Page 112 of Reclaim Me

He gives me a cocky grin. “I am.”

“I have a question for you,” I blurt the words out, and Hunter’s brows rise.

“What’s up?”

My heart starts to pound, and I swallow past the ball of nerves in my throat, telling myself it makes no sense to be nervous because what I’m about to say next could only ever make him happy.

“Would you want to look into adding your last name to Riley’s so she can be Riley Prince-Drake or, if she wants, just Riley Drake?”

His eyes sparkle with liquid emotion as he searches my face to make sure I’m serious. “You want that?”

“Yeah, I want that. I think it makes sense.”

Because one day, my last name is going to be Drake, too.

I don’t say the words, but the way Hunter looks at me tells me he doesn’t need to hear them because he knows.

44

HUNTER

Six Months to Decision Day

“Thanks for coming.”

Rae’s appreciation is unnecessary, and I’m about to tell her that when I notice her teeth chattering. We’re standing outside En Pointe, and it’s a little after nine on a chilly December night a few days before Christmas, which means the sun has been down for hours. It also means that Rae should know better than to be standing on the sidewalk in nothing but a long-sleeved leotard, tights, and long socks that come up over her knee.

“Where’s your coat?” I ask, pulling my hoodie over my head and handing it to her before she even has the chance to answer. I don’t like the idea of her being cold, even if she is just walking the short distance from the building to the car.

She swats my hand away, but I glare at her, and she caves, taking the hoodie and slipping on even as she protests. “This is completely unnecessary, and, if you must know, I left my coat at home because I wasn’t planning on being outside for long.”

Her plan changed when she inserted her key into the lock, and it got stuck, making it impossible for her to get into the building. She called me, hoping I could help her free it, and I came running because I never miss an opportunity to be in her presence. Especially on a rare night, like tonight, when neither one of us has Riley in tow. She was supposed to be with me because it’s the weekend, but she opted to take a trip with Dee, Jayla, and Sonia to Disney instead.

“Yeah.” I rub at the back of my neck, catching the bit of shade she’s cast in my direction. “I’m sorry I made the problem worse.”

And by worse I mean snapping the key in half and making it necessary for us to call a locksmith who won’t be able to come out until tomorrow morning.

Rae laughs. “It’s fine.”

We’re moving slowly down the block, walking side by side because an influx of last-minute Christmas shoppers made it impossible for either of us to get a spot close to her building. Rae’s car is all the way down by Lick, and my truck is a few spaces away in front of the little Italian place that just opened up.

“Have you eaten there?” I ask, tipping my chin in the direction of the restaurant. Rae’s eyes follow my gaze and then come back to my face, intrigued.

“No,” she says, fiddling with the hoodie sleeves hanging well past her hands. She looks adorable and happy, swimming in fabric drenched with my scent. “Do you wanna buy me dinner?”

“Always, Sunshine.”

She reaches out, wrapping her fingers around mine and leading me down the sidewalk, only letting go when I move ahead to open the door before she can pass through it. There aren’t many people inside, but it smells divine, so I’m not worried that the small number of patrons—which are primarily couples—is a sign of bad food. We’re seated immediately, placed at the back of the restaurant where the lighting is low, and there’s no one else around.

Rae’s got the menu in her hand, perusing the offerings while I stare at her. “This is nice,” she says, and I nod when she looks up at me, unable to put into words how nice it is to just sit across from her for no other reason than because we wanted to.

“Yeah, it is.”

“I do appreciate you coming out in the cold to help me. I mean, I’m sure I could have called someone else, but?—”

“No.” I cut in, shaking my head. “You don’t need to call anyone else. Ever. I’ll always come when you call.”

“I know that,” she breathes, pressing her lips together. “I know you will.”

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