“And I tried to punish you for it. I wanted you to hurt as much as I did.”
My chest aches hearing the regret in his voice. But it doesn’t change anything. He doesn’t want a relationship with me, at least the kind I need.
“There are things I need to be honest about,” he continues. “Because if I’m going to say this, I’m not lying anymore.” He takes a breath. “First, I didn’t do anything with Jennalyn. But…” Hank swallows hard and starts pacing in front of me. “I did cross a line once with one of the club girls.”
My stomach twists. A club girl. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes.
“It didn’t mean anything. I couldn’t even…” he pauses, letting his head fall backward as he growls. “Fuck. Vee, I couldn't even get it up without thinking about you.” His voice drops. “And I hated myself the second it was over.”
Silence fills the room.
“I’m telling you because I want to be completely honest with you.” His eyes lift back to mine. “When you were kidnapped, I realized what life would be like without you. And I hated it.”
He lets out a shaky breath as he lifts his hands and rubs his palms together.
“I’ve been going to therapy. Seeing the therapist that Ash saw. I’m trying to figure out why I react the way I do. But most importantly, how to deal with things without lashing out, or saying things I can’t take back.”
Luke and Josh both look surprised when I shift my eyes to them. Like this is the first they’ve heard this.
Hank steps closer to us. “I know you’re pregnant.”
My eyes shoot to Luke and Josh.
“It’s not their fault. I confronted Luke because you were getting sick at work. He told me because I was upset and accused him of not caring about you.” He shifts his attention to Luke. “I’m sorry. I know I said I wouldn’t say anything, but it has to do with why I asked you here.”
He steps over to the entertainment center and picks up a piece of paper.
“As much as I wish I could be your baby’s father… I’m not.” Something in my chest cracks. “But I still want to make sure you don't want for anything. That the baby doesn’t.”
He steps over to me and hands me a piece of paper that has a key attached to it.
“I set up a nursery. If you don’t like it, you can change anything you want. If you want a different crib, let me know and I’ll get it.”
“I don’t understand,” I tell him.
“The three of you are also going to need more room.”
I unfold the paper enough to see an address. This address.
“This house,” he says quietly. “It’s yours.”
Tears start pouring down my face again.
“I hope someday you can forgive me,” he continues softly. “For everything I did.” His eyes linger on me one last time. “But for now, I’m giving you what you asked for.” His voice drops to a whisper. “Space. I love you, Vee. Now and always. I just wish I had my shit together earlier.”
With those final words, he turns and leaves, shutting the door behind him.
All I can do is cry. I don’t know if it’s pregnancy hormones or what, but I feel like I’m losing him all over again.
Josh squeezes my hand gently. “Go after him, baby,” he murmurs.
I look up at him through tears, then to Luke who’s smiling at me, a shit-eating grin on his face.
“We always saw him as part of this,” he says. “Part of us.”
Are they saying what I think they are?
“You don’t need our permission,” Josh adds softly. “But you have our blessing.”
