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“Oh, um… Cool.”
“We’d appreciate your discretion,” Hunter states firmly.
“Of course, Mr. Stride. It’d be a HIPAA violation otherwise. Don’t worry, I would never tell anyone.”
I gingerly pat his arm. “She was just about to ask if we’d like to know the sex of the baby.”
I can’t stop staring at him, studying every tiny detail of his features. I adore the awestruck glint in his dark eyes, the way his breath hitches slightly, the minute parting of his lips as his answer lingers on his tongue. He looks at me as if for confirmation. I nod once.
It’s all the answer the doctor needs.
She moves the ultrasound wand around a bit before making her assessment. After a moment, she says, “It’s a bit early, but your baby is in a good position.” A few more swipes of the wand, and “Congratulations,” she says with a wide smile. “It looks like you’re having a handsome baby boy.”
“A boy,” he echoes. The corners of his eyes crinkle as he smiles. “We’re having a boy.”
“I’ll give the two of you a moment. I’ll jot down a couple of notes in your file, but then you’re free to go, Ms. Spencer. Should you experience any unusual pain again, don’t hesitate to come back.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I say as she makes a quick exit.
Hunter and I remain there, staring at the screen in wonder.
He breaks the silence, though he speaks softly. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Charlie called you, didn’t he?”
“He should have done it sooner.”
“In all fairness, he didn’t know about the baby until today, either.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice sounds tight, pained. “Were you really going to do this alone?”
“I was afraid. There was so much going on. I freaked out. I was thinking about you and your reputation.”
“You’re saying you kept the baby a secret forme?”
“Are you mad?”
“I’m… I don’t know what I am, actually. I wish you’d told me. I can’t say that I’m not hurt.” He shakes his head, dismayed. “When Charlie called me and told me what happened, I thought…”
I grip his hand tightly. “I’m sorry. I realize how stupid I was being. Like I said, I was afraid. The pictures, the fight, the fire…”
“Fire?” he snaps. “What fire?”
I clamp my jaw shut. “Uh, nothing.”
“Don’tnothingme, Eden. What fucking fire?”
“I went up to the lake house to hide from the paparazzi for a little while. My first night there, someone lit the place up. The cops still don’t have a suspect in custody.”
Hunter stiffens, his expression impossible to decipher. I can’t tell what’s going on inside his head. Eventually, he pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales loudly. “What a mess.”
“Look, I know this is a lot to spring on you right now, which is one of the reasons I didn’t say anything because I knew it’d stress you out, but I have every intention of taking care of this baby. You can be as involved or uninvolved as you want.”
“I’m taking full responsibility for the child,” he says firmly. “And for you.”
My heart skips a beat. “You mean that?”
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, Eden. I regret ever letting you go.”
