One Soft Touch

Chapter 3: Yes, Sir

Annabelle’s P.O.V.

The bright light streaming through my window is what wakes me up. I guess I didn’t have time to pull the blinds down last night before I crashed. That’s what a baby will do to you. Niallynn is still sleeping peacefully in her crib across my bedroom.

The hospital released us Saturday night. Although I was more than happy to go home, it made me nervous knowing it would just be Niallynn and I. Reality was finally setting in. After a long conversation with my mom over the phone, she agreed to stay with me over the weekend.

Still being nervous after my mom left on Monday, I called Olivia to see if she wanted to stay a few days. It was a great excuse for her to get away from her house and invite her boyfriend over. It was nice having my best friend staying over again, though I knew eventually I’ll have to face being alone in my apartment with Niallynn.

A knock on my front door nearly gives me a heart attack. I look at my alarm clock; 8:36 AM. Who is knocking at my door this early? I let out a quiet grunt, making sure not to disturb Niallynn, and stand up out of my bed.

I look through the peep hole first. Crap, it’s Hunter. There’s another knock but I open the door before he can hit it a third time.

“Hey, Belle,” Hunter says as his eyes run over my body, the corner of his lips turning up in a smile. “You look good.”

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, I cross my arms over my chest. Maybe I should have looked at my appearance before running out of my room. My blue tank top and pajama shorts show more skin than I’m comfortable with. It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before but it still makes me feel uncomfortable.

“Hi,” I finally say once I find my voice. He walks in when I move to the side, letting him through. Normally I would spit some sarcastic line at him but I’m not sure which Hunter I’m dealing with today.

“Where’s Niallynn?” Hunter asks as I close the door.

Surprisingly, Hunter stayed with me at the hospital the whole time I was there. But this is the first time he’s came to see us since we’ve been out. Aside from the occasional text, I haven’t heard much from him.

“She’s sleeping in my room,” I say simply. I walk to the kitchen to get a couple bottles of water out of the refrigerator for us. After I hand him one, I sit down on the couch. To my surprise, he takes a seat on the chair across from the couch. Maybe it’s good he keeps his distance.

“Are you busy today?” Hunter wears a hopeful smile.

“Actually, Olivia and Gavin are here. Olivia wanted to hang out today,” I admit after I take a swig from the water bottle. Hunter’s mouth forms a frown. It wasn’t a complete lie. Olivia and Garvin are actually in the other bedroom probably sleeping. I haven’t heard a sound coming from that bedroom all morning.

“I just thought I could take you and Niallynn out today,” Hunter mumbles staring at his hands.

A cry from my bedroom takes my attention away from Hunter. Niallynn is probably hungry.

I notice Hunter stand up and follow me into the kitchen. It’s a small apartment so the kitchen and living room are pretty much connected. As I wait for the water to warm up out of the faucet, I glance at Hunter. He’s leaning up against the wall trying to peek into my room where Niallynn is. I take this time to get a good look at him. As usual, he’s wearing a plain white t-shirt paired with dark jeans. That brown hair is lying across his forehead, swept to the side. But today he’s wearing his fake hipster glasses. A small smile has replaced the frown he wore just moments ago. I’m being blessed with the caring Hunter today. Ugh, he’s adorable…