PERIPHERY | NH |

TWENTY SEVEN

Niall

"Yours?"

With my sunglasses nestled in my hair, I take in the view in front of me.

A field of wildflowers bursting with colors, a small dark stone cottage, a patio paved with large stones, and a woman who seems to always keep me on my toes.

Clearing her throat, Hunter looks nervous avoiding eye contact. "Mine."

Without saying another word I take a step towards her. "What is this place, babe?" Standing beside her, I reach my hand down to take one of her own, anything to keep her from nervously picking at her nail beds as she always seems to do. "It's perfect."

She leans into me with a sigh. "This is where I can get away."

"You've had it this whole time?" I'm so curious, so interested in the things that I don't know about her.

Hunter is easy to talk to, something that has drawn me to her since the day I met her — but actually getting her to open up her own mind is a different story.

It would be easy for someone to spend time with her like I have and feel like they know everything about her. She makes it easy to make you feel like you are learning everything, when in reality she's barely scratching the surface of who she is.

I've known since the first time we went to Benson's that she wasn't someone who gave herself away in a gift bag or laid all of her secrets out for the world to pick apart.

She was complex, intuitive, and fiercely brave.

Hunter nods as she lets go of my hand and steps away from me, sending a chill through my body from the lack of warmth only she could provide. "Yeah. I've owned this place for a few years now."

"I'm speechless." It's not even a lie, I genuinely don't know what to say.

The worry line between her brows seems to fade away as her lips turn up into a smile. "Do you want to stand out here the whole time or do you, um, want to see the inside?"

Taking a few long strides, I'm in front of her with my hands on her hips as I lean down to place a kiss to her sweet lips. "Show me the way, Hunt."

In that moment the smile that surfaces is one I would've taken a picture of, seeing her look so sure of herself and so fucking proud.

"Okay, come on."

As she slips her hand in mine to follow her, it hits me that wherever so goes I will follow. I'll go with her and remind her how much she matters to me and how unbelievably in love with her I am.

Grabbing the bags from the table, we step inside the small bungalow. The space instantly feels like her. Along one wall there's built in bookshelves filled with books, it doesn't even look like Hunter has any space left considering there's places where they are still stacked on top of each other.

Opposite of her house that she normally lives in, this house is darker in decor and paint. I'm so used to her house being light and open and so the stark contrast is different, but refreshing.

There's a big fireplace, the mantle covered in pictures that I don't have a chance to really look at before I feel her pull my hand and lead me through the house showing me every detailed part with excitement.

My favorite part was probably the built-in bookcase in her bedroom, also completely full of books.

I could so easily imagine her spending her time here.

Only when I imagined her living here, I didn't just see her settled deep into the overstuffed couch.

I can see myself here too, with my own book.