Page 102 of 2204 Hunter Lane
“Where are we going?” I asked, sitting in Hunter’s passenger seat as we drove along the highway exiting Aurora.
He held the plans for tonight securely, shooting me a glance before returning his eyes to the road. “It’s a surprise.”
I didn’t press any further as he turned up the radio and rested a strong hand on my thigh. Squeezing his fingers tighter, I rolled down the window and peered up to the cotton candy sky above, taking in the moment with all that I had.
The feeling that Hunter gave me, the bliss and butterflies that knotted in my stomach, was incomparable to anything I’d ever felt before.
If someone were to ask me six months ago if I saw myself sitting in Hunter’s truck, hand in hand with a feeling of pure elation, I would’ve called bullshit. But it all made sense, in some twisted, incomprehensible way…wemade sense.
A lot of people say that you can only meet your match once you’re fully ready; when everything is aligned and there’s an affordance to settle. But that’s not entirely true. I honestly think it’s equally possible to find something magical within the ruin.
Though Hunter and I had a rocky start, it didn’t define us. Call it fate or chance, even coincidence, we found each other for a reason. And whatever that reason was, I was happy for it.
After an hour of driving, the sun had completely set as Hunter pulled into a parking lot lit by the illumination of a gorgeous glass building. A crystal fountain sat in the center of a circular roundabout, emanating tri-coloured lights from beneath the waterfall.
“Wow,” I released in awe, poking my head out the window to inhale the scent of open air and luxury.
Dozens upon dozens of cars lined the outer perimeter of the establishment as Hunter nestled between two sports cars and killed the engine.
“Don’t you dare try n’ get out, Bambi.” He commanded, hopping onto the gravel and jogged to open my door.
“You’re really giving me the princess treatment tonight, huh?” I teased, stepping onto the pavement as we crossed the parking lot.
He snorted. “A door I can open, but I ain’t gon’ kiss the ground you walk on, your highness.”
I swatted his arm as we walked through a silver arch with marble stepstones, leading all the way to a gigantic black desk occupying a handful of workers.What the hell is this place?
Hunter took the reins as he approached the table, throwing a charming smile at a lady working the front-desk.
“Good evening, sir.” She released, almost robotic.Huh, first time I see someone not melting at the sight of him.
“Hi,” he responded, calling me to his side. “I made a reservation earlier for two at Empire Point.”
After a couple of clicks on the keyboard, she pepped up and slid over a shiny gold card, pointing down the hall to some elevator doors.
“You’re going to take the blue tagged elevator to floor twelve, sir. Enjoy your dinner.” And she was back to facing her computer screen.
As if Hunter had been here a million times, he laced our fingers together and headed down the hallway where a line of elevators stood. Atop each metal door was a coloured rectangle that held an up and down symbol within it.
For the life of me, I still couldn’t figure out what this place was, where we were going and how the hell Hunter, the most unposh person I’d ever met, managed to take us here.
I frowned, surveying the bare walls. “There aren’t any buttons.”
“That’s what the card’s for, sweetheart.” He smirked, sliding it down a scanner that was concealed by the outer lining of the elevator.
Almost immediately, the door dinged and slid open for us. I followed quickly after Hunter who swivelled his pointer across a row of flashing buttons and selected number twelve.
As the elevator ascended, I took in the dimly lit atmosphere of the glass box we were encased in. There was relatively nothing in here but a wall of buttons and each other. No cameras, no handlebars, just the soft sound of smooth mechanics hoisting us up higher and higher.
“I’m so confused.” I blurted, halfway to laughter before I closed my mouth. “Where are we? What is this place?”
“You ask a lot of questions, Bambi.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, I’m concerned for my well-being.”
“You’re in good hands.” He retorted, cryptic as always.
A sharp ding vibrated through a speakersomewhereas the elevator doors slid open, revealing a sight I did not expect to see.
