Protecting Her - Alexis Noelle Page 0,43

am absolutely exhausted and starving. I was pleasantly surprised that no one noticed who I was. It was great to be able to have a day where I was just a nobody. A day where I could blend into the crowd instead of creating one.

“You ready to go have dinner?”

I nod and lean against him, his hand curling around my waist as we walk toward the exit. “Where are we going?” I look up at him and he shakes his head. I groan in frustration. “Did I mention I am totally OCD and the unknown drives me bat shit crazy?”

He laughs as he opens the door to his car. “Babe, nothing can drive you crazy when you’ve been there for years.”

He shocks me speechless and closes the door before I can respond.

Ass.

Chapter Twenty One

Samantha

We pull up to a building but I didn’t really see anything on it telling me where we are. “Please tell me there is food here because I’m starving.”

Hunter looks over at me and smiles. “You don’t know how fucking happy it makes me to hear you say shit like that.” I look at him in confusion. “To hear you saying you want to eat. It scared the shit out of me when you were in the hospital. I’m glad that was a wakeup call for you.” His hand strokes my cheek and I lean into it.

I think back to that night. To feeling like I was on top of the world then feeling as if I couldn’t even hold myself up. Between my hospital scare and Hunter’s constant support, I have worked to overcome the issues I had. I also think the decreased interaction with my mother has been a great help too. There are times that he offers me junk food that he is eating and I cringe at the thought of it, I hear her voice judging me. Then I remember that night we stood in front of the mirror, the night when he made me feel like I was good enough just the way I was.

I kiss him, trying to express how grateful I am that he came into my life. He has made me see that there are people who actually care. That not everyone wants something from me. He showed me, contrary to everyone else in my life, that someone could love me. That I was worth loving.

“We need to get out of this car before I say fuck dinner and take you home. Unless that’s what you want.” I’m about to say he would get no objections from me when my growling stomach interrupts me. We both break out in laughter. “Come on.”

We walk into the building holding hands. Hunter gives the hostess his name and she walks toward the back of the restaurant and then turns down a hallway. As she slides a door open, I see a room filled with all of Hunter’s friends. There is a happy birthday banner hanging on the wall and they all yell surprise. How did he know?

I look at Hunter in shock, a tear falling down my cheek. “How did you know?”

He turns toward me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. I found out last night when Joe asked if you needed him for any special plans today. Jules helped me plan dinner while I had you out today.” I pull him to me, hugging him and trying to express how much this means to me. We walk into the room and I am greeted and embraced by all of these amazing people. A few more tears fall as I take in how drastically things have changed for the better since Hunter came into my life. My heart is about to burst from all the love it has received from these people. They took me into their lives without hesitation, and made me a part of their family.

“Hey, birthday girl!” Jules hugs me.

“Thank you for helping him with this, for doing this for me.”

“Please, it wasn’t even a question. I was happy to.” I give her another hug before turning back to Hunter.

“I love you, Hunter Stone.”

“I love you, Samantha Baker.”

“Fuck!” I hear Mason shout and we all turn to face him.

“Haha yes! Pay up, motherfucker!” Brian yells back at him. Mason hands Brian some money.

“What are you two idiots yelling about?” Hunter says, shaking his head.

“I told Mase you were pussy whipped and he bet me that you wouldn’t admit it for at least another month; he never thought you