"Dammit, Danny!" Arabella said, sliding off of her desk and folding her arms. She was so happy with Hunter, everything was going so well. But someone didn't want her to be happy. Someone in the universe didn't want her to do anything with Hunter. Daniel laughed at the death glare on Arabella's face. She rolled her eyes at him and tugged at her dress, smoothing it out again "What do you want?"
"I can see that you and Hunter have been busy" Daniel teased, raising an eyebrow at her and trying to hold back his giggles. Arabella turned to glare at him again.
"No, Daniel, we haven't. You know why? Because you are always walking in or phoning me. I haven't done a single damn thing with Hunter and I figured that maybe today, since you aren't supposed to be here, we could go uninterrupted. But NO!" Arabella ranted and reached her hands up to fix her hair "Now, what do you want Daniel? And this better be good or I swear to the gods, I will kill you in your sleep"
"Well...I'll be sleeping with one eye open from now on.." Daniel said with a roll of his eyes. He was used to Arabella being dramatic "I got a whole lot of emails for you this morning. Most of them about Milan Fashion Week but there are a couple people asking for some dresses to wear to London and Paris too" he told her, opening up his bag and taking out a bunch of papers and placing them on her desk "I replied to all of them and narrowed it down to three dresses that you have to make" he said and Arabella looked at the papers uneasily before sitting down at her desk and looking through them.
Arabella made it home that night on tired legs. The stress from work was getting to be too much for her and she was trying to keep Hunter in her life and spend time with him, but it was getting harder and harder to do. She was so tired and she was keeping things from Hunter. Arabella didn't tell him about the fashion weeks in Europe. She didn't know how to tell him. It made her guilty to not say anything to him but she needed to figure some things out. Arabella was going to be spending a few months in Europe.
Hunter wasn't home when Arabella got in so she slipped into the shower while she waited for him. She stepped out and pulled on a pair of short yoga shorts and a loose tank top. Arabella walked down the hall, running her fingers through her wet hair. She put a kettle of water on and grabbed Hunter's sweater off of the back of a chair and wrapped it around herself. It still had his smell on it and it made her smile. He would be home soon and maybe they could continue what they had started in the office. She was just pouring herself a cup of tea when she heard the door open and someone walk in on unsteady feet. Arabella looked over at the door way and saw Hunter with a look on his face that wasn't exactly comforting.
"Are you okay, Hunter?" Arabella asked nervously. His cheeks were flushed and his hair was rumpled. He looked drunk. But Arabella knew Hunter, he didn't drink. He certainly wouldn't drink enough to be drunk. He kicked off his shoes and wobbled slightly on his feet so he put a hand on the wall to steady himself.
"Oh yeah, I'm good" Hunter said to her, his voice a a little loud. Arabella walked towards him because he looked like taking another step would send him falling to the ground. She put an arm around his waist and he leaned into her, hugging her closely. Arabella could smell the alcohol on his breath like he had brushed his teeth with a bottle of Jack.
"You're good and drunk" Arabella muttered but he didn't seem to hear her. He was too busy burying his face in her hair.
"You smell like strawberries" Hunter started and he laughed a little. Arabella huffed and kept one arm around his waist and put her other hand on his stomach. She walked him over to the couch and sat him down.
"I'm going to get get you some tea, okay?" She told him and went to walk away but she was stopped when he held her wrist, pulling her closer to him
"I missed you today" Hunter slurred and put his hands on her hips. Arabella sighed and put her hands on either side of his neck and looked down at him.
"I missed you too" Arabella told him and tried to pull out of his grasp "You stay here, I'll be right back" she said gently but then he pulled her towards him so that she sort of tumbled into his lap. Arabella felt his hands slide down her hips and rest on the tops of her thighs. Hunter kissed her and Arabella could taste the booze on his lips.
"Stay with me?" Hunter whispered and he rested his head on her shoulder. Arabella wanted to protest, she knew that she should, but his hands on her thigh and his warm breath on her skin made her feel safe. Even if he was drunk. Hunter leaned back so that he was lying down and he pulled Arabella on top of him. With a sigh, Arabella rested her head on his chest and listened to his racing heart. She was worried about him. What had compelled him to drink? Did something happen? Was he okay? Arabella closed her eyes when she felt Hunter's fingers running through her hair. She couldn't help it, she fell in love with him all over again. He just wanted to cuddle. Most men she knew tried to get into her pants when they were drunk. Hunter wanted to cuddle.
"Try and sleep, okay?" Arabella whispered, drawing a heart on his chest with her fingertips. She listened as his heart slowed down and his breathing got deeper and slower.
"I love you, Ellie" Hunter muttered, half asleep. Arabella looked up at him with wide eyes. A few days ago, she thought she had dreamt that Hunter said that he loved her. But she didn't think that he would actually say it. She wanted to tell him that she felt the same way but a couple things were holding her back. For one, he was drunk and for another, she was going to be leaving for Europe soon. How could she tell him that she loved him when she knew that she was going to be leaving.
"Shh...we'll talk in the morning" Arabella whispered to him, running her fingers down his cheeks. Soon enough, he had fallen asleep. She looked at him with worried eyes as he slept then she slid out of his arms. Arabella walked down the hall and grabbed the blanket from his room and walked back to the living room. She leaned over him and gently tugged at his shirt, eventually pulling it off and folding it up. After that, she laid the blanket down on top of him and she leaned down, pressing her lips against his chest, over his heart "I love you too" she breathed and sat down in the lazy boy chair beside the couch. Arabella put her head down on the arm, curled up in a little ball. She looked at Hunter as he slept and slowly drifted off into a light sleep.
Arabella woke up early the next day and looked at Hunter, still asleep on the couch. She smiled softly and looked at the clock on the wall. The last thing she wanted to do was go to work. All she wanted to do was spend the day at home with Hunter. Arabella unfolded her body and stepped off of the chair. She went back to her room and gave Daniel a quick call then walked back down the hall, pulling the hood of Hunter's sweater over her head. She got her coffee and by the time she had almost finished it, Daniel was knocking at the door. Arabella ran over and opened it quietly "Could you be any louder?" she hissed. Daniel looked in and saw Hunter on the couch, topless and the blanket covering up his lower half. Daniel nearly doubled over in giggles and Arabella smacked his arm.
"Here is all your work for the day" Daniel said passing her all of the things he had in his arms "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" he laughed and walked away. Arabella rolled her eyes and shut the door behind him. She put her work on the ground and looked over at Hunter, who was moving slightly in his sleep. Arabella tip toed over to him and laid down half on him and half on the inside of the couch. She pulled the blanket up and put her head down on his chest, tugging the hood on his sweater over her eyes. Arabella yawned and gently fell into a peaceful sleep.