I hope you are all enjoying the new/edited version of Happily ever Hookup. Thanks for reading!

Edited and tweaked 8th May 2020

Hunters P.O.V

Emily will fucking freak when she sees the brown splatter stain on the rug, I've tried to get it out, really I did but it just won't budge.

I give up with a huff and pull the pink cleaning gloves off of my hands cringing at the idea of anyone seeing me with them on. Tara and Devon would have my balls and they would never let me live it down.

I take the cleaning products back to the kitchen and put them in the cupboard below the sink just as Emily returns from her visit to the grocery store.

She's got bags hanging from her wrists and I rush to help her, taking them from her, I kiss her lightly before moving to the kitchen and placing them on the countertop. "Did you buy the whole store?"

"No. Just the candy aisle" She quips making me chuckle. Her eyes travel to the rug separating the kitchen and the living room and her mouth drops open. "My beautiful rug, do you have any idea how much that cost?"

"No and I don't want to," I tell her, women spend entirely too much money on ridiculous things that you can buy for a lot cheaper. "Did you get my Reece's?"

"Yes sir" She rolls her eyes as she begins to take out the contents of the bags.

Four in total, every single one filled to the brim with what can only be described as diabetes waiting to happen. There's more than enough sugar here to kill a large elephant.

When it's all laid out on the island, I grab a few bags before going to sit on the sofa, Emily joins me soon after, her own stash in hand. "What are we watching?"

Emily shrugs even though I know for a fact she'll make me watch a cheesy rom-com or something Disney related.

"You can choose" she surprises me by saying and I raise my eyebrows with a smirk. "Take the offer before I change my mind, Hunter." She says making me laugh.

It's very rare I get to pick the movie. I always try to consider the sort of things Emily likes too, she hates anything scary so Annabelle is out of the question, and I wouldn't dare try to make her watch IT. The girl would scream the apartment down and I don't think Mr Rogers would appreciate a heart attack.

I grab the remote and bring up Netflix, as I start scrolling, I feel her eyes on me. "What?" I ask not looking at her but she doesn't reply. I glance at her and she's staring at the top of my back, near my shoulders and arms.

"Did I do that?" She points to something and I try to see as far over my shoulder as I can, not having a clue what she's talking about.

I smirk, taking in the red scratches that end just above my tricep. "Well, I'm certainly not having sex with anyone else." I joke and she smacks me playfully.

"I should think not." She states, letting her fingers run over the fresh marks. "They look painful, I'm sorry," she says and I turn my body to her.

"They are painful, but in a good way." We've had this discussion before. More than once. I enjoy a little pain and it lets me know that whatever I'm doing, Emily is enjoying it too. "Don't worry about it, Em." I kiss her gently before turning back to Netflix.

I can't find anything I feel like watching, so I finally resign myself to the fact Emily will have to choose something. I throw the remote onto the sofa just in front of her legs.

She smiles mischievously as if she knew this was going to happen and I tuck into my chips and dip. "Dirty dancing?"

"Not again" I beg.

"Pretty woman?"

"No," I say adamantly. If I have to watch that one more time, I'll throw myself off a cliff.

"Best of me?" she asks flicking through the romance category. I roll my eyes and grab the remote again, scrolling without looking and clicking on a random movie.

The beginning credits start and I have no idea what it is. Emily doesn't complain, she sinks into the sofa cushions pulling a packet onto her lap.

I can see her mind working overtime, trying to decipher if I'm okay. Yesterday is still one big blur and I still haven't completely figured out what happened.

I know my mom was upset and that doesn't sit right with me. She's my mom, the woman that raised me and I'll do anything to protect her, even if it is from my dad.

"Can you stop gaping and watch the movie?" I say with a small smile forming on my face.

"I don't like this one," She says but I know she doesn't recognise the movie either.

It's an action movie, Emily would never willingly watch something like this without me.

I don't argue.

She's more interested in me than anything, and that's a good thing. "What?" I ask, moving my body so I'm facing her again. "Why are you staring at me?"

"Just thinking how lucky I am"

Her words make me grin instantly. I feel like the last couple of days have proved just how much we need each other. Some people might call it obsessive or unhealthy but I don't care, I can't live without this woman in my life.

"I love you," She tells me and I feel like a little kid again, all giddy and excited.

"I'm not watching a Disney movie again Em" I moan jokingly to which she whacks my arm and we laugh. "I love you too," I say kissing her, whatever she's eating smells fantastic and I grab some from the bag.

"You know, we're practically married already. Are you sure you want to spend thousands of dollars on one day just for a piece of paper?"

"I'm sure" I insist. "Why? Are you having doubts?"

"Not really doubts," She says timidly and my stomach drops. What does that even mean? "I was thinking that maybe we could elope?"

"You're not serious?" I say baffled as to where this is coming from. Literally, just two days ago we were telling Tara to look into our venue spot and she was excited about the whole thing, telling her aunt Karen.

"I am" She replies "it's only a suggestion. But to be honest, if I have a choice out of stressing for months about seating charts and wedding invites or a relaxing weekend away with just the two of us, I know which one I want."

"What's brought this on?" I question rubbing a hand gently over her thigh. "I thought you wanted a big wedding"

"I never closed myself off to the idea completely but I think we both know I would be terrible in a situation like that"

What she says rings true, she hates being the centre of attention, I got a load of shit from her for pulling that stunt at her graduation, She's a woman, I always just assumed she would want a big white wedding with hundreds of guests and a big dress.

"What about your dad?" I say, if there's one thing I do know, it's that Emily wants her father our wedding.

Her eyes fall sad suddenly and I mentally punch myself in the face for bringing it up.

"I keep deluding myself into believing my dad can walk me down the aisle, but I guess, well, I know he's not well enough. I try to act like he's fine and he'll be okay on the day but I know he's not and no matter how much it kills me, he won't be there."

I wrap her in my arms, kissing her forehead. "You don't know that."

"I do," she argues. "I know my dad, and visiting him yesterday morning really put it into perspective for me just how bad he is." She wraps her small arms around my head and nuzzles my neck, her hot breath tickling the skin there. "I have to just deal with it."

I wish I could take all her pain away, kiss every last care away from her.

"We have time. You said you don't want to get married anytime soon, think about it, whether your dad is there or not, you might change your mind."

"I don't think I will." Emily persists.

"Well then, I'm fine either way," I tell her sincerely. "Big wedding with all the trimmings or quickie wedding in Vegas. As long as by the end of it I get to call you my wife."