He’d been quiet through it all, and I couldn’t read his expression. I just hoped that he didn’t hate me. If he was determined to marry a woman, he’d have to find someone else now.
“You know what I think?” he asked, and I held my breath. “I think that you’re much braver than I am.”
“Really?” I asked, my eyebrows raised.
“Of course. Look at me, prepared to walk down the aisle with a woman when we both know that I’m a gay man. Maybe if I were braver…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I’m happy for you. You’re lucky to have found someone to love. He’s a good guy?”
“Yeah.” I smiled as I thought about the look of awe on his face when he heard about our baby. “He’s the best.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that. Really.”
“Thanks.”
Hunter left and I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. That couldn’t have gone better. I had suspected that Hunter would be understanding, which was why I’d chosen to tell him first.
The doorbell rang, and I hurried to answer it. Butch was on the other side, and I made sure not to laugh as I took in his appearance.
He looked different.
There was no leather jacket on his back or helmet in his hand. His boots looked like they’d been cleaned and he was wearing a black button-up shirt that looked new. He’d dressed up to officially meet my parents.
Just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, he proved me wrong.
“You have a truck?” I asked, looking behind him at the late-model Ford parked in the driveway. I moved aside to let him into the house, gesturing that he should go into the living room.
“Yeah, but I rarely drive it. My bike is good enough for me most of the time.”
“But not today?” I couldn’t keep the goofy smile off my face. He was so cute.
“I thought your parents would be more receptive to the idea of me if I was driving a truck.”
“That’s sweet, but you don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not. They’ll have to accept you either way because you’re mine.”
His eyes darkened and I could tell that he liked being called that. He’d only been out of the hospital for two days and I’d refused to have sex with him until he healed more, afraid that we’d pop his stitches, but it was driving us both crazy. I was dying to be with him again after thinking that it would never happen again. Every time we kissed, I ached for it.
But I had to be strong. It was for his own good.
I was standing near the window, so I saw when my parents pulled into the driveway beside the truck. I could see them looking at it curiously. They knew that I was going to be here when they got home from lunch, but Butch was a surprise.
“They’re here,” I said, and he gave me a tight nod. I loved that he cared enough about my feelings to try to make a good first impression. I just hoped that his hopes weren’t too high about how this would go.
When the front door opened, my mother walked inside first. She was talking to my father with a smile on her face, but the expression froze when she caught sight of me standing next to Butch in the middle of the living room.
I could see understanding in her eyes. She knew that this was the father of my child. My father just looked puzzled, but as far as I knew, he still didn’t know that I was pregnant. It wouldn’t surprise me if my mom hadn’t told him yet.
“Sabrina, I didn’t know you were bringing someone over,” my father said, stepping forward with his hand outstretched. “I’m Senator Barnett.”
It was so formal. I hated it. But Butch didn’t seem to mind. He grasped my dad’s hand firmly, giving it a shake while looking him in the eye. My mother came up to stand beside my father, her stare assessing as she looked him up and down.
“Butch Finnell, sir.”
“Nice to meet you, and how do you know my daughter?”
“Butch is my boyfriend,” I chimed in, answering before Butch had to. “I thought it was important that you meet.”
“Boyfriend?” My dad repeated my word, looking more confused than ever.
But my mother just looked angry. “Tell me, Mr. Finnell, are you aware that Sabrina is engaged to be married?”
