Page 87 of Hunter

“Reeve’s not wrong,” he says. “We’ll miss you, son.” He sits back in his seat, offering me a small grin. “I remember when your mother moved up from Oregon. Your aunt Charlotte was fit to be tied. But they worked it out. Families figure out how to make room for everyone. How to make time. Your brothers and sisters will figure it out, too.”

“I, for one, am dang happy for you, Hunter,” says Paw-Paw. “She’s a nice girl, your Isabella. Great dancer, too. I liked her from the start.”

Thank God for Paw-Paw.

“Gran?” I look over at the woman who mothered me when I lost my own.

“You’ve got to follow your heart, grandson,” she tells me. She manages to smile at me, though her old blue eyes are sad when she adds, “I wish you the best of luck, and I’ll be counting down the days until summer comes.” She nudges Paw-Paw as she stands up. “Come help me with the dishes, old man. We’ll do a little damage control, huh? Gary, you, too. Come and talk some sense into your kids.”

I’m left alone with Harper, Tanner, and McKenna.

“Hunter,” says McKenna, looking sheepish and excited at the same time, “I’m so happy for you guys. I mean, I get my best friend living around the corner from me next summer! It’s adream come true!” Her smile fades to a cringe. “But I feel guilty, too. Iz only came up here because of me, and now—”

“I’m going to stop you there,” I tell her firmly. “Meeting Isabella is the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m full of gratitude for you, McKenna. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.” I slide my eyes to Tanner. “I know you understand, man.”

“I’ll miss you,” says Tanner, his voice gravelly. “But yeah, I do. I understand. A hundred percent.”

He puts his arm around his wife, pulling her closer.

“It’s going to be okay, Hunter,” says Harper. “You know that, right?”

“I only know I can’t live without her. Not anymore.”

“It’s going to be okay,” echoes Tanner, mustering a tight grin for me. “Harper’s right, as usual.”

“I’m glad you feel that way,” I tell him, trying not to smile like the idiot-in-love that I am, “because I need a big favor from you and your wife before I go.”

***

Isabella

Love is amazing.

Last year at this time, I’d already broken things off with Hunter, and even though no one I met subsequently could hold a candle to him, I was sure I’d made the right choice for my life. I’d been burned by a long-distance relationship once before, and I wasn’t going to let that happen again. Hunter Stewart was this cute, amazing guy with whom I’d had a surprisingly satisfying and intense weekend fling. But there was no hope for us, no future to envision. We had fun. Nothing less. But nothing more.

And now? A year later?

I’m standing in the arrivals area of SeaTac, holding a fistful of balloons, waiting for the love of my life, who’s relocating to Seattle so we can be together.

Love changes you.

Love transforms you,

With it, nothing is impossible.

Over the tops of the many heads I see approaching, I can’t miss his.El Rubiois tall and blond and beautiful…and mine.

I race forward, clutching my half dozen balloons as I run into his arms. He lets his bags fall, and catches me in his arms, our lips meeting with such force and purpose, our teeth smash together.

“Ouch!”

“Ooof!” he grunts, reaching up to rub his now-bloody lip.

“Hunter!” I cry. “I’m so sorry!”

“Worth it.” He chuckles, running his tongue over his teeth. Still holding me tight with one arm around my waist, he grins down at me. “Damn, you look good, woman.”

“So do you.”

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