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I handed it to her.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice shaky.
“Because. I’d do anything in this world for that kid. I haven’t always been like this. I’ve made mistakes. And I’m trying to help you from making any more. Start over, Martha. Start over. Make your son proud of you.”
She teared up and folded the check, tucking it inside her shirt.
“Thank you,” she whispered and then walked out of the diner.
I sat across from the empty booth and finished drinking my coffee.
When I walked through the door at the loft Julie jumped from the couch. Hunter was asleep with a book across from his chest.
“Where have you been?” she questioned me.
“It’s a long story.” I hung up my coat. “But I took care of everything. We don’t have to worry about losing Hunter,” I whispered.
“I don’t understand.” She shook her head. “What happened?”
I took her by the hand and led her to the bedroom so Hunter couldn’t hear us in case he awakened.
“The woman who claimed to be Hunter’s birth mother wasn’t. She won’t be bothering us. She’s dropping the claims.”
“Oh my God. How did you find out?”
“I went to see her.” I smirked.
“And you didn’t tell me?”
Shit. I thought it would make her happy, but I saw the anger in her eyes.
“I didn’t want to get your hopes up or down or whatever roller coaster this is.” I tried to soothe her.
“You drove to see Hunter’s possible mother and didn’t think I could handle the roller coaster?”
“Ok. Fuck. When you say it like that it sounds shitty. But, baby, I was trying to help. And I did. It’s over. He’s ours.”
“He is not ours.” Her hands flew to her hips. “I’m not on the papers. I’m not even listed for guardianship. And what you did tonight, shows me exactly where you think I fall on the list of people you need to consult. At the bottom.” Her eyes flared.
“God, no. I was trying to take care of you.”
“This isn’t how you do it, Hawk. You don’t just make all the decisions yourself. There’s a child involved. You said we were doing this together. And right now I feel completely alone in this. You went out on your own. You didn’t ask. You didn’t need me. You didn’t want my input.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know why I’m here.”
Fuck.
“You’re here because he needs you.” I lowered my voice. “You’re here because I need you.”
Her sapphire eyes lifted to mine, cutting me right through the chest. Did she know she could take my breath away with one look?
“You don’t act like you need me. You act like a man who is used to being alone. Who doesn’t know what family looks like.”
I knelt in front of her.
“You’re right. I don’t. I never had a real family. I never had Christmas. I never had someone like you.”
I tilted her chin toward me. “Don’t shut me out now, Jules. Not when we just got our shit together.”
I thought I saw a grin tug at the corners of her beautiful lips.
