Page 108 of Never You

And this doesn’t make it seem like I’m doing a great job.

“Why didn’t you tell him?” Hunter finally asks.

I look for judgment in his narrow eyes, but I can’t find anything but curiosity.

“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.”

“I get you,” Hunter approves, his curiosity now turning into triumph.

I glance between him and Charlotte, but I can’t read her at all, so I anxiously wait for her to say something while she scoops some fried chicken from the oil, setting it on the plate beside her. She can’t be a lot older than I am, but she holds herself with a confidence I admire, making me look up at her. Wanting to get on her good side. Although she doesn’t look like she has a bad side anyway.

“Yeah,” she finally begins, slightly shaking her head while dropping the strainer on the marble counter, “not gonna lie, I’d be pissed.”

“I am,” Jensen replies, indignant, though a smile haunts his face.

“This one tried that with his eighteenth birthday.” Charlotte points her thumb toward Hunter before she lowers another piece of chicken in the oil, while Hunter dives into the fridge.

“Yeah, she was not amused,” Hunter titters, holding out a beer to Jensen. “Beer?” he asks when his hazel brown eyes land back on me.

I shake my head. “No, thanks.”

“Charls makes a good Dark ‘n Stormy,” he then offers.

“Oh. Yes, please!” I reply, then turn my focus back to Charlotte. “What did you do when you found out it was his birthday?”

She meets my eyes, a devilish grin forming on her pink cheeks. “Hit him over the head.”

My eyes grow wide, pushing back a laugh when I imagine this tiny woman hitting the world’s greatest fighter. Hunter shrugs, not even denying it, and I laugh even harder, kinda surprised. Thankfully, the insecurity leaves my body, and I relax in Jensen’s arms still circling my waist, enjoying the warmth of his body against my cheek.

“What’s this, Charlotte?” Jensen mocks. “I knew you were feisty but you never told me you’d beat up MMA’s top fighter before his glory days. This is gold. I should sell this to the tabloids. Might get some heat off my back,” he jokes.

Charlotte straightens her spine with triumph in her green eyes. “I might be tiny, but I can take him.” She winks.

Hunter snorts. “She’s literally theonlyperson on the planet that can beat me.”

“You’re damn right I am,” Charlotte throws me a conspiring wink and already I feel like I’ve gained a new friend in her.

There is a level of comfort created around me that has me grinning from ear-to-ear. I want to ask Charlotte if I can help her with anything before my attention is grabbed by a soft whine coming from the screened-in porch door. Behind it stands a big brown dog with fluffy hair, looking like an oversized teddy bear. He’s staring at me with gooey eyes, silently begging to come in.

Hunter sighs, then walks over to open the door for him.

“Oh, he’s so cute!” I break loose from Jensen to go and hug the most adorable dog I’ve ever seen. He wiggles his tail in excitement, pressing his nose against my cheek when I lower myself to give him a good rub.

“He really isn’t,” Hunter mutters, taking a pull from his beer.

“What? Look at his cute face.” I pout.

“I like him better when he’s not drooling all over my furniture.”

“Don’t listen to him.” Charlotte comes next to me after she turned off the stove, petting the dog with a loving look on her face. “This is Bruno. He came with my engagement ring.”

My heart melts. “Oh my God. Really?”

Charlotte nods, her beaming eyes like a kid on Christmas morning. “I always wanted one. When he proposed, Bruno carried the ring.”

“Who knew such a big bad fighter was really such a softy?” I mumble, only for Charlotte to hear.

“Ha!” she snorts, a face with triumph. “Trust me, in the end. They all are.”

---