Page 89 of Enemy Daddy Next Door

Axel and Gillian’s engagement party isn’t a huge affair, but every event with all the Solace sisters ends up being fairly large with all our plus ones. Axel, Gillian, and Stella are a threesome. Dana brought Drew (just kiss already!), Harley is obviously accompanied by Grant and Tana, which means Victoria also tagged along, and Kira even brought a friend from the office. She works so much I didn’t even know she had friends. Then, of course, you have the Hitchins family, Jeremiah, Lola, and even Axel’s father, Paul, with whom I’ve heard there is a lot of tension. Throw in a couple other friends here and there and this is a banger.

I obviously invited Hunter. Dad did too, I think. And he said he’d come. Although, I think he was just being polite. It’s nearly time for dinner service and there’s been no sign of him.

“Please have some fun, Amy,” Gillian scolds me. She’s looking beautiful in a mint green gown, her long waves pinned into milkmaid braids.

“I’m having a great time, what are you talking about?” I shove the spoonful of poke into my mouth.

She purses her lips. “You’re not good at hiding how you feel.”

I swallow the tuna whole. “That’s not true.”

“Sure, that’s why you’re standing over here by your lonesome, all sad like your ice cream fell off the cone,” Gillian says.

“Hey, that’s not true, I’m talking to people, I –” I stop midway through my defense when I see Hunter walk through the archway of ivy and roses over the door onto the roof. He’s alone. No Jessica. I watch him scan the party for me. And then his eyes catch mine. A smile creeps onto my lips.

Gillian follows my gaze and chuckles knowingly. “You’ve got it so bad for him.”

“Shut up,” I say, slapping her arm.

Hunter starts to walk toward us. My cheeks heat up.

“I’ll make myself scarce,” Gillian says, then kisses my cheek softly. “Love you.”

“Love you too…” I reply nearly inaudibly, not bothering to watch her walk off. I can only watch Hunter as he comes closer and closer. It’s like we’re the only people in the entire world, two spotlights coming together until they collide.

He stops about a foot away from me. “Hi.”

“Hi. You came.”

“Of course I did. I said I would.”

I beam.

“I know I should make my rounds first, but I want to talk to you first. Is that alright?”

I glance at the party. I can tell some of my family and friends are trying very purposefully not to look at us. “Yes. I’d like that.”

Hunter smiles. His beard is freshly trimmed, hair swooped back into a slick bun. “There’s a table over here…”

He holds his arm out for me. I wrap my hand around his bicep carefully, trying not to communicate my need through my touch, but I can’t help it. When he’s this close to me, I want to make sure I won’t lose him.

Hunter guides me to a standing table near the edge of the roof. It has undoubtedly the best view of LA from here. Somehow, for being in the heart of LA, enmeshed in the din of a party, the world feels so quiet.

I lean nervously on the table and look out at the view. “Your place is stunning. Thank you for offering it for Axel and Gillian.”

“What are friends for?”

I look at him for just a moment before it becomes too much for me to bear. He looks devastatingly handsome tonight.

“You look beautiful, by the way,” Hunter says. Dammit. He beat me to the punch. “Is it alright if I say that?”

I nod. “Absolutely.”

A grin spreads across his mouth. “Good. I like the daisies.”

I touch the bodice of my daisy-printed dress and smile.

Hunter then clears his throat. “Well…I have news.”

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