20. Hunter

HUNTER

I wasn’t expecting to see Elodie until next week on her tour, but now that I have her, I don’t want her to leave. Last night, I couldn’t tell if she told me she loved me or if she was saying good night and then starting a new sentence with the word you . Either way, I was too happy to sleep.

“Stay for the day,” I say, bringing her some plain toast in bed.

“I don’t want to be in your way. I can save Jake from my friends, and we can be out of your hair in no time.”

“You aren’t a burden, and I promise you’ll be happy if you do stay.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m getting a dog.”

“Am I still drunk? Because I thought you said you’re getting a dog.”

I snort. “You heard me right. ”

She squeals and tackles me onto the bed, peppering kisses all over my face. “You better adopt and not buy because there are so many animals needing a home and—” She breaks off and looks down at the shirt she’s wearing. “Shit. Wait, I don’t have any clothes here. Rachel will have a fit if I’m photographed wearing my dress from last night twice.”

I rub my hands over her thighs that are straddling me. “We can buy whatever you need from the mall.”

“Better idea, let me borrow some of your clothes and let’s go to Target.” She kisses me again and moves to get off me, but I hold her in place. She flashes me a smile and says, “We can also get some dog toys and a bed there.”

She bounces in excitement, and my dick grows impossibly harder. “Good idea. And while we’re there maybe you can help me prepare for the team coming over tonight?”

“Is this part of the bonding thing you’re doing?”

“It is,” I say. “I offered to host the next event here and I don’t know…maybe they won’t come. We just had one a few days ago.” I’ve never had anyone other than Quincy and Jake over. Sure, I like to party, but I don’t like to host. I’m not sure what possessed me to offer up my place after the public-speaking event, but here we are. And I have no idea what to do.

“They’ll come,” she says confidently.

“We’ll see…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you take care of everything. ”

“Yes.” I pull down my shorts and guide her bare pussy over my dick. “Let’s take care of everything .”

Aria, Nina, and Elodie stride into Target wearing borrowed men’s sweatpants and T-shirts. They should look ridiculous, but it’s hot as hell to see Elodie in my clothes, even if they’re too big for her.

“Coffee,” Nina demands.

“And sugar,” Elodie chimes in.

“And sunglasses,” Aria says. “What about you two”—she lifts her chin toward Jake and me—“get our drinks and we’ll go find some sunglasses.”

“Sure,” I say. “Jake will take a note on his phone of your orders.”

Jake frowns but does as I propose, patiently typing in each of the complicated drink orders. Once we’re in line, I ask him, “How was last night? They give you any trouble?”

“They’re a handful.” Jake looks toward the women who are giggling as they try on what appears to be every single pair of sunglasses on the rack. “I found them dancing on the top of a bar and had to carry them out. Literally. Nina screamed and acted like I was kidnapping her, and Aria kept cackling like it was the funniest thing in the world. And then they tried to kick me out of my room and make me sleep somewhere else because my sheets were soft. ”

“And?” I ask. “Did you sleep somewhere else?”

“Of fucking course I did.” Jake rubs the back of his neck. “Nina’s scary. I genuinely feared for my life when I tried to protest the change and Nina threatened me with a fork. And Aria? She kept lying down in random spots in the room with her hands in the air. It was the strangest night of my life.”

“Sounds to me like it was a good time.”

“You’re just saying that because they’re your girl’s best friends. Good luck dealing with that.” He waves a hand toward the women.

I snort. “Ella likes them, which means I’ll handle anything they throw my way with a smile on my face.”

“You’re so whipped.”

“Yeah, I am.” I shrug, not at all mad about it.

Jake gives me a long look. “She’s good for you.”

“She is. You know, I heard both Nina and Aria are single.”

“Don’t you dare try to match me up with someone just because you’re now in a relationship. That’s against bro code.”

“Since when?” I ask.

“Since now.”

I laugh. “Aww, are you scared of Nina?”

