Before You

Epilogue.

"Tayler, this place is adorable."

I grinned from ear to ear, looking around the little house Hunter and I had bought together. "It is pretty great." I agreed. I backed away from my co-worker, Tammy, one step and scanned the busy living room.

It was sparsely decorated since we'd only finished getting must of the furniture in earlier today. Our bedroom was still nothing but a king sized mattress on the floor. I'd tried talking Hunter into not doing our housewarming party until after we were fully moved in and I'd had a chance to decorate and make everything cute, but he'd insisted we do it today. I'd hardly had time to take a shower to get all of the sweat and grime off of me from moving in the middle of June in Texas before the doorbell started ringing and all of our friends and family started showing up, all with cute little gifts and bottles of wine with them.

But when I thought about it, the last time I'd really seen Hunter was in the shower. I catch glimpses of him here and there, getting people refills or going out to get more ice or snacks for the kitchen, but now I couldn't find him anywhere.

"You looking for Hunter?" Tammy smiled knowingly.

I drew my attention back to her and blushed. "Yeah, he's been all over the place tonight except for with me."

Tammy put her hand on my shoulder. "He's just being a good host." She assured me.

I nodded, but I couldn't help but feel like he has been avoiding me tonight.

I excused myself when I saw my mom and dad walk in.

"Hey, guys!" I called, jumping into their hugs.

"There's my girl." Dad smiled warmly, his salt and pepper hair beginning to thin out.

Mom's green eyes lit up. "I told you that would look great over the mantel." She pointed across the room to where I'd hung up the old pallet wood sign that was painted to look like the American flag and Hunter's medal for bravery bellow it. "I love this place." She smiled, then grinned up at my dad. "Doesn't it remind you of our first house together, Steve?"

I couldn't help but smile when he leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. "How could I forget that old place?" He chuckled. "You nearly burnt it down on the first night trying to bake cookies."

Mom covered her face with one hand and laughed. "Of course your father will never let me live that down." She said, taking the big gift bag from his hand and passing it over to me. "Hopefully you'll have better luck." She smiled.

I glanced into the bag, laughing when I saw the cookie sheet, a package of cookie dough, an oven mit, and a small fire extinguisher. "Oh my god, guys, I know how to cook." I laughed.

My dad pulled me back in for a one armed hug. "Your mother said the same thing." He joked, then he waved over at Hunter's parents where they were standing talking to Hunter's aunt and little cousin. "Come on, let's let Tayler get back to her hostess duties." He urged my mom, pulling her with him to go join Hunter's parents, all of them exchanging hugs when they got there.

I was glad they got along so well. I can't even remember how many times over the last two years that Hunter and I have been together that either he or I would go to call our parents only to find that they were all out to dinner together or golfing or shopping. They'd really clicked.

I laughed again at the gift and then turned, finally catching sight of Hunter in the kitchen on the other side of the living room. He looked strange, his cheeks a little flushed and he was wringing his hands out in front of him.

I furrowed my brows, worrying about what was bothering him as I made my way through the crowd to get to the kitchen so I could check on him and drop off my parent's gift. I was almost there when someone grabbed my arm, pulling me back.