Page 22 of The Pucking Single Dad

“Luna,” Henry stated calmly. “Luna, why are you here?”

This question took her off guard. She did not expect him to ask her such an off-the-wall question.

“Be honest,” Henry stated seriously. “Look, it has only been twenty minutes since we have been sitting here, but I think we both know that this isn’t going to go anywhere. In fact, I think you knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere before you came here.”

Luna gently nodded her head. She took another huge sip of her wine. Henry was right on the money; she had to be honest with him. He didn’t seem like he was altogether a bad guy. She at least owed him the truth about why she was there, and it was not because she wanted to be with him.

“Honestly,” she started to say. “I wanted to get back at Hunter for flirting with Stella. There was this whole thing today where they were in her office talking. She was definitely coming on to him, and I assumed he gave in, like all men do. It wouldn’t technically be cheating; we are not in a committed relationship after all. Anyways, long story short, he turned her down, but the whole thing made me angry.”

“You wanted to make him jealous,” Henry said while nodding in understanding. “So, what did he say when you told him you were coming out tonight? He does have that whole never hit on the nanny rule, you know? I am sure he wasn’t too happy about it.”

She looked down at her glass of wine.

“I didn’t even tell him,” she said, laughing.

Henry joined in with her and laughed, too. The whole thing was so complicated that it was comical.

“Well, how is he supposed to get jealous if he doesn’t even know about it?”

“You are right, Henry,” she said to him. “Ah, I am such an idiot! Especially in the love department.”

The moment she uttered the word “love,” her phone rang. She looked down and saw Hunter’s name come across her phone. Henry saw it, too.

“Talk about perfecting timing,” Henry said while taking a drink of his whiskey.

She wondered why Hunter was calling. It was getting late. She hoped nothing was wrong with Adam. She picked up the phone and answered the call.

“Yes?” Luna said over the phone.

“Luna?” Hunter stated. “I need to see you. Can you come over?”

“Is everything okay?” she asked him sincerely. “Is there something wrong? You never call me this late.”

“I just have to see you,” he said with love in his voice. “I hate how we left things. I need to see you to say what I need to in person. I know it is late, and I’m sorry. I’m always late with telling you everything you need to hear. Can you please come over?”

“I don’t know, Hunter,” she said shyly. “I don’t know if I can get my heart broken again.”

She was afraid this conversation would lead to another label-less relationship, and that was not what she wanted. She wanted Hunter, all of him.

She heard him sigh over the phone.

“I love you, Luna,” Hunter said. “I’m not saying I am going to be perfect, but I am willing to try. I love you, and I want to have a relationship with you. Can you please give me another chance? I want you to be more than my nanny. Please come back.”

She was shocked and elated to hear him say those words to her. She smiled ear to ear.

“I love you too, Hunter,” she said happily. “I will be right there.”

When she got off the phone, she reached into her purse to pay for her drink, but Henry stopped her.

This one’s on me,” he said humbly. “Go get your man.”

By the time Luna reached Hunter’s apartment, her heart was pounding. Her cheeks flushed as she thought about how many times she had imagined this moment—the moment Hunter would tell her he loved her, the moment she’d say it back, and he’d sweep her up in his arms, finally putting all their relationship troubles behind them.

Things had been complicated between them for a while, with plenty of ups and downs, but now she felt a new sense of stability. Excitement bubbled inside her as she waited for him to open the door.

When Hunter finally did, he was speechless. She looked more beautiful than ever. He had been waiting for her to come over, and now she was here—the very thing he’d been thinking about nonstop.

“I love you,” Hunter said adoringly to Luna.

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