Page 72 of Enemy Games

A bubble that we’d been existing in. One where we could ignore the outside pressures and problems. I wasn’t sure if that was a good way to start a relationship, being able to just focus on one another, or if we were fooling ourselves.

“Do you think that’s a good thing?” I asked as if he could read my mind.

“Living in a bubble?”

“Yeah, it’s easy for us to forget about the rest of the world, but that’s not very realistic.”

He took a sip of water and carefully set his glass down. “This wasn’t what I expected.”

This? Our date? The conversation?

“I didn’t want to give our relationship an expiration date, but honestly, we’ve already exceeded what I thought we could manage.”

He didn’t think we would make it this long? Well, that was disheartening. “Why even bother asking me out if you didn’t think there was a chance of us working out?”

His eyes widened. “No, that wasn’t what I meant. That came out wrong.” He shifted in his seat. “I meant … maybe, I did mean that I didn’t think we would work out. Not because of us but because of our circumstances. There was never any doubt of me wanting to be with you. I was drawn to you when we were little, and it’s even more intense now. You pull me in. Your dedication and perseverance is amazing. Your heart is so big, and I can’t believe how lucky I am that you’ve allowed me to see it.”

This was the first time anyone had said something so honest and vulnerable to me. I’d been on dates with guys who thought I was hot or nice, but they didn’t try to look any further. They didn’t bother trying to get to know me.

Hunter, of all people, was the first to try.

“I’m equally terrified and excited to see what we can be.” He reached out and took my hand over the table.

“Me too,” I admitted as I squeezed his hand. “I’m willing to block out the things that scare me. I know we can’t ignore reality forever, but I don’t want to quit because of the unknown.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this”—he stared down at our hands—“but you make me want to believe in love. In something unexplainable and almost magical. I don’t even care about the crap the guys will give me for changing my mind.”

I covered my mouth with my free hand. That was a declaration I never would have expected, not tonight. Not for months or even years. He’d been so set in his thinking, but he was open to change? To love? To a lasting relationship?

“Hunter.” I was speechless.

“You didn’t try to change me. You didn’t lecture me or pressure me into thinking one way, and I appreciate the space and time you’ve given me. It’s shown me that a relationship isn’t about power or taking or creating an ideal you have in your mind. It’s about the two of us trying our best and learning how to balance each other. It’s about give and take. That’s not something I’ve experienced before.”

“Being in a relationship isn’t about changing another person, it’s about growing and evolving and bettering yourself and your partner. Encouraging and supporting one another through the process. That’s what I want, and I feel like that’s what we’re building.”

He was about to say something else when our meals arrived. My phone rang from my coat pocket. I pulled it out to silence it when I noticed the area code. Something about it tugged at my memory.

“You can take that.” Hunter’s voice sounded far away.

I lifted the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Good evening, Ms. Stone. This is Coach Sullivan.”

I closed my eyes as she continued talking. I couldn’t believe this was happening. This was real. I hated to think of what caused this call, but it only lasted a few seconds before joy and excitement and anxiety and nerves overwhelmed me.

“Thank you. I look forward to seeing you soon.”

I hung up, and Hunter was waiting with furrowed brows. “What’s going on?”

“I’m going to the Olympics.”

We stared at each other for a moment before he jumped up and pulled me out of my chair and into his arms. “My girlfriend is going to the Olympics!”

He cheered and spun me around as the few other patrons clapped around us.

When my feet hit the ground, he dipped his head and kissed me hard before pulling back and smiling. I blinked through my happy tears and knew anything was possible with him at my side.

I was invincible.