Open Arms

Chapter 8

The streets weren't too busy, so we got the food and back to his house in record timing. He had insisted on carrying and paying for the food, which I was about to do until he put his debit card into the machine first. I had acted mad, but simply couldn't because he made me too damn happy.

We padded into the kitchen and I tried to reach the cupboard that had the plates in it but Hunter reached right over me and got them, when he noticed my struggle to reach. He just laughed at me, kissing the top of my, now dry, curly hair.

We ate while laughing at stories of his childhood and life back in Toronto. I told him one story about me gluing a Christmas cookie to my forehead when I was five, which led him to burst out laughing, spitting out the water he had been drinking. We both laughed so hard at the stories that we were holding our stomachs and crying.

I gathered our dishes, and put the leftovers into containers to put in the fridge, which he had let me do because he had paid. I did the dishes while he dried them. I was putting away the cups we had used as my phone dinged. He reached into my back pocket and took it out, "Your Uncle Ed says you should come home soon so you guys can get your new phone".

He looked at the time and said, "I've got a practice to head to anyways. It's at 8:30. I'll drop you off on my way".

"Okay then text him back and tell him I'll be home in five minutes or so", as he did so, I washed and dried my hands before heading to put my shoes on.

Hunter slid my phone back into my back pocket, and walked to get a sweater from the foyer closet. I put my sweater back on too.

"I wish you didn't have to leave", he said wrapping his hands around my small waste.

"I wish I could too. You know that", I said kissing him.

"Can I say something", he said, looking into my eyes.

"Anything", I said.

"Since I met you, this morning, everything has just felt so right. It was never awkward, or uncomfortable. You make me feel like I can say anything and do anything", he said blushing.

"What are you trying to say exactly", I said wrapping my hands around his neck.

"Will you be my girlfriend", he said shyly. His words sounded like pure music to my ears.

"Yes", I said kissing him once more.

He held hands during the short drive to my house. "I'll see you tomorrow I guess", he said kissing me, "Can I drive you to school?"

"Why, of course", I said with one last kiss, grabbing my bag. I squeezed his hand and closed the door behind me. I walked up the driveway, and watched his taillights pull away into the darkness of the night. And for the first time in forever, everything felt right.