20 Questions

Chapter 31

The band covers a wide variety of songs from recent chart toppers, all the way back into the 1970's. They are actually rather good and I'm enjoying singing along with the guys to the familiar songs. Dancing machine Kevin is already out on the dance floor, showing off his moves and Patrick is sitting back making fun of him, mumbling something about him looking like "a blind man in an orgy." I'm having the best time and Hunter hasn't let go of my hand the whole night. The band covers Brett's Young's In Case You Didn't Know and Hunter asks if I would like to dance. He takes me by the hand and leads me onto the dance floor. He wraps his arm around my waist, brings our hands to his heart and I lay my head on his chest as we sway to the music.

"In case I haven't told you enough tonight, you look breathtaking in that dress."

"Thank you," I tell him. "You look pretty incredible yourself." He smiles down at me as he places a lock of hair behind my ear. I love these sweet gestures of his. He always finds a way to touch me, even if it is just a subtle graze. The song ends, but another slow song comes on, so we continue to move slowly to the music.

Hunter caresses my cheek and says, "Let me know when you are ready to leave. I want to have some time alone with you. There's some things I want to talk to you about and something I want to give you." I tell me that I am ready to leave whenever. These shoes are cute, but I feel as if I've been walking on hot coals for hours. We walk over to the table and tell the guys good night. I fully expected for them to give us grief about leaving so soon, but they just smile and tell us to have a good time.

When we return to my room, Hunter tells me that he needs to run to his momentarily and is out the door in no time. I grab his gift out of the closet and set it on the far side of the bed so it's not in clear sight when he returns. He's back within a matter of minutes and is holding a small red bag with a silver bow. He nervously hands the bag to me.

"I know we haven't been together very long, but I wanted to get you something for Christmas. It's not officially Christmas yet, but I really want you to open it."

He is so adorable. I take the bag from him and pull out a case that appears to have come from a jewelry store. The box holds the most beautiful heart-shaped necklace, white gold with a ruby stone in the middle.

"Hunter, it's gorgeous! Thank you so much. You didn't have to get me anything."

"Open it up, it's a locket."

I slide my fingernail in the groove and grin like a fool when I see the contents of the locket. Hunter had taken the picture of us kissing on the sleigh ride and had it resized to fit the locket.

"I know it's not much, but I wanted you to remember the incredible day we had together. It was one of the best days of my life because I got to spend it to you." I wrap my arms around his neck and thank him profusely.

"I love everything about it," I tell him. He smiles as I take the necklace out of the box and turn around so he can latch it around my neck. "I have something for you, too," I tell him as I walk to the side of the bed.

"You didn't have to get me anything," he argues.

"Oh, hush. It's nothing big, but it comes from the heart."

Directing him to the bed, I take a seat by his side and hand him the bag. After scowling at me about the glitter now covering his pants, he opens it and pulls out the scrapbook that I made for him. He is grinning from ear to ear as he opens the book and turns to the first page. I have included an airplane flying from Louisville to Aspen. At the bottom of the page, I found stickers of a blonde girl, a dark-haired boy and an old lady sitting in the middle of them. We laugh at the hot mess that was Edna. The next page was a recreation of the lodge, the lobby and the bar with a TV and an ESPN sticker on it. He looks over the next page that consists of a hot tub with a guy and a girl kissing. The caption at the bottom reads "What happens in Aspen, stays in Aspen."