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“Good. Now let’s eat. I’m starving, and I can hear your stomach from here.”
“Shut up and feed me,” I grumbled, slapping his arm on my way to the DVD player. After popping in the action movie, I walked back to the couch and sat in my spot.
“Yes, your majesty.” Miles handed me my shrimp noodle dish and a pair of chopsticks. Next, he gave me a bottle of water, uncapped, and sat the box of dessert within reach.
Once I was set up to his liking, he sat down with his own food.
We ate while watching the movie, sharing a laugh here and there or a quick glance. He stole from my container, and I finished off his broccoli.
By the end, I was watching him more than the screen. His laugher—the way his eyes crinkled, and lips curled at the corner.
Hunter looked over. “What?”
“Thank you,” I breathed out, totally impressed with the thought he put into my night. For showing me he cared.
“Anything to see you smile, beautiful. All I want is to make you happy.”
Maybe it was those words or the way his eyes looked at me with so much tenderness that caused my last objection to evaporate. Disintegrate. That wall I’d built up over the last four years to keep him away crumbled into nothingness.
He won.
I wanted this. Him. Everything.
Resolve took its place, and I was ready for more.
***
Chapter 14:
Graduation
“I’VE GOT TO GO, BABY,” Hunter’s sleep-roughened voice crooned low before nuzzling my neck. He was wrapped around me, leg and arm pinning me down on what I was sure was the couch. “Let me carry you upstairs so you can sleep for a bit more.”
“Why…” I stopped to clear my throat “…why are you leaving? Stay.”
I’m sure there was a pout at the end since he chuckled and then nibbled my lips—a nibble that soon turned into a few sweet kisses when my face turned toward his.
“I’ll see you in a bit. Promise.”
“Don’t want you to go.”
“It’s only for a little bit. Besides, today is a big day, and Emily will be here in a few hours to get ready with you. I’m so proud of you, Bailey. Can’t wait to see you walk that stage and receive your diploma.”
My cheeks became flushed. “Thank you.”
“Love you,” he whispered against my lips and then pulled up. My Miles stood, then scooped me in his arms and walked me upstairs to my room. Laid me down in the middle of my bed and tucked me in.
His lips grazed my forehead and he whispered something else, but I was already falling back to sleep. The last clear thought that passed through my mind was that he truly did treat me as if I were the most precious thing in his world.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” The bed dipped beside me, and a tender kiss was placed on my forehead. A familiar scent infiltrated my senses too.
I opened one eye, groaning at the harsh light coming from my open curtains. “Too bright.”
“Hello to you too, kiddo.”
Groaning, I closed my eye and whimpered dramatically for effect. “Mom, I can’t see you past all that light. I’ve been blinded.”
“Sorry to hear that. Guess this extra-sweet, large latte I picked up on my way home…hey!”
