20 Questions

Chapter 41

Saying goodbye to Hunter was excruciating, but I look forward to our last night together when he gets back. Last night was supposed to be our last night together since my flight tomorrow is so early, but I couldn't stand the thought of my fiancée staying in a separate room.

Fiancée.

I'm still getting used to the title and I'm baffled at how my life was turned upside down before I even ate lunch. I've watched friends and family get engaged and they couldn't wait to share their news with everybody they know. I want to do the same, but it is going to have to wait...at least for now. My parents are going to love Hunter, no doubt about it. They are extremely supportive and will be elated with the engagement. They've been praying for the right man to come along who can give me the life and the happiness that every parent wants for their child. They're going to be ecstatic that I am not destined to be some crazy cat lady.

I wish Hunter and I were on the same flight back. We could spend that time discussing him meeting my parents, moving in together and all the other things that happily engaged couples do. His flight is later in the day. He called the airline to see if he could get his flight changed, but mine was already fully booked. I reassured him that I would be there, waiting for him at the airport. I want to pick him up and take him to meet my parents immediately. I don't want to wait to announce our engagement and tell the world how in love with this man I am.

Before he left, he kissed my forehead and told me he would be back around eight tonight. I miss him already, but I'm glad he is spending this time with his brothers. I need the time to pack my stuff anyway. I have things thrown all over the room, which is completely unlike me. My house is always clean and tidy. But then again, this whole week has been completely unlike me. The old me would never have a messy room or sleep with someone after only knowing them a couple days. The old me definitely wouldn't have accepted an engagement after only one week.

Fuck it.

I don't want the old me anymore.

I love this new me. She is confident, carefree and most importantly...she is loved by a man that worships the ground she walks on. Hunter really has made me a better version of myself. He has shown me that things like family, friends, and love are the important things in life, not work schedules, color-coding my closet and agendas. I never want to go back to the girl that boarded that plane a week ago.

I decide to take a shower so I don't have to take one in the morning before my early flight. I step into the stream of warm water and find myself disappointed to take a shower alone. We took a bath together, but I wish I would have asked Hunter to shower with me before he left. I don't know how long it is going to be until I get to see the water roll off his body again. I rinse the shampoo out of my hair and picture him rubbing his hand in between my breasts and making comments about how he loves the way it looks watching the soap run down them like he always does. The washcloth rubbing my body doesn't feel the same without his hand behind it.

He really does make everything better.

I grab my towel after my disappointment of a shower and wrap it around me. I put on my lotion and deodorant before brushing out my hair. When I finish drying my hair and putting on minimal makeup, I start packing up my toiletries. Sliding on a pair of my black yoga pants and a long-sleeved blue shirt, I walk over to the closet and stare at the beautiful dresses hanging up. The sheer dress with embroidered flowers reminds me of our first date. I'll never forget the way Hunter looked at me when he first saw the dress and how it made me feel. I take it off the hanger and put it in my suitcase. I do the same with the sequined dress from Christmas Eve. Those were both amazing nights that I will cherish forever. I'm so thankful that I had Patrick take a picture of us all dressed up that night. I can't wait to go home and have the picture printed so I can put it in a frame.