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A couple of weeks later, Hunter walked into a small coffee shop located down the street from his apartment. Luna was with Adam, and Hunter told her he needed to run some errands. When he entered the coffee shop, he looked to his right and saw Frank sitting in the corner of the room with two cups of coffee. He waved him over to sit down.

Hunter hurried over and sat down across from Frank, gratefully accepting the cup of coffee he handed him. He gulped it down eagerly; it was hot and black, exactly how he liked it—no creamer or sugar nonsense. As he continued to drink, he realized he was going so fast that he nearly burned his mouth. Nervous energy coursed through him. This was a big week for Hunter, and he hoped he wouldn’t mess up the execution of his plans.

He was planning to propose to Luna, but first, he had a few surprises lined up for her. To make everything perfect, he needed Frank’s approval on all of his ideas. He respected Frank’s opinion and trusted that he would keep everything about the proposal under wraps. Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Frank’s voice pulled him back to reality.

“Do you have it with you?” Frank asked Hunter with excitement. “I need to see the ring, man!”

Hunter nodded in agreement and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small black box. He opened it slowly, revealing a stunning engagement ring with a big, sparkling diamond. He wanted only the best for Luna and hoped this ring would convey that sentiment.

“It’s beautiful,” Frank exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. “I know she will love it. It’s elegant, just like she is. It’s the perfect ring for her.”

Hunter felt a wave of relief wash over him. Frank’s approval meant a lot, especially since he knew Luna well enough to understand what she would like. After carefully placing the ring back in his jacket pocket, the two men shifted their focus to the arrangements for the proposal.

“So, walk me through what you’re thinking,” Frank said eagerly. “You want to go back to the original bar — the one where you two met, right? The place where you saved her from that horrible date?”

Hunter nodded, feeling nostalgic. He wanted to take her back to where their love story began. There was something romantic about retracing their steps. After enjoying a drink and reminiscing, he planned to take Luna to the team’s ice rink. She had been a significant support for him through the ups and downs of his career over the past few months, and he thought an empty stadium would be the perfect backdrop. He envisioned filling the rink with flowers and white lights, creating a beautifully romantic setting. After their time at the bar, he would take her ice skating, and when the moment felt right, he would drop to one knee and ask Luna the big question. He could only hope that she would say yes.

“Don’t worry,” Frank said to Hunter as if reading his mind. “She is sure to say yes to you, Hunter.”

The two men continued to sit at the table and drink their coffee. Hunter was giddy with excitement, and Frank matched his emotions. Hunter thought it felt nice to have the support of Frank during this monumental time. His own father had passed, and Frank filled that paternal void. While the two men sat in the coffee shop and finished their coffee, Luna was in Hunter’s apartment on the other side of the street.

Luna brewed herself a cup of coffee and began preparing breakfast for Adam. As she fried bacon, gratitude washed over her for Adam's good health lately. However, she couldn't shake the feeling of concern about Hunter's frequent absences. He seemed to be running errands all the time, which made her uneasy. While she trusted him and didn’t believe he was involved in anything suspicious, the sense that he was keeping something from her lingered in the back of her mind.

She was still lost in thought when she heard the familiar pitter-patter of Adam’s feet as he walked into the room, and a smile spread across her face. She was so grateful to see him feeling better. Luna quickly set a plate of bacon, pancakes, and juice on the table, ready for their breakfast together.

“Syrup!” Adam exclaimed. “Can I have the syrup, please, Mommy?”

Luna smiled. She was still getting used to Adam calling her mom, and each time she heard it, it made her heart melt. She loved him like he was her own son.

“Yes, honey,” Luna said to him. “Here it is.”

Luna set the butter and syrup on the table before taking a seat next to Adam. Just as they were about to dig in, Hunter walked in, a broad smile lighting up his face. His happiness caught Luna off guard; lately, he had been acting a bit different—not in a bad way, but enough to make her feel somewhat left out of the loop. Curiosity tugged at her. What was going on with him?

“You're just in time for breakfast!” she said, trying to match his enthusiasm. “There are plenty of pancakes and bacon for everyone.”

Hunter's heart swelled as he saw Luna and Adam sharing a moment at the kitchen table. It felt so right, like a scene from a perfect family life. He walked over, pulled out a chair, and settled down with a contented sigh. Luna poured him a glass of juice, her eyes sparkling with warmth.

“So,” Luna began, breaking the comfortable silence, “what errands had you running around so early this morning?”