“Definitely,” he says without hesitation. “And you should be, too.”

“What about Aria?”

“What about her?” he parrots.

I give him a long look. “Nothing to say? ”

“Nope.” He doesn’t look at me, and instead stares straight ahead.

Interesting.

With drinks and donuts in hand, we join them. Aria is in a neon green pair of sunglasses, Nina in an oversized brown pair, and Elodie in heart-shaped ones. They all dramatically roll their eyes after taking the first sip of their coffees.

“Heard you need help organizing a get-together tonight,” Aria says.

“I do,” I say. “I’m not sure what to do or serve.”

“Easy, use that money of yours and cater the thing.”

“Isn’t it a bit fancy to get it catered?” Jake asks.

Nina glares at him, and he swallows hard. What the hell happened last night? Aria covers her laugh with a cough.

“Aww, Jakey, don’t be scared of Nina,” Aria coos. “She won’t hurt you.”

“Yes, she will,” Jake says, backing up a step and coming to my side. “See what I mean? We’re not a match.” He glances at Nina quickly. “No offense.”

“None taken.” Nina laughs and pats him on the shoulder. “You’re not my type at all . You’re like a Ken, but not in a douchey way. You’re far too pretty and wholesome for my tastes.”

“Thanks?” Jake says.

“Don’t be sad.” Aria cackles. “Nina would chew you up and spit you out faster than you can say fuck my life . ”

“Uh-huh,” Jake says. “And what would you do to me?”

“Oh easy.” Aria tosses her hair over her shoulder in the best hair flip I’ve ever seen. “I’d ruin you.”

Jake gives Aria a heated look, as if he doesn’t mind being ruined by her at all. She ignores him and says, “Hunter, call some catering companies and see if you can find someone last minute. Nina and Ella, you’re on dog-accessory and dog-food duty.”

“What about me?” Jake asks. “What’s my job?”

“To stand there and look pretty,” Aria deadpans.

Nina and Elodie laugh as Jake sputters. I clap him on the shoulder and say, “Don’t worry, that’s the epitome of a Ken.”

Minnie picked us before we had a chance to meet any of the other dogs in the shelter. She strode up to us and pushed her entire weight into Elodie’s legs, doing what I’ve learned is the greyhound lean.

She’s all black with a white underside and a strip of white from her nose up to between her eyes. When Elodie heard her history, how she trained to race but broke her foot and was placed into a crate with barely any food or water for over a week, she was sold.

My teammates should arrive within an hour, as well as the food I paid three times more for to get last minute. But it’s worth it, since I don’t have to cook or spend any time away from Elodie.

Aria and Nina are napping in my guest room, Jake ran home to change, and the scent of brownies fills the air. Elodie insisted on making some since the caterer could only provide the main meal and sides.

Elodie’s on the couch, Minnie’s head in her lap, and she’s working on something with string. I lean over the back of the couch and hug her from behind, kissing her cheek.

“What are you working on?” I ask.

“A surprise.” She tilts her head back and grins. “You good?”

“I’m always good when you’re here.”

She gives me a soft smile. “I’m so happy I stayed.”

“Told you it’d be fun.”

“What’s the fear you’ll be tackling as a team today?”

“Honestly, I don’t think tonight counts toward anything.”

“Is that why you expect people to not show up?” she asks.

“Yeah, it’s not mandatory. I’m sure they have better things to do with their time.”

“They’ll be here.”

“How can you be so confident?” I ask.

“Because, you’re you.” She knots the string in her hands. “Worst case, why don’t you have Jake act like he’s afraid of dogs and you can work on that fear tonight. ”

I laugh. “I’ll need to pick someone besides Jake. He grew up on a farm and is a natural around animals.”

“Interesting,” she says. “I never would’ve guessed that about him.”

“Yeah, I think he’s worked hard on cultivating his current image.”

