Page 149 of In Your Wake

The air smells of damp wood and leaves. Hunter stands at the edge of the porch, his cream-colored sweater tightly stretched across his tense back. His fingers are wrapped around the railing, strangling it.

“You should’ve told me,” he says, but doesn’t look at me.

“I wanted to,” I explain. “But I needed to be sure.”

“Pregnant is pretty damn sure, Maxine.”

I step closer to stand beside him. “No, I wanted to make sure that I loved him. That we were for sure.”

He turns, his blue eyes sharp, but also filled with hurt. “You love him?”

“I sort of do.”

“But you can’t even stand each other.”

I tilt my head and smile.

“Ah, got it.” He nods, understanding. “How long’s this been going on?”

I tell him everything. About our past, about feeling lost. About the inn, and Mitch coming back and us finally figuring out where we both belong. About how terrifying and wonderful it all is.

“I’m so happy, Hunt,” I say. “Scared, but really happy. That can’t be a bad thing, right?”

Hunter releases a long, surrendering exhale, then shakes his head. “No, I guess it can’t. But I’m still pissed that I found out with everyone else.”

“And I’m so sorry. Trust me, we didn’t want you to find out that way.”

“But you were going to tell me eventually, right?”

“Of course,” I say, rubbing his back. “I never wanted to keep this from you forever.”

He watches me out of the corner of his eye, then wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Well, then, I’m happy for you. But if he ever hurts you—”

“I know. But he won’t.”

He studies my face, then nods. “I feel like you could do way better than Mitch, but… okay,” he adds with a laugh.

We return inside, and everyone goes quiet, watching us, worried.

Hunter points at Mitch. “You. Follow me.” He nods over his shoulder, and the two of them disappear down the hall.

I take a seat beside Celia, who gives me an enormous hug, congratulating me with tears in her eyes. “Ella will be thrilled to have a baby to play with!”

Relieved to have this off my chest, I laugh, my heart so full it might burst.

Mitch

I’ve faced down men who are bigger than me. Men on skates who wanted to put my teeth through the boards. But I swear none of that ever prepared me for the searing murderous glare in Hunter’s eyes.

After closing his meditation room door, he leans against it, trapping me inside. Then he crosses his arms, his jaw tightening.

The guy never gets angry, or at least never shows it. Something about the energy coming off him says he’s not so much angry, but protective. The protectiveness that comes from loving someone so much it scares you. When I think about the feisty redhead in the other room and the life she’s carrying, I totally understand how he feels.

I’ve always respected Hunter for the devotion he has for his baby sister, and now that he sees me as a threat to her happiness, I can only imagine what’s coming and brace for impact.

He shuts his eyes, takes a deep breath, then shoves away from the door, stepping toward me. “You know I’m not a violent man. And you know I love you like a brother.”

“I know that, Hunt. And I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner.”