Just before five there was a knock at the door.
I opened it to find a grinning Hunter clad in a dark blue fitted t-shirt and grayish-blue jeans, a denim jacket and converse. I smiled back at him, opening the door further for him to come in.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Just about, I gotta go get some shoes and my phone," I replied. He nodded.
"Take your time."
I ran back to my bedroom and then bathroom, looking myself over one more time. Black skinny jeans and a white fitted long-sleeve wavy shirt. I decided I'd wear some black flats, grabbed the iPhone off the bedside table, and headed back for the door.
Hunter smiled again when he saw me, reaching his hand out to mine, which I took.
He led me down to his car, which today was an older black Yukon XL. "I haven't driven this thing in a while and I like the older feel of it. Kinda nostalgic," he said.
"You don't need to explain yourself," I giggled as he held the passenger door open for me.
About twenty minutes later, we'd pulled up to the studio.
"Wait a sec," Hunter said, pulling out his phone and staring at the blank screen. After a few moments, he got a text, opened it, and nodded to himself.
"We're good," he said, opening the door and running around to get mine.
"Feel like coffee?" he asked me.
"For sure," I replied.
"Good," he said as we walked into the studio and he led the way to the kitchen, in which sat two cups from Starbucks.
"You said you like vanilla lattes, so here ya go!" he said, handing me the hot drink.
I raised my eyebrows at him. "This is too warm to have been sitting here for more than five minutes."
"Ah, a smart cookie you are!" he grinned.
I shook my head. "You're too much, Hunt," I said, giggling.
"I guess you'll have to live with that," he replied, grabbing my hand again and leading me out to the back deck. It was just after 5:30, so the sun wouldn't be setting for a while.
It wasn't hot out. Right around 75, a few clouds in the sky, and a light breeze.
He led me down the stairs and out to the grass that looked down on the lake.
In the middle of the grass, I saw a blanked with two pillows, a picnic basket lying in between, with a few lit candles surrounding it.
I smiled at Hunter, who returned the gesture.
He helped me sit on my side of the blanket before walking around and taking his place next to me. I set my latte next to me on the grass and leaned back on my elbows, taking in the view.
I felt Hunter's eyes on me, so I turned to look at him.
He was propped up on his right elbow, facing me.
"Like it?" he asked.
"Love it," I smiled.
"Good."
He dropped his head back onto his pillow and let out a sigh, laying on his back as he set his coffee in the grass next to him as well.
"You okay?" I asked him.
"Yeah, I'm good. Just a little tired, I have to admit," he chuckled.
"Ah."
"We've been working really hard to get the album out on time, and since it's not going to now, we're pushing as hard as we can to get it out as soon as possible. Which I don't mind, it's just, yanno, tiring sometimes," he laughed.
