Page 43 of The Pucking Single Dad

When Luna walked away, Ella noticed Hunter walking out of his office. She smiled at him.

“How was dinner?” Hunter asked Ella kindly. “Did you girls have fun together?”

Ella said yes and told Hunter how delicious everything was. She looked off to the side. Luna was still in the guest room. She moved over closer to where Hunter was standing.

“I’m just going to throw this idea out there, okay?” Ella said quickly, glancing at Hunter with excitement. “Luna won’t admit it, but she wants you to meet her mom and sister, especially now that they’ve patched things up. The only way that’s going to happen, though, is if you fly them out here to America.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the suggestion. “You think they’d come?”

“Absolutely! It would mean the world to her,” Ella replied, leaning closer. “Luna has been through so much, and having you meet her family could really strengthen your relationship. Plus, it would show her how serious you are about her. It could be a beautiful step forward for all of you.”

Hunter nodded slowly, considering the idea. The thought of bringing Luna’s family to America was daunting but exciting. He wanted to support her and show her how much he cared.

Ella heard the sound of Luna’s footsteps draw closer. She stepped away from Hunter. Luna walked into the room, feeling as if she had just entered into a private conversation.

“The guest room is all set up, Ella,” Luna said to her friend.

When Ella left, Luna turned to Hunter. She quietly asked him what the two of them were talking about before she walked into the room.

“Oh,” Hunter started to say to her. “Oh, it was nothing. She just told me about the restaurant where you two had dinner. She suggested that I take you there sometime.”

Hunter hesitated to share Ella’s suggestion with Luna. If he decided to bring her mother and sister to America for a visit, he wanted it to be a complete surprise. The thought of seeing Luna’s face light up when she reunited with her family filled him with joy, and he felt that keeping it under wraps for now was the best approach.

He wanted to focus on sorting out the details of the engagement ring and planning his proposal before bringing anything up. The anticipation of that moment thrilled him; he could hardly believe how excited he was. After everything he had been through, he had finally found love again, and this time, it felt different — deeper, more profound.

Hunter envisioned a future with Luna, one where their lives intertwined seamlessly, and he couldn’t wait to make it official. Each passing day brought him closer to that dream, and the thought of surprising her only intensified his eagerness.

Chapter Sixteen: Planning a Proposal and Other Surprises

Acouple of weeks later, Hunter walked into a small coffee shop located down the street from his apartment. Luna was with Adam, and Hunter told her he needed to run some errands. When he entered the coffee shop, he looked to his right and saw Frank sitting in the corner of the room with two cups of coffee. He waved him over to sit down.

Hunter hurried over and sat down across from Frank, gratefully accepting the cup of coffee he handed him. He gulped it down eagerly; it was hot and black, exactly how he liked it—no creamer or sugar nonsense. As he continued to drink, he realized he was going so fast that he nearly burned his mouth. Nervous energy coursed through him. This was a big week for Hunter, and he hoped he wouldn’t mess up the execution of his plans.

He was planning to propose to Luna, but first, he had a few surprises lined up for her. To make everything perfect, he needed Frank’s approval on all of his ideas. He respectedFrank’s opinion and trusted that he would keep everything about the proposal under wraps. Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Frank’s voice pulled him back to reality.

“Do you have it with you?” Frank asked Hunter with excitement. “I need to see the ring, man!”

Hunter nodded in agreement and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small black box. He opened it slowly, revealing a stunning engagement ring with a big, sparkling diamond. He wanted only the best for Luna and hoped this ring would convey that sentiment.

“It’s beautiful,” Frank exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. “I know she will love it. It’s elegant, just like she is. It’s the perfect ring for her.”

Hunter felt a wave of relief wash over him. Frank’s approval meant a lot, especially since he knew Luna well enough to understand what she would like. After carefully placing the ring back in his jacket pocket, the two men shifted their focus to the arrangements for the proposal.

“So, walk me through what you’re thinking,” Frank said eagerly. “You want to go back to the original bar — the one where you two met, right? The place where you saved her from that horrible date?”

Hunter nodded, feeling nostalgic. He wanted to take her back to where their love story began. There was something romantic about retracing their steps. After enjoying a drink and reminiscing, he planned to take Luna to the team’s ice rink. She had been a significant support for him through the ups and downs of his career over the past few months, and he thought an empty stadium would be the perfect backdrop. He envisioned filling the rink with flowers and white lights, creatinga beautifully romantic setting. After their time at the bar, he would take her ice skating, and when the moment felt right, he would drop to one knee and ask Luna the big question. He could only hope that she would say yes.

“Don’t worry,” Frank said to Hunter as if reading his mind. “She is sure to say yes to you, Hunter.”

The two men continued to sit at the table and drink their coffee. Hunter was giddy with excitement, and Frank matched his emotions. Hunter thought it felt nice to have the support of Frank during this monumental time. His own father had passed, and Frank filled that paternal void. While the two men sat in the coffee shop and finished their coffee, Luna was in Hunter’s apartment on the other side of the street.

Luna brewed herself a cup of coffee and began preparing breakfast for Adam. As she fried bacon, gratitude washed over her for Adam's good health lately. However, she couldn't shake the feeling of concern about Hunter's frequent absences. He seemed to be running errands all the time, which made her uneasy. While she trusted him and didn’t believe he was involved in anything suspicious, the sense that he was keeping something from her lingered in the back of her mind.

She was still lost in thought when she heard the familiar pitter-patter of Adam’s feet as he walked into the room, and a smile spread across her face. She was so grateful to see him feeling better. Luna quickly set a plate of bacon, pancakes, and juice on the table, ready for their breakfast together.

“Syrup!” Adam exclaimed. “Can I have the syrup, please, Mommy?”

Luna smiled. She was still getting used to Adam calling her mom, and each time she heard it, it made her heart melt. She loved him like he was her own son.

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