I nod. “If anything, I’d like to give it to Alison one day. I think she deserves to have the ring her daddy picked out.”
“Absolutely. It’s yours. I never wanted to keep it from you two, but—”
“I know,” I cut him off. “You were put in the worst possible position.” I lean down and brush my lips against his. “I believe you.”
Hunter releases a long sigh. “Thank God.” I pull his hand, and he stands. “I love you so much, Lennon. You and Allie. You’re both my whole world.”
With tears in my eyes and a smile on my face, I nod, feeling the truth of his words right down to my soul. “I love you, too.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Hunter
It’s been a month since Lennon found the engagement ring that Brandon bought for her. We’ve been working through it together and trying to move past what happened. Though she’s forgiven me, I regret not telling her sooner. I never wanted her to find out the way she did, but there was never a good time to mention it. Now I realize that ring just opened a tender wound, and maybe I should’ve told her before we went to Utah.
When Lennon was happy, I didn’t want to ruin that for her because it was so fleeting in the beginning. When she was sad, I couldn’t be the one to add more grief. All I’ve ever asked for is her trust, and I broke that, something I’m trying everyday to make up for. She’s told me several times she understands why I did it, and I believe her, but it doesn’t erase the fact that I hurt her. I only have her best interest in mind. In that instance, my need to protect her ended up hurting her. I’ll never make that mistake again.
Before I head home, I text Lennon and let her know I’m stopping by the gym to blow off my aggravation from my work day. It’s barely past three, and I feel like I’ve worked two full shifts.
She texts me back with a thumbs-up emoji, which means she’s probably occupied with her students. Now that her maternity leave is over, she’s constantly on the go between taking Allie to Mrs. Locke’s before work and picking her up after. I know she’s exhausted from getting up with the baby and trying to stay on top of everything. I help out as much as I possibly can, offering to pick Allie up if I can get out of the office early or even doing a middle of the night diaper change. I don’t know how she does it some days, but one thing’s for sure, she’s superwoman.
As I drive across down, I can’t stop thinking about my day and how some people don’t listen, no matter how many times I repeat myself. Months from now, when the project is a complete mess because they’re trying to cut corners, I’m going to the peon to help clean it up, which pisses me off. I tried to explain to the project manager why it’s important to reinforce structures with steel. Yes, it’s more expensive, but it’ll last longer. After I was shut down for the umpteenth time, I decided to sit in the back of the meeting and bite my tongue. I’m surprised I still have one in my mouth at this point.
After I run my ass off and lift the heaviest weights I possibly can, I get in the truck and go home. I feel better. I’m exhausted but not as tense as I was before. Allie still wakes in the middle of the night, but she’s sleeping in longer stretches. We moved her to my room and transformed it into a nursery. The space is perfect, and the walls are so thin, we can still hear her little cries in the middle of the night, though Lennon is determined to keep the baby monitor by the bed. Our apartment has quickly transformed into a home for our little family, and as I park the truck, it makes me smile to think about it. Before I walk inside, I grab the mail and head up the stairs. Noticing I have a pink slip in my box, I go down to the office and pick up whatever the front desk signed for. The woman hands me a manila envelope, and it looks serious as fuck. I tear it open, and when I walk into the apartment and pull out the paper, I feel my balls in my throat.
Allie is in her bouncer and I steal a quick kiss from her and blow a few raspberries on her belly. She rewards me with little baby giggles that make me forget about the letter in my hand for a few seconds. Lennon rounds the corner, looking as pretty as ever, but notices my tension. “What’s wrong?”