She blushes immediately, her gaze dropping to the floor. God, I’ve missed that.
“You’re glowing. Pregnancy looks good on you.”
Before I can stop myself, I step closer and reach out, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. The moment my fingers touch her, I know I’m a goner.
“I never stopped lovin’ you,” I admit.
Her gaze lifts to meet mine.
“Oh, Hank, I didn’t either,” she says softly.
“I want to hate you so bad,” she says, her eyes gazing around the nursery. She extends her arm, her hand gesturing to the crib, the room. “But… this.” Her voice wavers slightly. “How can I after you go and dothisfor… me?”
“I’d do all of it and more for you,” I say without hesitation. Because I will. I’d give my own life for her.
She studies me for a long moment, gingerly biting her lower lip like she does when she’s thinking about something. “Have your feelings changed… about sharing?”
I exhale slowly and calm my thoughts before speaking because I don’t want to fuck this up.
“It’s one of the things I’ve been going to therapy for,” I admit. “And it was while attending therapy that I learned it wasn’t the sharing that was the issue.”
Her brow furrows, but I continue.
“It was the not being enough. I felt like if you needed someone else, it meant there was something I wasn’t fulfillin’ for you. It made me feel like I wasn’t a man.”
The words feel heavy leaving my chest, but they’re the truth. And now she knows.
“The therapist helped me realize that it’s my insecurities. Not necessarily how you felt.”
“It’s not,” she says softly as she steps closer to me. “Each of you has something so special in you,” she says. “I don’t love one more than the other.”
My throat tightens and my heart flutters. Maybe, just maybe, there can still be an us.
“Do you still want me? A relationship?” I ask quietly.
Her answer comes without hesitation.
“More than anything.”
Hope sparks in my chest so fast it almost hurts. But I have to do this right. She’s already in a relationship with Doc and Luke, and I’m not part of that.
“I need to talk to the guys,” I say. “Make sure it’s okay with them.”
She gives me a small smile.
“Who do you think pushed me to follow you out the door?”
A surprised laugh slips out of me. Of course, they would. It explains the looks and the comments they made. Why they left her with me.
“I love you, Vee,” I say. “And I’ll love this baby you’re carrying too.”
She squeezes my hand gently. There’s just one more thing I have to tell her, and it may be a deal-breaker for her.
“I’m okay seeing them touch you,” I continue honestly. “Kiss you, be close to you. But I’m not ready to be there when they… when you’re together with them like that.”
She nods immediately.
“It’s okay,” she says softly. “Baby steps.” Her fingers lace through mine. “And if you don’t ever want to have group fun,” she adds with a laugh, “that’s okay too.”
