I ignored the look Huck was giving me. I never should have let him talk me into coming with him to this conference. Granted, the conference part of the trip had only been a quick two days, even though we were staying for another few weeks to take in the sun and hang out at the beach.
“You’re moping. You’re not allowed to mope in Hawaii. It’s against the law or something.” I could hear his disappointment in his voice, and his sigh didn’t help any. I knew he was hoping that a trip to Hawaii would help get me out of my funk, but it was hard to forget that Dane hadn’t just let me walk away even though he knew I meant well, but that he’d also ignored every single one of my texts and phone calls.
I needed to move on. I just wasn’t sure I could.
“I’m not moping—I’m reading. There is a difference, you know.” Not that the erotic romance I’d picked up was helping me get over Dane in any way.
He scoffed at me, and then flicked water at me from the condensation on his glass to annoy me further. “Well then it must not be a very good book since you’re reading it with a scowl on your face.”
“The sun’s in my eyes, so I’m squinting—not scowling.” The sun was blindingly bright as we lay there on the beach, but there was a gorgeous breeze coming in off the water, taking the edge off the heat.
“I know you don’t want to hear it, but you need to move on. He’s made it clear it’s over, and he’s never done anything but break your heart.” He rolled over on the wide beach towel we’d spread out, hovering over me as his muscular form blocked the sun and I was forced to look into his blue eyes. “Let him go, Avery. You deserve to be happy.”
“I was happy.” Before it all went to hell. “Maybe relationships are overrated. Maybe I’m better off focusing on my work. Or traveling. Maybe I need a hobby. I could learn to knit...make you a sweater.”
“You don’t have the patience for knitting. And maybe...just maybe...you need to give a different guy a try.” Huck brushed the hair from my eyes, his touch lingering as his eyes flicked to my lips, making it clear that if I didn’t stop him, he was going to kiss me.
“I’m pregnant, Huck.” It felt too real now that I’d spoken the words out loud. Fuck.
Not that it should be a big surprise, given how we’d been carrying on without using protection.
Even though Huck looked like I’d just punched him, it took him just a moment to recover. “I don’t care, Avery. You know I love you—and I’ll love this baby as if it were my own. We can raise it together. I swear, I’ll make you happy.”
“You’re so damn sweet.” I cupped his cheek, wishing I loved him that way. It’s not that I hadn’t tried. “But this wouldn’t be fair to you—and I need to tell Dane. I can’t keep this from him.”
I’d have to tell him once I got back, though given our current circumstances, I wasn’t sure how that conversation would turn out, or if he’d even want anything to do with me. Though I doubted he’d walk away from his child.
Still...the last thing I wanted was for him to feel like I’d somehow trapped him into something he didn’t want. Which begged the question, why on earth hadn’t I insisted he wear a condom? I didn’t have any definitive answer for that one.
Maybe it was because I was in my late twenties and my biological clock was ticking. Maybe it was because I’d been so damn lonely, and I thought it’d be nice to have a child to love. Or maybe I’d decided I’d simply roll the dice and see what happened.
Not that it was all my fault. He was just as much to blame. We’d both known that without protection, there was a good chance I’d get pregnant. And if he didn’t want to be a part of this child’s life, then I would happily raise it on my own. I didn’t need him if he didn’t want me.
Except that I knew that was a lie. The last four years had proved as much.
Huck pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I love you, Avery. Even if you make me crazy.”
“I love you too. I just wish things could be different between us.” I truly meant it. Being with Huck would have been a million times easier than dealing with the heartaches I’d had with Dane. Yet for some unknown reason, I just couldn’t let him go—though I may not have much of an option if we couldn’t find a way past this.
Huck shifted onto his back, pulling me into his arms, with my head tucked against his shoulder. “How do you think he’ll react to the news that he’s going to be a father?”
“Honestly? I don’t know.” I let out a ragged breath, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest. This could all go so terribly wrong. But at the very worst, I’d have a child I would love and happily raise on my own if Dane wasn’t interested. “We never talked about it much, but when we did, he seemed to want a family—not that we’ll get that far if he can’t find a way to forgive me.”
“He’s an idiot if he can’t get over this—especially now that there’s a kid involved. And if he can’t figure that out, then you’re better off without him.” Just because Huck was now a successful doctor didn’t mean he’d had an easy life. His father had skipped out on him and his mom when Huck was still in elementary school—but only after he’d beat Huck’s mom to within an inch of her life, and drained what little savings they’d had.
“He’ll do the right thing, Huck. A lot can be said about the Blackthorns, but they stand by their family, and would do anything for them.” Which was why Dane was back in my life to begin with. If it hadn’t been for running into him at GTC, I likely wouldn’t have ever sought him out.
Not that I’d be back at GTC anytime soon. Once everything went down with Stubbs and it made the news, the Feds pulled me and forced me to quit GTC for “personal reasons.” Instead, they turned a few GTC employees whose loyalty they could trust, and would have them monitor things internally until the dust settled.
“Come on... I’m starving, and you promised we’d go to the luau.” It was such a touristy thing to do, but I didn’t care. I needed every distraction I could get.
I quickly wrapped myself in a sarong so I wouldn’t be wandering through the hotel in my bathing suit, as Huck grabbed the towel we’d spread out on the sand. The sun was just starting to set, painting the sky in gold, and I swore, I’d never seen more beautiful sunsets than those I’d seen here on the islands.
The grounds of the hotel were beautiful too, with paths that wound their way through tropical foliage and gorgeous flowers, fragrant in the night air. Every part of the resort had been well thought out, and our room had the most amazing view of the ocean and a generously sized balcony. Luckily, Huck had been able to swap out his single king bed for two queens. If not, I could see things getting just a little awkward. And that kiss? That might be a little harder to ignore if we were sharing a bed.
I kicked off my sandals, and went to hang our damp towels out on the balcony when there was a knock at the door. Luckily, Huck was answering it.
Except that this wasn’t room service.