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Everyone laughs, and Lennon pulls away and looks for her sister, but the lights are too bright.
She wraps her arms around my neck. “I love you,” she tells me over and over.
I gently cup her cheeks. “I love you so damn much. I couldn’t wait another day to make you mine forever.”
“Good. I feel the same way.” Lennon is all smiles, and we walk down the steps and meet everyone as a quartet of violinists begins to play. Sophie wanted to help, of course, once I told her and suggested music. We’re bombarded with congratulations and hugs, and I feel so damn lucky that so many people are here to support us.
Getting to this point wasn’t easy, but I know nothing worth having is.
The Lockes come over, pushing Allie in her stroller. She looks adorable in the little blue dress that matches Lennon’s.
“So you were in on this the entire time?” she asks them both. Mrs. Locke shrugs and nods. “Oh my gosh. Look at your dress,” Lennon says as she grabs Allie then realizes they’re twinning.
Her sisters walk up, and Sophie suggests we need more photos. I know they probably took a ton already. Maddie takes Lennon’s phone and begins snapping photos of Lennon and the baby.
“Okay, Daddy get in too,” Maddie demands, physically pushing me into the photo.
“It sounds so dirty when you call him that.” Lennon gives her a pointed look and shakes her head before bursting into laughter. Maddie wiggles her eyebrows, and I shake my head. That girl is a handful.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” I ask when I notice Sophie is alone because I invited them both.
“Oh, he couldn’t make it. Got caught up at work,” she tells me with a smile. Lennon glares at Sophie, and they hold a silent conversation, but I don’t question it. I’ve tried several times to send an invite to our guys nights so we could get to know him, but he always has something come up. Weston’s weird as fuck, and Liam and Mason both hate him with a passion, though I haven’t quite figured out why yet, considering he’s never around.
“Right,” I hear Mason say from behind us. Sophie looks at him and rolls her eyes, but he ignores her. Something he’s good at. Their weird behavior toward each other after all this time makes me think something has happened between them—and both are hiding it. There has to be a reason otherwise it’s just plain ridiculous at this point. Ever since Brandon died and my focus has primarily been on Lennon and the baby, the four of them have hung out but I never ask for details. Perhaps I should have. Maybe one of them would’ve cracked by now.
Maddie lights up when she sees Liam even though he still pretends she doesn’t exist—though I know better. The way they all act has me cracking up. Lennon notices and laughs too, but she’s paying more attention to Allie than her sisters.
As they go back and forth with each other, the Corrigans come over and pull us to the side to tell us how much they love and support us. Lennon’s mom takes the chance to steal Allie and hold her.
“So happy you’re gonna be a part of the family…for real this time,” Mr. Corrigan tells me.
“Dad,” Lennon jumps in, but all he does is laugh.
They ask when we’re going to get married, and Lennon has to remind them that we just got engaged. After about ten minutes of chatting, Hayden pulls me away to chat, then I’m met face to face with my parents. My expression drops when I see them because I didn’t expect them to come. They’ve never wanted to be a part of my life before, so why now?
Hayden stands guard, ready to pounce at any moment.
“Hi, son,” my dad tells me, and my mother gives me a small, hopeful smile.
“Hi,” I say, crossing my arms, tense as fuck. Lennon walks up and stands beside me, and she’s the only thing that calms me down. Her sweet voice brings me back to reality as she introduces herself to my parents. There’s no secrets between us, so she knows all about my childhood and history.
Savannah walks up, and I finally introduce her to Lennon as well. As they’re caught up in conversation, giggling like they’ve known each other forever, my mother looks at me.
“She’s lovely, Hunter. Seems like you really found your match.” There’s sincerity in her voice.
“I’m proud of you, son,” my father finally says, and I’m so shocked I nearly fall out on the sidewalk. Even Hayden does a double take when the words leave his mouth.
“What?” I say, imagining I’m dreaming.
“I know I haven’t been the best father over the years…” He trails off, and I halfway wonder if he fell and hit his head. By Hayden’s expression, I know he’s thinking the same thing. “But I’d like to change that. I’m sorry.”