Hunter took a sip of his juice, relishing the moment. “Oh, just a few things. You know how it is—picking up some supplies for the team and handling some personal matters.”

“Personal matters?” Luna raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “That sounds mysterious. Are you planning a surprise or something?”

Hunter chuckled, the glint in his eyes revealing that there was indeed more to the story. “You could say that. But you know I can't spoil it just yet. I want it to be a surprise.”

“Now you’ve got me curious!” Luna teased, leaning closer. “Just promise me you’re not planning anything too crazy.”

Hunter smiled, appreciating her playful banter. “No crazy plans, I promise. Just a little something special. But enough about me—let’s enjoy breakfast first, and then I’ll share more.”

Hunter quickly took a bite of his bacon and reached across the table to grab the butter and syrup. He spread butter over his pancakes and then poured syrup all over them. He was trying to buy time to think of an alibi. He did not want to ruin the surprise of the proposal. He also didn’t want to lie to her, so he had to think quickly. Luna was staring at him, waiting for an answer. She knew that something was up, and he had to mitigate that situation as quickly as possible.

“I met with Frank,” Hunter said honestly. “I met with Frank to discuss possibly rejoining the team for the last game.”

Part of what Hunter had said was true, while the other half was something he desperately wished to be true. He longed to join the team for the last game of the season. With Adam in a stable enough place, Hunter felt a surge of excitement at the thought of getting back on the ice; he missed playing hockey more than he had realized.

Luna glanced at him in surprise. This wasn’t what she had expected to hear, but it explained his recent joyful mood. She knew how much he missed the game, and this was great news for both of them. Without thinking, she reached over and took Hunter’s hand, feeling a wave of support and encouragement pass between them.

“That would be great, honey,” Luna said in support. “What did Frank say about it all?”

Hunter coughed before taking a sip of juice. He looked over at Luna.

“He said he would get back to me,” Hunter said quickly. “But I think that it is a good possibility that I will join the team again.

After breakfast, Hunter knew he had to call Frank. He was determined to turn his little white lie into a reality. Deep down, he felt confident that everything would work out in his favor. He was meant to be with Luna, and he was meant to play in the last game of the hockey season—he could feel it in his bones.

As the family finished their meal, Luna started cleaning up the kitchen. Meanwhile, Hunter slipped into the bedroom to make a quick call to Frank.

“Hey, man,” Hunter said quickly. “Any chance I could play the last game of the season?”

He heard Frank chuckle on the other end of the line. He did not know whether that was a good or a bad sign. Hunter waited patiently for Frank’s response.

“I thought you would never ask, Hunter,” Frank finally responded to him. “Of course, come to practice early tomorrow morning. Don’t be late; you have a lot of catching up to do.”

Hunter ended the call with a giant smile on his face. He could not remember the last time that he was this happy. Luna walked into the bedroom and saw that he had just finished a phone call.

“Who was that?” she asked him directly. “You have been very busy this morning.”

Hunter sensed a tone in her voice.

“That was Frank,” Hunter said to her softly. “He gave me the green light to play the last game. He said to come to practice tomorrow. So, I will have to leave early tomorrow morning.”

He walked over to her. He could tell that she was agitated and that he had not paid her enough direct attention lately. Little did she know that he was planning to propose to her. Still, he needed to make her feel at ease. Hunter gently brushed away the stray hair from her face.

“You are so beautiful,” he said to her softly. “I love you.”

Luna looked up at him, her smile brightening the room. There he was—the Hunter she knew so well. Gazing into his eyes, she felt a wave of reassurance wash over her; everything was right, and her worries felt foolish. She trusted him completely and loved him deeply. And knowing that Hunter loved her in return was all that truly mattered.

They shared a passionate kiss, sealing their bond. Everything felt right in the world. Luna reached down, entwining her fingers with Hunter’s, and looked back up into his eyes, feeling a sense of peace envelop them both.

“I’m sorry that I was short earlier,” she said. “You just have been gone so much that I thought something was wrong.”

“You have no reason to worry, my darling,” Hunter reassured her. “All is well.”

Later that day, Luna sat down at Hunter’s computer to check her email. As she opened the internet browser, she noticed he had been browsing plane ticket prices for trips to and from Guatemala. Was he planning to take her back home to meet her mother and sister? Curious, she clicked on the ticket prices, only to find they had skyrocketed with the holiday season approaching. This was too expensive, she thought. It also didn’t appear that any tickets had been purchased, which made her wonder if this was just a fleeting thought he had. Still, why hadn’t he mentioned it to her?

