“Uh-huh,” I manage to say, thoughts of my parents vanished. Why does he have this effect on me? I blink, wishing I had time to figure it out, but knowing I don’t.
A chuckle escapes him. “Good. We’ve got this.”
“Right.” I nod in agreement. “Did you just kiss me to get me to shut up?”
“I’d never.” His light tone has me thinking otherwise. “Let me say this, I’ve not met a woman’s parents who haven’t loved me.”
I scoff with a chuckle. “Oh, overconfident, are we? Well, my parents aren’t like most,” I remind him.
Hunter lifts my hand and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles. Electricity streams through me when my eyes meet his. “It’s going to be so damn believable, we might end up believing we’re actually married by the end of the trip.”
His encouraging words have me laughing, and I feel a lot better. Hunter knows what he’s doing, and we’ve prepared for this.
Hunter gives me a reassuring smile, then opens the door to get out. Rounding the car, he comes over to open mine. He helps me out, being the sweet gentleman I’ve only seen these past few months. As we walk around to the trunk, I glance down at my left ring finger and wonder what the actual fuck I’m doing. There’s no time to break it down, though, because my mother’s voice causes me to still. When I look up, I plaster a smile on my face. She closes the space between us, then pulls me into a big hug with my father behind her.
“Lennon! I’m so happy you’re finally here,” she squeals. “How was the flight?”
Hunter pops his head up from the trunk and gives her his infamous boyish grin. My mother’s eyes meet mine right before her jaw falls to the ground. He does seems to have that effect on people. My mother included.
“Mom. Dad. This is Hunter,” I introduce. He gives my father a friendly handshake, and my mother hugs him. I think I even catch her squeezing his muscles.
“So is this my surprise, honey?” she asks, grinning wide.
Hunter lets out a hearty laugh.
“So now you know where Sophie and Maddie get it from,” I tell him, my cheeks heating.
Mom’s eyes light up. “So you’ve met all my girls?”
“I have,” he tells her, but before the conversation can go any further, my father suggests we head inside, which I’m grateful for. Hunter swings his duffel bag over his shoulder and grabs my carry-on as Dad takes my giant suitcase. As we’re walking to the door, Hunter places his hand on the small of my back, making my entire body light up. I’m trying so damn hard to find my confidence as we step inside.
I keep my left hand hidden and so does Hunter, not wanting my parents to notice the rings until we’re ready. Dad suggests we go into the sitting room and catch up.
“Do you guys want some coffee? I’ll get a pot ready,” Mom asks, and we both nod, though my heart races because she’ll definitely notice that I’m not drinking caffeine.
“That’d be great, Mrs. Corrigan,” Hunter says. Dad takes a seat as Mom heads into the kitchen. Hunter and I sit on the sofa across from him. We chat about the flight, my job at the school, and he asks how Sophie and Maddie are doing. Hunter’s as calm as can be, keeping eye contact and loosely resting his arm around my waist, but I feel as if I’m unraveling one thread at a time.
It’s easy to lie to them over FaceTime, but I’m not sure I can actually do it to their faces. I try to swallow down my insecurities because so much rides on this week.
Mom comes back and sits next to Dad. I know this is when the real grilling will begin.
“So…are you the Hunter I spoke to on the phone a few months ago when Lennon was avoiding me like I was the plague?” She’s being direct, almost too direct.
Hunter’s smile doesn’t falter a bit. “Yes, ma’am. I was. I didn’t want you to worry.”
Mom nods. “I appreciate that because I was, especially after everything that happened with Brandon.”
I was hoping she wouldn’t bring him up so quickly. The color drains from my face as I think about this trip and how I was supposed to be here with him. The guilt of what we’re doing stabs me in the gut, knowing how different it’d be with Brandon by my side, but it’s too late. It’s now or never. Mom continues, but I’m lost in my head until I hear her next words.
“Are you Lennon’s new boyfriend?” She looks accusingly between us, her brows furrowed as if she’s trying to solve a mystery.
I open my mouth, but I can’t seem to get the words to come out. I choke, knowing I need to say something, but I’m at a loss.