Page 82 of Baby, It's You
“Sorry, I’m not used to being on camera like this.” She laughs. “But I have something that I would like to share. So here it goes. A while ago when we were working on the video project together—Hunter and me, that is—he asked me if I wanted to film an episode talking about my relationship with Jane. I told him yes, but never got around to it because I was so consumed in losing her, I couldn’t even speak about it. But when it’s all said and done, I don’t even think my stories with Jane were needed. Our relationship spoke for itself. She was a mother to me in every single way but biologically.” Olive looks sad for a second and then lights up as she says, “Jane was looking out for me, though. She knowingly blessed me one last time after she passed away by giving me the bar. But she also blessed me in another way, without knowing it. Without the bar, without Jane’s legacy, I never would have met Hunter Rowe.”
She looks directly at the camera now, confident, like she is speaking to me only. “He is the most incredible person I have ever met. He is selfless, loving, intelligent, creative, and not to mention,sobeautiful to look at.” Olive chuckles slightly and then grows serious again. “I seriously fucked up a chance with a perfect man, big time. Oops, sorry! Can I swear?” she asks the person behind the camera, and I hear Eddie’s laugh.
“It’s fine,” he says in the background.
Wow, I guess the fact that my YouTube email and password has been the same since I started the channel when we were all kids has caught up to me. I chuckle to myself. Need to change my password, noted.
Olive continues to speak, “There isn’t a day that goes by that my thoughts aren’t consumed with my love for Hunter. This part is for him only.” She grins and scoots closer to the camera. “Curls, I am so sorry for the way I treated you. I was horrible and I didn’t appreciate you when I had you. I used your kindness and didn’t thank you when I should have.
“I am so thankful for everything you did for me. You always showed up for me when I needed you. I have spent a long time getting to the place I needed to be at, so I can show up for you, too. I am ready to love you for the rest of my life, if you will accept my apology. There is no one else in the world I want to be with. I am madly in love with you, Hunter. I choose you.Baby, it’s you.”
The video fades to black and I stare at my phone in shock before quickly snapping out of it, dialing Eddie.
He answers, “Yello?”
“Where is she?” I breathe out.
“She’s at her apartment.”
I hang up without even responding and throw my truck in reverse.
I'm going to get my girl.
Chapter 59
Olive
It’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 beginsto 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.”
