On the Rocks (Last Call #1)(60)

I swear I hear John growl next to me, and I shake my head slightly at him not to say anything more. Keith is on his way to being drunk, and half of what he says has to be taken with a grain of salt.

“He’s a star. He could be a legend, Gabby,” Keith says quietly as he stares at his empty glass. “He passes up this chance, he’s dried up. It’s over for good.”

Everyone’s heads sort of drop over this proclamation, because it’s not something any of us would argue with. We know this is Hunter’s only chance if he wants to get back in the game. The endorsement offers won’t come again.

“Why is everyone looking so glum?” Hunter says as he walks back up to the table. He doesn’t sit down but stands behind my chair, his hands on my shoulders.

No one answers, but Wyatt stands up and says, “It’s getting late, and I have to work tomorrow. I’m going to head out.”

He glances around the table as everyone says goodbye, and I note that Sasha doesn’t look too broken up about it as she gives him a cheerful smile.

Wyatt claps Hunter on the shoulder as he walks by. “Later, man.”

Keith stands up from the table, grabbing his glass. “I’m getting me another drink. Anyone want one?”

Sasha and John both raise their hands, and Keith teeters off toward the bar.

“He’s going to have a hangover from hell tomorrow,” Hunter remarks as he reaches down to my hand and pulls me from my chair. “Now, if y’all will excuse us, Gabby and I are going to take a walk out on the beach so I can have some alone time with my girl.”

My heart sighs. Yes, it’s evident. I love him.

Leading me by my hand, Hunter weaves his way among the crowd out to the back deck. The area is still closed off to patrons and has a huge sign proclaiming it so, but he walks right through the door and into the cool evening breeze.

We’re silent as we make our way down the stairs and onto the sand, our feet sinking in deep until we make our way closer to the water, where it’s more hard packed. He leads us south with the water on our left, our hands loosely clasped and swinging back and forth.

“So how long after I left the table before they pounced… tried to get you to choose sides?” he asks me quietly.

“Two seconds,” I tell him.

“Have you picked a team yet?”

“Well, let me make sure I know who’s playing,” I tell him with a small laugh. “On Team Let’s Get Hunter To Surf Again, you have Keith and Sasha for sure. I’m going to take a good guess and say that John and Wyatt are on Team Let Hunter Make His Own Mind Up. Am I right so far?”

“Pretty much. But go ahead and add a third team. There’s Team We Want Hunter To Stay. That’s comprised of Casey, Mom, and Dad.”

“Really?” I ask surprised, because they have always supported Hunter’s career as a professional surfer.

“Yeah,” he says softly, with a ton of love in his voice. “They love having me home and aren’t afraid to say it.”

“Where does Brody stand?” I ask hesitantly.

Shrugging his shoulders, Hunter says, “No f*cking clue. We haven’t talked about it, but we need to. Seeing as how most of my decision has to do with him.”

“You’re wrong,” I murmur.

Hunter stops walking, bringing me to a halt as well. Turning to me, he brings his hands to my shoulders, and then caresses upward along my neck until he’s cupping my face. “How am I wrong?”

The moon is bright and I have no problem seeing Hunter’s eyes, so I know he can see mine as well. I hope he understands what I’m trying to convey. “It doesn’t have anything to do with Brody. It has only to do with what you want, Hunter. No one else.”

He stares at me a long moment, his eyes full of understanding and appreciation of what I’ve just said. “You will always put me first, won’t you, Gabs?”

“Yes,” I answer him simply, because I will. I’ll always put him ahead of everything and anyone.

Leaning in, he brushes his lips across mine. When he pulls back, there is something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. It is an emotion that is so strong, so powerful, that it makes my legs go weak and my heart start to thrum. It makes butterflies swim in my stomach and causes heat to unfurl throughout my body. I know what that emotion is… it’s self-evident.

But to make sure I understand what his eyes are telling me, he says, “I love you, Gabby. I always have. I’ve loved you like a sister and like a friend. Most importantly and most recently, I love you as a man loves a woman. I need you to know that.”

My mind spins back five years ago, to when we stood facing each other, just after our kiss. I was young and na?ve, and I wanted those words then. But they weren’t right, I realize. Not back then. Because what we had back then wasn’t anything like what we have now. It has taken time, maturity, experiences, and work to get to where we are at this moment.

My hands come up to clasp onto his wrists as they still hold my face. “I love you too, Hunter. I’ve always loved you, and just like you, it’s been many different types of love. But what I feel now… this is the type of love I always wanted with you.”

The smile Hunter gives me is soul stealing. Then he kisses me and this time, it’s absolutely different. Because this time, we’ve traded the words that have solidified our relationship. We’ve affirmed to each other that our hearts are mated to one another, and let me tell you, it makes a regular kiss border on the divine. It shakes me to my core, the depth of feeling that we pour into the kiss, and never, ever, in my entire life, have I felt such peace.