lips, and one hand running through his dark hair. His dark suit and white shirt look sexy as hell.
“Hunter!” I hurl myself into his arms, and he catches me.
We cling to each other for a few seconds, and when he finally puts me down on the ground, I can’t stop smiling at him.
“You look so good,” I say.
“So do you.” He touches my cheek. “You’re tired, though.”
“I am.” I’m exhausted, actually. I didn’t realize how much until just now. I tilt my head and take him in. “What are you doing here?” I gasp. “You’ll get fined for missing practice tomorrow! You can’t stay!”
“Relax.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and guides me inside my building. “I talked to my coach. It’s all good. I’ll be back in time for practice. I never changed out of my travel suit from the game earlier today. I just went straight to the airport.”
“You weren’t at the airport?”
He runs his hand across his jaw. “I was at the airport. Then, Liam and I started for home. We were almost there, but we were talking…about you, and…”
My heart comes up into my throat. “You were talking about me?”
“Yeah. Liam helped me realize what an idiot I was in letting you go.”
I freeze in the middle of my apartment lobby. “He did?”
“He did. I…” Hunter shoves his hands into his pockets and tilts his chin toward the elevators. “Can we maybe go up to your apartment and talk?”
“Oh.” God, I’m so flustered. “Yes. Of course. Let’s go.”
We head into a waiting elevator car, and I press the button for the nineteenth floor.
“Winter.” Hunter’s eyes hold mine. “Here’s the thing: I love you.”
