Page 23 of Ruined By the Hunk

“I’ve been thinking about our future,” he says, his voice quieter now.

My stomach flips, and I bite my bottom lip. “You have?

He nods, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Yeah. I know it’s early, and I don’t want to scare you, but I want this. I want us. I want a life with you.”

The lump in my throat is impossible to ignore. “Hunter,” I whisper, my voice shaky.

“I know you’re scared, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here for you every step of the way. Whatever you need from me— I’m all in.”

I close my eyes for a moment, letting his words sink in. When I open them again, I see nothing but sincerity in his gaze. “I want this too,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “It terrifies me, but I want it. I want you.”

His smile is slow and breathtaking. He leans down to press a soft kiss on my lips. “Then that’s all I need to hear.”

We sit like that for a long time, talking about everything and nothing. About his dreams for running his clinic, my plans for the school library, Sunday dinners with his family, and shared responsibilities.

For the first time, I let myself imagine a future that isn’t just me and Splat. A future with Hunter. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once, but it’s also undeniably right.

Epilogue

Five YearsLater

Hunter

The house hums with the sound of laughter and constant conversation, the kind of madness that only comes when the entire family gets together. Plates clink, chairs scrape, and the smell of roasted chicken, mac and cheese, and freshly baked rolls fills the air. It’s pure chaos, but it’s our chaos. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Alice stands in the kitchen, her sundress hugging her curves and showing off her growing belly. She’s radiant, moving around the room like a goddess, despite Splat trying his best to get her attention by biting her feet.

“Splat, you menace,” she says, nudging him with her toe. “You’ve been fed. Twice.”

The cat meows indignantly, not at all deterred.

“You know,” Knox says from the other side of the counter, “I think he’s just waiting for the mac and cheese. I know I am.”

“More like he’s waiting for Alice to give in and drop something,” Wilder says, swiping a roll off the counter as he walks by.

“Wilder!” Alice exclaims, catching him in the act.

“What?” He grins at her like a mischievous kid caught sneaking candy. “I’m saving a roll from Splat. See? I’m helpful.”

“Helpful?” Miles snorts, stepping into the kitchen to grab the platter of chicken. “That’s a stretch. Let’s not forget who dropped the last plate of deviled eggs at Christmas.”

“That was one time,” Wilder protests, but his grin doesn’t fade. “And I saved most of them!”

“Off the floor,” Harper chimes in as she comes in behind Miles, grabbing a bowl of salad and moving it to the dining table. “I’m still not sure why we let you near the food.”

“I’m offended,” Wilder says, clutching his chest in mock outrage. “As the oldest, I’m a crucial part of this family operation.”

“You cause most of the messes in this family,” Clara says, breezing by with a tray of glasses.

Knox leans against the counter, watching his wife Scarlett help Clara and Ethan’s little girl color in her new coloring book. “And yet, somehow, people think he’s the most serious-minded of all of us.”

“You guys done?” I ask, stepping in to rescue Alice, who’s trying to keep the chaos from spilling into full-on mayhem. I rest a hand on her back, feeling her lean into me for a brief moment before she goes back to finishing dinner. “Alice has worked hard on this dinner. Maybe we can save the sibling arguments for after dinner?”

“No promises,” Knox says, grabbing a spoonful of mac and cheese from the table before Scarlett can stop him.

Scarlett shakes her head, muttering, “I’m married to a child.”

Alice laughs, the sound light and happy, and I can’t help but smile. She’s glowing, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the kitchen and the sheer joy of having everyone here.

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