Page 20 of Baby, It's You
“She was okay. She remembered me, which was great, but she tires easily now. Her mind and body aren’t reliable anymore.”
“That must be tough,” he says, and picks a small yellow flower from the grass. “I’m sure she loves your visits, though, even when she might not recognize you.”
“Yeah. She does,” I agree.
Hunter twirls the little flower between his thumb and index finger. Then he begins to reach it out in my direction, like he's going to offer it to me.
At that moment, rain starts to drop on us rapidly and I glance at my pile of clothes.
“Shit! I just washed all of this,” I tell him and jump up to grab my laundry basket.
“Let me get that for you.” He drops the flower and jumps up, reaching forward and taking the basket from my hands. “Point the way and I’ll take this to your place for you.” He motions to my clothes.
I look at him playfully as rain pelts down my back. “I’m not telling a stranger where I live.”
“If you have Amazon Prime or Uber Eats, you literally tell a stranger exactly where you live every time you order something.” He laughs.
We are both soaked now from the drops.
“Wow, I’ve never thought about that. You’ve really opened my eyes.” He smiles as I shrug. “Well in that case, follow me, stranger.” I take off running to lead him in the direction of my apartment.
He laughs from behind me and jogs to catch up, stepping in front of my path. “Am I still considered a stranger if we are on a first name basis?” he asks while looking down at me.
“I don’t remember your name,” I tease, as I go around him and walk ahead again. “I have amnesia from yesterday.”
Rain falls on us in buckets now. I pick up my pace.
I hear him groan. “I am so sorry. I will apologize indefinitely about that, Olive.”
I stop when I hear him say my name. It’s like he’s letting it escape his lips, finally, breathlessly. I turn and look back at him. “I accept your apology,Hunter.” I really put emphasis on his name in return.
He stops next to me and responds with a dazzling smile, his eyes crinkling in the corners. I find myself staring at his mouth and can't seem to look away.
“That’s more like it,” he says, leaning in closer, and I smellman. Literally, just an all-encompassing man smell. Woodsy and powerful, but also something soft and sweet, like jasmine. Hunter smells like he could carry me on his back through the snow and then make me a cup of tea after.
God, he’s hot. I hate this.
We quickly climb up the steps together trying to get out of the storm. When I get to my apartment, I stop at my front door. “Thanks for the help.”
Hunter looks down at my laundry and grabs a dish towel. He rings it out over the ground and looks at me, sympathetic.
“I think you will have to dry this stuff again.”
“Yup.” I exhale and continue, “Thank you for carrying my basket for me, though. Looks like we are even now. I got hurt yesterday,butyou helped me today.”
“Not even close.” Hunter pushes back a stray damp curl. “I owe you once again. I struck up a conversation with you while you were just trying to do your laundry. You were obviously busy. My mouth ruined your clean clothes and got you all wet, too.”
My eyes almost pop out of my head at the comment, and he instantly turns red, realizing what he said.
Stammering, Hunter quickly adds, “The rain,” pointing towards the sky.
I let out a little laugh and cover my mouth with my hand. “Yes. I know.”
My thoughts do wander for a second. His shirt looks like it was painted onto his body after being in the storm. I can see his abdominal muscles peeking through the cotton fabric.
“Anyway,” he continues, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I still owe you one. So I’m going to find a way to make it up to you.” He bites his lip. “And you can hold me to that. I’m a man of my word.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Okay,Mr. Man.”
