Page 60 of Baby, It’s You (Clairesville #1)

Olive

I t’s past midnight when I finally sit on my couch after a long shift and hold my phone in front of my face as Ivy talks to me.

“You still haven’t heard anything from him?”

“Nope.”

“I’m sure you will soon. That video was super sweet and way out of your comfort zone,” she says, trying to reassure me.

“Yeah, I don’t know. Maybe it is too late for us. I know I broke his heart.”

“Don’t give up hope,” she says. “Maybe he hasn’t seen the video yet.”

“It’s been six hours, Ivy. I’m sure he’s seen it by now.” I blow out a breath. “It’s late. I’m going to shower and try to sleep.”

“Alright, well call me tomorrow. I love you,” she tells me.

“Love you, too.”

I click off my phone screen and toss it aside.

I get up, walk to my bathroom, and turn the shower handle to the hottest setting before beginning to undress.

I connect my phone to my small speaker and select “My Own Summer” by Deftones from my nighttime playlist. The music surrounds me as the steam begins to fill up the bathroom and I roll my neck, releasing the tension from today.

I can’t help but feel like a failure that Hunter didn’t even send me a text after I made the video pouring my heart out to him.

Maybe he’s angry that Eddie helped me upload it on his account.

I thought maybe he would be moved by the gesture—me putting my heart on the line for everyone to see since I was always so reluctant to show him love before.

I guess I thought wrong. I will try to call him and apologize tomorrow.

I’m about to step in the shower when I hear someone knocking on the door repeatedly.

I’m not expecting any visitors, especially at this late hour.

I wrap a nearby towel around my body and head towards my front door.

I grow more anxious as the knocking aggressively continues and look around for an object to protect me, in case it’s an intruder.

I guess an intruder probably wouldn’t knock, though?

I see the butter knife that Hunter bought me sitting on my kitchen counter and snag it as I walk past. I don’t have a peephole, so I open the door a crack first, gripping the knife, to find out who’s repeatedly banging on my door at 1 A.M.

As soon as I pull the door open, I make eye contact with Hunter. He looks at me and then down at the knife and smirks a little. “Hello, Olive,” he says in his deep voice.

I drop the knife to the floor in shock and before I can even process what’s happening, his lips are on mine.

I moan into his mouth as he sweeps me up into his arms and I wrap both my legs around his waist, my towel falling to the ground.

He carries me into my apartment and slams my front door with his foot without breaking our kiss.

My heart starts to pound wildly out of my chest.

I pull away from his lips and cradle both sides of his face in my hands. “Holy shit, you’re here.”

He smiles at me. “I’m here, baby, and I’m never letting you go again.”

“Please don’t,” I whisper and then pull him back into me.

We continue to kiss while our hands explore each other, unable to get enough. I get down from his hold and pull his hand to lead him towards the bathroom.

“Would you like to join me in the shower?” I tease him.

Hunter quickly nods and begins to rip his shirt off over his head, kick his sneakers off, and then pull off his pants.

I stand in the middle of the bathroom, watching him.

Seeing him undress is foreplay on its own; his tan, muscular body, ready to be kissed, ready to be touched.

I pull back the shower curtain and step in; he follows.

The second the water touches his body, he flinches and reaches for the handle. “Are you trying to burn me alive, woman?” he jokes as he turns it cooler.

I shrug. “I like a hot shower.”

He stands right above me now, leaning over me. “I like you ,” he whispers.

“I love you,” I boldly say back, never breaking his eye contact.

His eyes burn with intensity as he responds. “Fuck, Olive. I love you so much. I can’t believe this moment is real.” He touches my hair and cups the back of my head. Hunter pulls me in and kisses me deeply. In this moment, I finally feel like the final puzzle piece of my life has been found.

I am whole.