Their Steamy Cabin

5. Hunter

FIVE

After another fewhours enjoying the presence of Savvy, I pull myself up.

“Where are you going?” she asks, clawing for me as I leave the couch. Technically, we’ve been watching TV and movies all this time. I say “technically” because I don’t think either of us were paying much attention to whatever was on the screen.

“It’s getting dark. We probably should go and deal with your car.”

She pouts. It’s both cute and heartbreaking at the same time. “Do we have to?”

“I mean, it’s the whole reason I took you in last night. It’s honestly kind of odd that we both went and forgot about it.”

“It’s become a whole lot less important since then is all.”

I smile at her. “You enjoy being stranded in a cabin in the woods?”

“I enjoy being stranded in a cabin in the woods as long as you’re here, Hunter.”

She sits up on the sofa, looking meekly at her hands.

“I’ve enjoyed having you here, too, Savvy. But I don’t want to assume you’re happy just staying here forever.”

“You shouldn’t assume, Hunter. Maybe I am happy just staying here forever.”

I chuckle. “You’ve only known me a day. You really want to be here forever? You haven’t heard me on a really bad day yet.”

She crosses her arms. “What’s a really bad day for you?”

“Uh... I don’t know. Maybe I get a bad headache. And get grumpy till it passes?” I rub my chin.

“Are you just trying to get me to leave, Hunter? If you want that, I kinda get it. You’re used to living alone.”

“It’s not that either. Look, I know it’s been wonderful. But I just don’t want to rush things. I feel things for you, Savvy. Strong things. I’ve had the hots for girls before, but I’ve never had feelings this strong to go along with those. You’re different. You’re special.”

She takes a deep breath and nods. “You’re special, too, Hunter. I don’t think the break from my life alone would explain the joy I’m feeling. Or even the sex. There’s a coziness, a completeness that I’ve only felt with you, Hunter.”

I said everything short of the four-letter L word, and she did too.

She’s not only hot and funny, but she’s got a good head on her shoulders. As if I need more reasons to like her.

“I’m not telling you to leave, Savvy. I’ll never tell you to leave. I guess it’s more of a note of practicality.” I rub my chin again. “Listen, you just chill here for a bit. I’ll be gone for longer than a minute, but I have faith that somehow, some way, you’ll survive this, babe.”

“I don’t know. Sounds hard. Where are you going?”

“I’m just going to make a quick trip to the gas station. Fill up my truck, and fill up my jerrican. I’ll come back here, and we’ll enjoy the night together, in whatever way we want that to mean. Then tomorrow we’ll go get the car and make a plan on how to get it back to your dad. If we’re going to make something more of this, babe, we gotta be a bit rational and not just be blinded by the intensity of love’s first kiss.”

She lets out a small chuckle. “But the intensity of love’s first kiss is so goooooood.”

I slide on my boots. “Maybe I’ll get us some food too. You got a preference?’

“They probably don’t deliver pizza out here, do they?”

“Sadly, no.”

“That’s the first terrible thing I’ve heard about this place. But I’ll live.”

“And I’ll get you pizza.”

I give her a kiss goodbye and pet the top of her head. She coos up at me, peaceful and content. She gets comfortable on the sofa again, and I think maybe this girl of mine, who has been working every day of her life, can finally rest a bit.

As I step outside the door, I’m hit with that longing too. I just want to have her in my arms. Forever and ever.

But I’m too damn practical minded. I gotta get up and actually get some stuff done.

Life can really suck sometimes.