great of a guy he is. He sent me flowers on my first day on the job as an official employee. He brings dinner and gives the best foot massages.
“So, what do you think?” Hunter asks from his seat beside me. It’s Friday night, and we decided to order Chinese food and hang out. Our bellies are full, and we’re lounging on the couch.
“I don’t know. You don’t think it’s too soon?” I ask him.
“Reese, we’ve been dating for months. I really want you to meet my family.”
“What if they hate me?” I’m not just being coy; I’m being real here. I’ve never really dated. Not a serious relationship like this one. I’ve never had to meet the family, and I’m stressing the hell out about it.
“They’re going to love you just like I do.”
I freeze. He cups my face in the palm of his hands. “I’m crazy about you, Reese Latham. You have to know that.” His thumb gently slides back and forth across my cheek. “I’m in love with you. I know you’re not there yet, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. Please, come home with me over the holiday weekend. Meet my family.”
I nod. “Okay.”
He leans in and presses his lips to mine. “Thank you.”
I’m nervous as hell, but he’s right. We’ve been dating for months, and it’s not that I don’t want to meet them. I’m just afraid they won’t like me or think that Hunter can do better. I know that’s just my nerves talking, and he’ll be there with me every step of the way.
“What are we going to watch?” I ask, handing him the remote while covering a yawn.
“Tired?”
“Yes, but I want to watch a movie with you.”
He kicks off his shoes and leans back on the couch, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Come here.” He pats his lap, and I waste no time pulling the blanket from the back of the couch and using him as my pillow. He pulls up an episode of Good Girls and hits Play. We’ve been binging this series, and only after a few episodes, I’m addicted.
“Reese.” Hunter’s whispered voice wakes me. I peel open my eyes and look up at him. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“What time is it?”
“Just after midnight. We both fell asleep.”
I stand and stretch. “You can stay if you want.” This would be the first time he’s ever slept over. We’ve kissed, but that’s pretty much as far as we’ve taken things.
“Reese, I think there’s something that you should know.”
“What’s that?”
“This is embarrassing to talk about, and I should have told you by now, but it’s never been brought up, and this, tonight, if I stay here, well, I think you need to know.”
“Are you married? Seeing someone else?”
“No. Never. No, Reese. It’s just you. But, I’m—” He rubs the back of his head with his hand. “There is no other way to say this than to just spit it out.”
I nod. “Say it.” I have no idea what he’s about to say, but the words that come out of his mouth are not at all what I was expecting.
“I’m saving myself, you know, until marriage.”
Holy shit. Is this real? Hunter is a good-looking guy. Tall, brown hair, blue eyes, lean and fit, how is it he’s still a virgin? “You’re a virgin?” I wince as the words leave my mouth. “I’m sorry,” I rush to say. That was insensitive of me.
“No. It’s okay. Yes, I am. My decision is a big part of who I am, and I know we’ve never talked about this. I should have brought it up sooner, but I didn’t know how. I wasn’t sure where we were headed. Now, here I am. I fell in love with you, and I needed you to know.”
Wow. This is a big deal, and not at all what I was expecting. “Hunter, I’m not a virgin.” I feel like we need to be transparent with one another. If he’s hoping I too have been saving myself, he’s going to be disappointed. Although my one encounter in high school isn’t exactly much to write home about, the fact remains that I indeed have had sex. Just not in a very, very long time. I was holding out hope for me and Cooper, and well, we all know how that turned out. Then Hunter happened, and here we are.
“I don’t expect you to be. I just needed you to know that I plan to wait. When