Elodie nods and continues to work with the string. I sit next to her, absorbed with whatever she’s doing. When she’s done, she beams at me and takes my hand in hers.

“My mom and I used to make these bracelets to help ground us during the day.” She points to the navy, frayed woven bracelet on her wrist. “It’s always helped me when I was nervous or anxious. A way to connect to her, even if we were apart.” She fastens a green-and-blue bracelet, one she just made, around my wrist. “I hope this helps you too.”

I rub my fingers over the V-pattern, admiring it. It’s the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me.

“I know it’s not much,” she says, “and it clashes with your Rolex, but… Yeah, now that I’m thinking about it, I think this might’ve been the stupidest idea ever. You can cut it off and not wear it.” She rubs at her eyes. “This is my first gift to you and it’s string? You gave me diamonds and I?—”

I kiss her, effectively shutting her up. My hands cup her cheeks, and I pour everything I can into this kiss—gratitude, passion, and love. My thumbs trace over her pounding pulse in her neck. After endless moments, I let the kiss grow tender, savoring the warmth and softness of her.

“It’s perfect,” I whisper. “Thank you.”

Her lips brush against mine. “You sure?”

I pull back a little more so that I can see her eyes. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Her gaze softens, and?—

“Are you two dressed?” Nina asks, hand covering her eyes.

“Nope,” Elodie deadpans, “we’re naked and Hunter’s balls deep inside me.”

“I love you and all,” Nina says, “but I don’t need to see you have sex.”

“Good to know that’s where your boundary is.” Elodie grins.

The doorbell rings and Minnie scurries into my bedroom. Marcus is the first to arrive, followed by Jake and Quincy. Then Trey and D-Rock, and before I know it, everyone is here. I have a full house for the first time since I moved in. Once everyone has a drink in hand, Jake claps me on the shoulder and whistles to get everyone’s attention.

“Thanks for coming,” Jake says.

“That’s what she said,” Nina says.

The guys snicker, and Jake rolls his eyes before continuing, “Tonight is all about having fun. And thanks to Hunter, we can enjoy some great food and even better company. ”

“Don’t forget,” I say, “to try the brownies. They’re amazing.”

While everyone breaks off into groups, I make sure to stay close to Elodie, not wanting to be anywhere but with her. Getting time with her is challenging, and I refuse to waste a single second.

D-Rock comes over and introduces himself to Ella. “Never thought I’d see the inside of your house,” D-Rock jokes.

“I guess this means you’ve officially peaked.” I smirk.

Elodie elbows me in the stomach. “Be nice.”

“Why aren’t you elbowing him?” I ask her.

“Because he didn’t say it meanly.”

D-Rock grins and looks at Elodie like she hung the moon. Soon after, I guide her to Trey and introduce him by saying he likes to sew.

“That’s so amazing,” Elodie gushes. “I wish I knew how. Nina’s tried so many times to teach me, but I can’t get the hang of it.”

“I’ll help you, if you want,” Trey says, giving me a shit-eating grin.

“Get your own woman to teach,” I grumble, “and stop trying to steal mine.”

Elodie laughs and kisses my cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The rest of the night passes in exactly the same way. With Elodie winning over every single one of my team members with her kind words, jokes, and brownies .

Elodie checks in on Minnie regularly, who’s still hiding in my bedroom, and every time she does that, I can’t help but be impressed that this is my life. Friends, a dog, and a girlfriend… It’s all more than I could’ve ever hoped for.

Every time someone laughs, it’s like it bounces between the walls and seeps into every corner of my house. The usual hollowness within this place disappears and all that’s left is joy. It’s in this moment, surrounded by my team and the woman I love, I realize I’m not alone. That I’ve had people waiting on the sidelines, ready to tag in and get to know me, if only I’d acknowledge them.

And now I’ve finally done so, and I feel content for the first time in Skyrise City. I used to think the city was too small for me, but I’m starting to learn that maybe it’s the perfect size.