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I nodded. When we entered the house and climbed the stairs, George met us, his face wary.
"Can you excuse us for a while?" Hunter handed him the basket.
"Is everything okay?" George asked.
"I don't know." Hunter shook his head, rubbed his eyes. "How could it be?"
I frowned, wondering what he meant. George put the basket down on the island in the kitchen and went into the back of the house. Hunter pointed to the huge overstuffed couch and chair. I sat on the sofa while Hunter went to the kitchen and took out two bottles of water from the large fridge. He handed one to me and then slumped down on the couch beside me. I opened my bottle and took a long drink from it.
An awkward silence passed between us and I fought with myself over how honest to be with Hunter.
I was so glad to see him, my heart felt like it could burst. But I didn't know what he wanted from me. I only knew what I wanted from him.
Then I made a decision.
"Hunter?"
He'd been rubbing his temples but pulled his hands away and looked at my face. "Yes?"
I climbed over and straddled him, one knee on either side of his hips. When I slipped my arms around his neck, he exhaled heavily, his breath shaky.
"I missed you," I said. "I've been so lonely without you."
I kissed him and was rewarded with the sharp inhale of his breath. When I pulled away, he brushed the wetness from my cheek.
"I missed you. I can't stand to be apart from you any longer," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I tried to stay away, but I couldn't do it."
"I can't go back, Hunter. Even though Sergei's dead, he has family members."
"I bought this house," he said. "I've got a job as a civilian instructor at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport. I'll work training Marines several times a year. The rest of the time, I'll work from home, maybe being a digital day trader."
"What about Saint Brothers Gym?"
"I sold it to Donny's sons. I'm out completely. I'm staying, if you'll be with me. "
I glanced over his face. "As what? Your fuck toy? I can't be that anymore."
"No," he said, frowning. He took my face in his hands. "You never were. Celia, I love you." He kissed me softly. "Don’t you know that by now? I’d do anything for you. Anything. I even let you go. I want to be your whatever you want me to be."
"Whatever I want you to be?" I said, unable to keep a grin off my face. "Pool boy?"
He laughed. "I could be that, if you want. I had something more permanent in mind, like," he said and hesitated. "Your fiancé."
I stared at him, my mouth open like an idiot.
"Hunter," I said and looked deeply into his eyes.
"Well, I did pretend to be in the hospital so…"
I smiled. "This is so out of the blue."
"Is it?" he said, frowning. "I've wanted you practically all my life."
"I wanted you practically all my life," I said, my throat closing with emotion.
"You don't have to say that just because I did."
"No," I said and cupped his cheek. "It's true. Ever since that first time I saw you standing in the ring with your hands wrapped in tape, kicking that punching bag."