Shaking off her curiosity, Luna minimized the window and opened a new one to log into her email. Once she was in, she saw an email from her sister, Lisa. It was a long message expressing how much she and their mother missed Luna and how they hoped to see her again soon. The email had been sent two weeks ago, and Luna felt a pang of guilt for not checking her inbox sooner. She reminded herself to be more diligent about staying connected.

With a sigh, she responded to her sister's email, crafting a simple but heartfelt message. She told Lisa that she loved and missed both her and their mother, and she hoped to see them in America soon.

Luna thought back to her conversation with Ella. Given what she had just seen on Hunter’s computer, maybe he would pay for both her mother and sister to visit the United States. It seemed like an expensive request, and she did not feel comfortable asking him to send her family to America. She sighed and got off of the computer, walked out of the office, and started cleaning the apartment and taking care of Adam while Hunter continued to get his gear ready for practice tomorrow.

Later that night, after Luna put Adam to bed, she walked into the bedroom and started to change into her nightgown. It had been a good but long day, and she was happy to have some alone time with Hunter. Hunter watched as she took off each layer of her clothing. His eyes were glued to her seductive body. Her curves called out to him.

“Don’t bother getting dressed,” Hunter said to her.

Luna had her nightgown in her hands. She suddenly dropped it to the ground and locked eyes with Hunter. She turned to him, bare naked. Hunter looked at her body in admiration.

“What did you have in mind?” she asked him seductively.

Luna slowly made her way to Hunter. He continued to lie on the bed and watch her movements. When she reached his side of the bed, Hunter turned over to his side.

“Let me watch you touch yourself,” he said to her softly.

Luna placed one foot on the bed, creating an inviting space between her legs that was easily accessible to Hunter. Her hands glided down her stomach, coming to rest on her wet pussy. Hunter watched intently as she slipped her fingers inside herself, her eyes closing as soft moans escaped her lips. The sight of her pleasuring herself ignited a deep arousal within him. Unable to contain his desire, he tossed aside the covers, exposing his own arousal to her.

Luna continued to touch herself, feeling the thrill of Hunter's gaze on her. The sight of him turned on by her actions only heightened her excitement. “Now, I want to watch you,” she whispered softly, her voice a sultry invitation.

Hunter met her gaze, squirting lube into his hand before wrapping it around his hard penis. He moved his hand slowly, up and down, their eyes locked in a shared moment of intimacy. The room was thick with tension as they both indulged in their desires, each turned on by the other's touch.

Luna picked up the pace, her movements becoming more frantic as she neared her climax. Hunter, attuned to her body, could sense she was close, and he craved to feel her finish around him. He stopped his own movements, sitting up in bed and beckoning Luna closer. “Come here,” he urged, inviting her to straddle his face.

As soon as Luna sat on top of his face, Hunter enjoyed the taste of her pussy. She then released herself on his face. Hunter picked her up and moved her down to his dick. She was so wet that Hunter and his dick were ready to enter her slippery vagina. She moved back and forth while she was on top of Hunter. He then watched the pleasure spread across her face as her eyes rolled back. He felt her wet pussy tighten around him. He wanted to make her climax again.

Hunter propelled his body forward, forcing Luna to lie on her back with him on top of her. Hunter pushed himself inside of Luna, again and again, entering her as deeply as both of their bodies would let him.

“I want to make you cum again,” Hunter said to Luna. “Cum for me again, baby.”

Luna closed her eyes. She focused on the pleasant pounding sensation. She could feel every inch of Hunter inside of her. When she opened her eyes, she could see ecstasy all over Hunter’s face. She knew that he was holding back until she came again. Knowing how good she was making him feel excited her. She let herself go again, and when Hunter felt her tighten around him, he let himself go, too. They came together.

When they were finished, they both lay on the bed, exhausted. Hunter turned over onto his side and kissed Luna on the forehead. She looked up at him and smiled.

“Are you ready to train tomorrow?” she finally asked him. “It is starting to get late; do you think that you will be able to get enough rest?”

“Of course,” Hunter said to Luna. “Of course, honey. I will be fine. Also, that reminds me. Tomorrow, after training, I am taking you out to dinner. Ella will be here around five in the evening. I will have a car waiting for you out front.”

Luna smiled. She wondered what the occasion was. It all seemed so formal and planned.

“Oh?” Luna questioned. “It all seems so fancy, darling. Tell me, what is the occasion?”

Hunter looked over at her and smiled.

“The occasion,” he stated with a grin. “The occasion is that I have a surprise for you, my love.”