Page 57 of Unbelievable You

“Sorry,” I said through a yawn.

“No, take a nap. Do you have a spare key or anything? I could pick up the food and let myself in?” She really was going out of her way tonight and I liked it. I really liked it.

“I’ll leave it for you in the plant pot by the entry. Hopefully no one will steal it.” I managed to get myself upright and get my spare keys into an envelope and shove it in the back of the pot behind some leaves. Not the best strategy but I didn’t know a better one.

Staggering a bit, I made it back upstairs and headed straight for my bed, collapsing before I was absolutely dead to the world.

A soft voice woke me up and I came awake with a jolt. Fuck. What time was it? I was still on my stomach on my bed, so I fished my phone out of my back pocket and checked the clock. I’d been asleep for almost an hour.

Rolling over, I rubbed my eyes and tried to find enough energy to stand.

“Hunter?” I called out.

She appeared in the doorway.

“Hey. I found the keys. Are you hungry or do you want to sleep more?”

She looked rumpled and soft in a sweater and yoga pants with her hair pulled back into a clip. Her feet were bare, toes painted a very light pink.

“No, I need to eat,” I said, and my stomach chose that moment to scream so loud that I bet my neighbors heard it.

Hunter laughed. “I made a plate for you and kept it warm.”

Why was that so sexy? Hunter bringing me dinner was just so domestic.

“Thanks,” I said, putting my feet on the floor and shoving to my feet. I was still tired, but not as bad as I had been. Food would perk me up even more.

Hunter bustled around the kitchen as if she’d been here dozens of times. Before I knew what was happening, I was sitting on the couch with a plate of food, a paper towel covering my lap, and a cold drink in my hand.

“I haven’t had birria tacos in forever, so I got a double order. I assume you’re the kind of person who eats leftovers,” she said, joining me on the couch. Buck was doing his best to hover while pretending he wasn’t hovering and waiting for crumbs.

“Buck, place,” Hunter said before I could open my mouth. Buck looked at her for a second with a shocked face, but he knew the command, so he went and lay down on his bed.

“Wow, he listened to you. Good job,” I said.

“Sorry. I wasn’t sure if I should, but I was practicing with him while you were asleep.”

If she wasn’t careful, I was going to fall even more, and I was already in so deep.

Hunter looked up at me, uncertain. “Was that okay?”

“Hell yeah it’s okay. He should learn that you’re an authority figure too. If you’re going to be around.” My voice hitched on the last part. I hated how much I wanted her to say that she was going to be.

Hunter was quiet for a moment as I let my food get cold again and waited for her to answer.

“I think I’d like to be around.” She said it quietly, as if the words scared her.

“I’d like to have you around. And I know Buck would too.” At the sound of his name, he sat right up.

“Lay down,” I told him, snapping my fingers. He did but huffed in irritation.

“Thank you for bringing dinner.” I finally grabbed my first taco and dipped it in the bowl of consommé that came with my order. Everything was lukewarm, but so good that it didn’t even matter.

“Fuck me, that’s good,” I said, moaning. My stomach yelled again, but in victory this time that I was putting something in it.

Hunter also let out a satisfied sound that made me wish we were both naked so I could try and get her to make it again for different reasons.

Hunter must have been hungry too, because we both went mostly silent as we devoured tacos and chips and queso and split the tortilla soup. She had hers with a spoon and I basically tipped back my head and drank it.

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