Page 11 of Ruined By the Hunk

“Hey.” I clear my throat, hoping to sound normal. “You look gorgeous.”

She glances away, a hint of color creeping into her cheeks. “Thanks.”

There’s this quiet moment between us, where we’re just looking at each other, and I feel this overwhelming sense of gratitude that she’s giving this a chance. But I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, so I shake myself out of it, taking a step back to make room for her to walk out.

As we head to the car, I look over at her. “So, what are you in the mood for tonight? I have a reservation at the steakhouse downtown, but if you’d rather keep things lowkey, we can always go to the diner.”

She looks thoughtful for a second, biting her lip. “You know… I could really go for a milkshake.”

I laugh, nodding. “Then the diner it is. A milkshake sounds good.”

We drive toward the diner, talking a little here and there, but mostly I’m just trying to take in this moment. There’s an easy comfort with Alice, even in the quiet moments. I haven’t had that with anyone before. When we arrive, I get out first and open her door, my heart beating extra fast as she takes my hand to step out.

Inside, the diner is warm, filled with the familiar smell of coffee and burgers on the grill. We settle into a booth near the back where it’s a little quieter. Alice studies the menu with a thoughtful expression. It’s adorable, the way she focuses, her brows furrowed just a little.

“So,” I say, leaning back in my seat, “Any idea what flavor milkshake are you going to get?”

She laughs, a soft, melodic sound that I want to hear again and again. “Strawberry, I think. It’s my favorite.”

After the waitress takes our order, there’s a pause, and Alice looks a little nervous, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

“How’d you end up with Splat? He seems like quite the character.”

Her face softens, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her cat. “I adopted him right after I graduated college. I’d just moved into my first real apartment, and I wanted a companion. It sounds silly, but he was the first cat I looked at and he just stared at me like he was sizing me up.”

I laugh, “So he pickedyou.”

“Pretty much,” she says with a chuckle. “His name is another story. I was unpacking my last box and he decided to jump off a stack of books, he missed the couch and landed flat on his side. He was fine, but I thought… that’s it. This cat is a Splat.”

I laugh, picturing it. “It suits him.”

“He has this way of pretending he’s uninterested, but then he’s always right there when I need him. Like this furry shadow that cares in his own stubborn way.”

I can’t help but smile. “Splat’s a lucky guy.”

She studies me for a moment, her eyes curious. “Have you always wanted to be a vet?”

I nod, a memory sparking in my mind. “Yeah, since I was ten and my dad found this injured bird in the yard. I did everything I could to help it. I think that was the moment I knew I wanted to spend my life doing that— helping animals feel safe and well again.”

Alice smiles, and it’s this soft, genuine smile that feels like a little piece of her guard slipping away. “That’s really sweet, Hunter. I don’t know a lot of people who’ve known what they wanted since they were ten.”

“I guess I’m just stubborn like that,” I say, grinning. “But what about you? Was there something you always wanted to do?”

She looks down at her hands, a slight smile on her lips, and for a moment, I think she might not answer, but then she says, “I’ve always loved books. Books are my happy place. I didn’t always know I would work in the library at the elementary level, but I love it. I did have a brief space phase when I was five and thought I would be the first female pirate in space.”

I burst out laughing. “A space pirate? Now that’s ambition.”

She laughs too, shrugging. “What can I say? I aimed high.”

I lean back, still smiling. “A pirate in space. You must have been the coolest kid ever.”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “No way. I’m a nerd and have always been a nerd.”

“Nerds are cool,” I tell her with a wink.

Our milkshakes arrive and we both laugh as we try to sip through the ridiculously big straws. Right now, with Alice sitting across from me, I can’t imagine ever enjoying a moment more.

As we talk, I’m falling more and more for her. There’s something genuine, something so real about her. It’s rare to meet someone who isn’t trying to impress or put on a show— she’s just herself, and that’s all I could ever want.

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