Page 40 of Now and Then

I step next to her and peek out the window again. Sure enough, Hunter’s looking right at us. Greer smiles like an idiot and waves at him. He waves back, then turns the force of his gaze on me.

I don’t know what it is about this man, but he’s always had the power to make me feel like I have a thousand volts of electricity running through my body. His heated promises from yesterday reverberate in my mind as goosebumps cover me from head to toe.

Hunter slowly combs his gaze up my body and meets my eyes again. And then he winks.

My stomach somersaults.

“Did Hunter just wink at you?” Greer elbows me in the side.

“What? No. He probably just has something in his eye.”

Just thinking about the possibility of an us makes my head spin. I’m pretty sure my brain is still malfunctioning from yesterday. There’s no denying that we have more chemistry than a university science lab. But what he’s asking? The second we cross that line, there’s no more pretending we’re just friends.

“This lasagna isn’t going to make itself!” Navy hollers from the kitchen.

Greer startles and steps back. She squeezes my hand and heads out the door, singsonging, “You’ve got some explaining to do.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and turn back to the window. Hunter hasn’t moved, his piercing gaze searing me from afar. Heat crawls up my chest. I’ve always tried to hide my feelings for him, tried even harder to hide my body’s reaction. But tonight, I don’t bother because he’s known how I’ve felt all along. He’s always known and has simply been giving me the space I needed.

Hunter takes his phone out. A text pings through to me.

Hunter: I can hear you thinking from here.

I shake my head and smile at him.

Me: Yeah, well, you’ve given me a lot to think about.

Hunter: And how’s that going?

“Sutton!” Navy’s booming voice startles me so much I nearly drop my phone. “Stop staring at your boyfriend, and get out here!”

I look over my shoulder, and Sutton and Greer are both peeking around the doorjamb.

“I’ll be right there,” I say.

They grin, and their heads pop out of view.

“Notice how she didn’t deny it?” Greer’s voice carries into the bedroom. “Do you think they’re finally together?”

“Not sure,” Navy says. “But we need details.”

I groan, realizing the inquisition they promised me yesterday has become ten times more intense. I fill my lungs, hold it for a few seconds, and release a loud, sighing breath.

My phone pings again.

Hunter: It’ll be okay. Just . . .

Hunter: **Elsa Let It Go meme**

Hunter: Have fun at girl’s night.

I smile. If only letting go didn’t feel like stepping off a cliff.

When I look up, Hunter lugs the enormous box up Luke’s driveway and disappears into the garage.

I lean forward and press the side of my face against the cool glass. With each breath, my nerves settle.

I know my friends are about to unravel me, but for once, I’m not scared.