20 Questions

Chapter 76

Hunter

The "epic snowball fight" drew a bigger crowd than it did last year. At one point in time, there were thirty people in the field, launching snowballs, running around and being kids again. Several actual kids in the area joined in and found satisfaction in nailing their parents with large mounds of wet snow. There were lodge employees that ended their shifts and participated. Aspen didn't know what to expect when this rowdy group of guys came in and wrecked their town. Jenna was hesitant to let her dad join the game with his heart issues, but he wasn't hearing any of what she had to say. Stubbornness obviously runs rampant in that family. He launched a snowball right at her head and it was game on after that. Seeing my girl in the mix with all my brothers was a sight I will never forget. They looked like siblings out there, trash talking and gloating after a successful hit.

When the sun began to set, we hurried inside for some coffee and hot chocolate. It feels good to be warm again and out of those wet clothes. I just wanted Jenna out of her clothes period. She swatted at me each time I would try to grope her as she changed. I love when she plays hard to get, knowing damn good and well that she wants it as much as I do. I did manage to slide my finger inside of her when she wasn't expecting it and the moisture in there proved my theory. She told me I had to wait until later. I pouted for a while so she told me to go out to the bar. Her feistiness drives me crazy. When I walk up to the bar, I see Rich sitting there by himself.

"Where's Piper?" I ask him as I take a seat on the barstool next to him.

"She told me to get out because I kept grabbing her ass," he laughs.

"Like mother, like daughter," I say softly.

"What?" he asks.

"Nothing. Hey, I'm glad I got a chance to talk to you alone. There's something really important I want to tell you and get your input on."

"Alright, son. Let's hear it," he says. The elation I feel from hearing him call me "son" is immeasurable.

"I don't exactly know how to say it so I'm just going to come right out with it. I want to propose to Jenna tonight."

"Not wasting any time, are you?" he laughs. I shrug and laugh alongside him.

"No, sir. I've waited long enough to put a ring on her finger and I can't stand to wait another second. Not to mention, you and I both know how brilliant and inquisitive your daughter is. I don't want to wait and then ruin the surprise when she starts interrogating me about why I'm being so weird and nervous."

"That she is. Nothing gets past that girl. Believe you me, she gets it honest from her mother. That woman could make a monk break his silence with her endless supply of questions. He'd give in just to get her to shut the fuck up. I still say Jenna missed her calling as a hostage negotiator or a drill sergeant."

"Yeah, she did," I chuckle. "She is relentless. Anyway, I've been waiting for the right time, but I haven't figured out what that moment is yet. I know we are getting ready to go see the Christmas lights which, by the way, are amazing, but I don't want to do it in the van. She deserves a proper proposal with the whole getting down on one knee and all that. I was thinking that maybe when we get back, I would do it then. Last year, we came back here and all sat around the fire. I played the guitar and everybody sang along. I figured that may be a good time. The reason I am telling you this is because I wanted to see what you thought. Do you think I should do it in front of everyone or do you think it is something that I should wait until it is just the two of us to do?"

He rubs his chin with his hand and ponders on my question for a minute. "Well, I can't tell you exactly what to do, but I agree with you on the whole getting down on one knee thing. Jenna's not exactly the traditional type, but I do know she is with this. She's unlike anyone I have ever known."