Page 121 of 2204 Hunter Lane
Call me a sap, call me obsessed, but if you had a man like him, you would be too.
On the eighteenth of September, Hunter’s twenty-sixth birthday, I made sure to plan out everything that he loved to do; shooting range, axe-throwing, four-wheeling… and do you know what he did? Onhisbirthday? He boughtmea Tiffany bracelet with our initials engraved in the silver heart. ME. HIS birthday.My freaking heart.
I didn’t love him because of the gifts, though. I didn’t love him because of his looks, even though he was a sight to see every time I saw him. I loved him because of who he was, to the core. The man that had been buried for so long, the man I swore never to give up on… he resurfaced, he was in shallow water.He was no longer drowning.
But even still, there were some things that took getting used to. I was as affectionate as a snuggle bug, but Hunter wasn’t the touchy-feely type unless he wanted to. I chalked it off to some untouched corner in his brain that associated affection to loss, two opposite feelings that intersected within him.
It’s a fascinating thing, your mind. How something could feel so good but hurt like hell, all at once. I think that was just it – Hunter didn’t know which emotion to feel. And that only made me love him more.
A little under a month ago, Hunter and I had been laying in bed, and I popped a starburst into my mouth to ask him a question.Yes, we still kept that tradition and I would never break it.
I’d asked him, “when did you fall in love with me?”
And he replied, “the second I believed the smallest part of me deserved you.”
I was stunned, baffled, confused. I shot up immediately after that and said, “you don’t think you deserve me?”
“No.” Short and simple.
My heart broke for him. I didn’t know what to do, how to help him, so naturally… I cried. Sobbed like a freaking baby. Mixing my period and boyfriend who felt undeserving of genuine love… yeah, I was bound to be a complete wreck.
After that night, we never talked about it again. I didn’t overcompensate for the love he didn’t have for himself, but I made damn sure to prove to him he was worthy of it.
Months and months of dates, family gatherings and opening up to each other led us to this precious moment, right now, surrounded by the Lanes, Uncle Glen and Betty around the Christmas tree.
“Can I make a toast?” Payton said, standing up with a wine glass in hand. “I’m gon’ make a toast.”
The room chuckled as she carried on her speech, pointing to each person as she spoke.
“To Glen, for bein’ such a stick in my ass.”
Glen shrugged. “Sticks are fun.”
“To Betty, the best and worst sister alive.”
“Love ya, sis.” She raised her can of green beans and grinned with sparkly wide eyes.
Payton bent down to plant a kiss on Dex’s cheek, squeezing his shoulder. “I love you, Dex. Thanks for being the better half of me.”
I blushed as Dex’s stoic expression turned soft, an emotion he only reserved for Payton.
“Hunter,” she addressed.
“Yeah, yeah, Merry Christmas Payton.” He took a swig of his beer, smirking with full knowledge that he’d pissed her off.
And that he did. When I turned to Payton, she was red in the face, downing all her wine in one gulp.
“I’m jolly today, I ain’t no grinch. But sometimes, Hunter…”
“Try again next year, will ya?” He pushed, but just as she was about to snap, he got up and did the most unexpected thing I had ever seen.
He hugged her.
Hunter Lane literally hugged Payton.
The whole room was silent, and I didn’t blame them. In all the years Payton had lived with them, Hunter told me he never even shook hands with Payton, let alone wrap his arms around her.
Payton was white as a sheet and I burst into laughter, checking Dex who was stunned as well.
