“We don’t have to stay married. We can just... take it slow. But I can’t imagine letting you go.”
“You’re already thinking about divorcing me? Well, I won’t let you.”
My entire body felt lighter as the meaning of her words registered.
“You mean that, Josie?”
She nodded, breathing rapidly. I touched her hand over the table. She was shaking slightly. I pulled my chair closer to the table, cradling her legs with mine.
“Baby, let’s get out of here. I want you all to myself.” We weren’t even halfway through dinner, but I just couldn’t wait to be alone with her.
She nodded. I headed straight to the waiter to pay. I didn’t even have the patience to wait for him to stop by our table.
The restaurant was only minutes away from home. I wasn’t even sure how or when we got there.
I only trusted myself to touch Josie once we were inside. She was still shaking slightly.
“Josie, is everything okay?”
“Yes.”
I touched her face with both hands, looking straight at her. “You’re shaking.”
“It’s just... What if it doesn’t work out? What if we just mess things up?” Her voice had dropped to a whisper. “I love you.” She pressed her lips together, then hid her face in my chest. “Did I just scare you away with my crazy talk? Lie quickly if I did.”
“No. I love you, Josie. So much.” She pulled back, enough that I could look straight at her. “And I’ll show you, every way I can. I won’t pretend that I know how to do this but trust me to figure this out next to you.”
She smiled, playing with the collar of my shirt, pulling me closer. “I do.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Josie
When I woke up the next morning, Hunter wasn’t in bed. Where was he? His side of the mattress was cold, but I felt like being lazy for a few more minutes.
And speaking of last night... had it been real?
I hid my face in the pillow, grinning against the fabric. Yes, it had.
Hunter loved me.
I wanted to scream it at the top of my lungs, while also fearing that if I talked about it—or hell, even thought about it, I would lose it, somehow. Like I couldn’t possibly be so lucky.
I’d arrived in New York with big dreams—had imagined my life before it had started, but the reality had been different. Difficult. Becoming a lawyer had taken every ounce of will and energy. Dating turned out to be more like an exercise in lowering my hopes and expectations, nothing like the romantic, laid-back dates of my high school days.
But now... holy hell. I had to tamp down my enthusiasm, and this bubbly feeling that my heart was so full, it couldn’t fit into my chest. While showering, I pondered how I was going to spoil my man today. I could cook his favorite breakfast. Yeah, I could do that... and as a bonus, I could cook naked. I was sure he’d appreciate it, but I wasn’t so sure if I’d get to finish said breakfast... He was known to jump my bones when I wore no clothes. It was like tickling a bear, but I couldn’t help myself.
Still, I put on a robe. I’d drop it later, when I found an appropriate moment... for dramatic effect.
Hunter was walking around the living room, holding up his iPhone. I didn’t like the frown on his face at all.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He smiled, but it lacked the usual spark. “Taking some photos.”
“I can see that, but why?”
“Just got a call from the case worker. Wants me to send her pictures of the house in the next ten minutes.”
The bubbly feeling in my chest vanished instantly.
“Oh God. Okay. Umm... let me just gather some of the clothes lying around, and my makeup... or, I don’t know. What should I do?”
“Nothing, I think. It’s best if I just send her real snapshots.”
“Why the ten-minute timeframe?”
“I suppose it’s so I don’t have time to fake anything.”
“Okay.”
I walked slightly behind him, watching his phone. Our privacy was being invaded. Unfortunately, I knew for a fact that it was legal. I hated it.
And when Hunter said she also requested a picture of me, I felt dirty. After he emailed the case worker, I tried to pretend that this episode hadn’t happened at all, and went straight to the kitchen, getting out some eggs and mushrooms.
I tried to remember if this request came at a certain step in the application, tried to guesstimate how long it was until they’d decline or approve his request for a green card.
Hunter stood next to me, cutting oranges.
“Josie, what’s wrong?”
I sighed. Of course he’d pick up on it.
“Nothing’s wrong. I... just... when you get your green card... will it change things between us?”
I felt his hand slide to my waist, and then he turned me around, practically pinning me against the counter with his hips.
“Nothing will change the fact that I’m head over heels in love with my wife. Look at me.”
I brought my gaze up to his. “Okay.”
“That’s settled.”
He moved his hands to my shoulders, pressing his thumbs in the sore spots just above my shoulder blades.
“You’re so good at this,” I whispered.
“You’re tense.”
“It’s just... I wish this would be over already.”
“I know, babe.”
I turned around, continuing to chop mushrooms.
“Let me cook you breakfast,” he said.
“Nope. I want to spoil you.”
He pinched my butt, nearly making me jump.
“Hunter! Keep your hands where they were before. I didn’t say you could stop.”
“Your wish is my command.”
“That’s not your usual MO.”
“You’re lucky you’re so sexy this morning.”
“I knew it. You only indulge me when I’m wearing short things.”
“You’ve got me all figured out, wife.”
The silly grin from earlier returned. Unexpectedly, he turned me around again before lifting me up on the counter.
“I think you need something more... substantial than a neck massage to relax.”
“Another vacation?”
He laughed. “Not what I had in mind, but that works too. I’m really a bad influence.”
“And you’re good at organizing vacations.”
“Whatever my lovely wife requests.”
“You’re being sweet. All prior evidence shows you do this when you want to bribe me into something or butter me up.”
“Not at all.”
“Hunter... is there something you want to tell me?”
“Is it too early to talk about kids?”
“Ours?”
“No, the neighbors’. Of course, ours.”
“What about them?”
“I know that you want two.”
Wow. How did he remember? And now that he’d planted the idea in my mind, my imagination ran away with it. All those muscles, the crystal blue eyes. He had some excellent genes to pass on.
I loved kids. Since I’d been a little girl, I’d wanted little girls of my own—braiding their hair, tucking them in at night. But for the first time, this felt more than just a dream. It felt real.