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“Mr. and Mrs. Howse, thank you for allowing me to see Kipton.”
They looked at one another, then smiled. My mother turned her gaze on me, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to yell at her or hug her.
“We’ll leave the two of you to talk. Aspen, would you mind helping me with something in the kitchen?”
Quickly making her way across the living room, she replied, “Not at all.”
After they left, I sank in a chair as Hunter remained standing.
“Sit down,” I said, motioning to the sofa.
He had taken off his hat and was holding it in front of him, fidgeting with it almost nervously. When he sat down, I got a good look at him. He looked how I felt. Miserable.
“I came here to tell you what Jack told me yesterday. He was looking through some of the camera footage, trying to see if they could use anything for one last show.”
I rolled my eyes and turned to stare at the fire.
“You did get your money, right? They promised my father they’d pay you the full amount.”
“I did, and I sent a thank-you to your father for that.”
Hunter cleared his throat. I had a feeling it was actually Hunter who’d insisted on that, rather than his dad.
“Like I said…I wasn’t at the cabin the night before or that morning. It’s all on tape. Me leaving with Blayze and not coming back.”
Looking at him, I fought to keep myself from crying. Something deep down inside me had insisted repeatedly that he wasn’t there, but I’d been so scared and upset to let it surface because that meant I had hope, and I didn’t want that to be crushed as well.
“Kimber had been flirting with one of our ranch hands. A young guy, around our age. His name is Peter. She asked him to come pick her up in the middle of the night, and they went back to the ranch. When he mentioned that I wasn’t there, she talked him into bringing her to the guesthouse. She went in, found some clothes of mine, I guess, and changed. She waited about an hour, then snuck out—and that’s when you drove up. You’re not on the outdoor camera, but Jack could hear everything.”
My mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out. All I could do was shake my head.
“From what Peter told us, Kimber was pissed—really pissed—after watching our date. She came up with a plan to be seen on the cameras at the house, just assuming you’d find out. It was a gamble. She had no idea if you knew I wasn’t at the house, but she did know that if Travis saw the footage, he’d manipulate it to create some drama for the show. As it turns out, you showed up when she was leaving. Peter was parked down from the cabin, waiting for her. He said when Kimber got to his truck, she was laughing, said her plan worked out better than she’d even hoped.”
“She…she actually set all of that up?”
Hunter leaned forward, a pleading look on his face. “Yes, and my father fired Peter right there on the spot. Kipton, I would never…”
His voice trailed off, and he closed his eyes for a moment before piercing me with his gaze. “I would never in my life do anything to hurt you, Kipton. When I told you that day in the cabin that I loved you, I meant it. I don’t care if someone says you can’t fall in love that quick. I call bullshit. I loved you from the first moment you put your hand in mine, when you came to the house and met my family. And I kept falling in love with you, every time you smiled at me. Then I fell in love forever when you gave me the most precious gift…you.
“I swore that day that I would do anything to keep you. I’m sorry I didn’t come after you right away. I wouldn’t take Jack’s calls, so for the first few days, I actually thought I must have scared you away with the depths of my feelings. Especially after that movie date.”
The battle to hold my tears back was lost, and they began streaming down my face.
“I didn’t know what to do to convince you,” Hunter said, as he quickly wiped his own tears away. “But I do know that I cannot live in a world where you’re not mine. Where I don’t get to see you first thing in the morning, and last thing at night. You’re the very reason my heart beats, Kipton.”
A sob escaped as I jumped up. Hunter did the same right before I rushed over and threw myself into his arms.
“You’re my everything,” he whispered. We both started to cry as he wrapped his arms around me tighter. “I love you so much, Kipton. I’ll never stop loving you.”
I buried my face in his neck and whispered, “I love you too.”
“What was that?” he asked on a half sob, half laugh.
Drawing back just enough to look at him, I said, “I love you too. And I’m so sorry I ran and didn’t wait to talk to you. I feel so foolish now.”
Hunter pressed his mouth to mine. Giving me a kiss that said none of it mattered. That the only thing that mattered was he and I, back in each other’s arms.
Aspen cleared her throat. “Should I, um, tell your friend you don’t need a ride to the airport after all?”
