Page 104 of Between Hate and Desire

They hadn’t even met Brandon.

I twist the metal around on my finger. Once again, he was right. Having rings like this will help make our story more believable. I can’t get over the amount he spent, knowing he’ll never get the price he paid for it when it’s sold later. I was shocked he knew what type of ring I’d like, but then again, after sharing so much with him, it shouldn’t surprise me. Sometimes, I think he knows me better than I know myself. All this makes me feel like a burden, and I know he’d argue that I’m not, but I can’t help it. He’s done so much for me, and I feel like I’ll never be able to repay or thank him enough.

The rings feel foreign on my finger, but I can’t stop looking at them. If the circumstances were different, I’d be over the damn moon about having something so gorgeous, but I have to remind myself it’s pretend. All of this—the rings, the kissing and touching—is nothing more than a façade for the outsiders looking in.

Eventually, the plane lands in Salt Lake City, and we deplane without delay. After we get our luggage, we wait in line for the rental car, which doesn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. I give Hunter the address to my parents’ house so he can plug it into his phone because it’s much easier than directing him. Soon, we’re pulling out of the airport parking lot and heading toward my hometown of Park City. As I glance at the mountains surrounding the city, I realize we’re actually doing this. My nerves kick into overdrive, causing my leg to shake as Hunter drives.

As my anxiety gets the best of me, I can’t stop imagining the worst-case scenario after telling my parents I’m pregnant. At least Hunter is here with me, so it won’t be as scary. When we’re twenty minutes away from my parents’ house, Hunter’s cell phone vibrates, andJenna’s name appears on the screen.

“Are you going to answer it?” I ask, a tinge of jealousy returning.

“No,” he deadpans, rejecting the call.

I look out the window, trying to keep my voice level and calm. “You can’t keep ignoring her. What if something happened? Being stressed while pregnant isn’t healthy for her or the baby.”

A chuckle releases from Hunter. “I’m sure she’s fine. This whole situation isn’t anything to worry about. Take your own advice and stop stressing.” He grabs my hand. “It’s not healthy for you or the baby.” He repeats my words in a mocking tone. “Lennon, I’m here for you. Always. We’re gonna get through this.”

I know he’s trying to comfort me, but it’s easier said than done. “Hunter, I don’t want you to make promises you can’t keep. Jenna showing up today was proof that things always change. I know you said the baby isn’t yours, and I’m putting my trust in you when you say that. But it’s a reminder that you’ll meet the woman of your dreams one day and want to start your own family. I know you said you’ll always be around for me and the baby, and while that might be true right now, there’ll come a time when you can’t, and I’m trying to accept that.” I suck in a deep breath. “I don’t want you to feel obligated to me, Hunter. When you’re ready to date and forget about this fake marriage, let me know. It’s tearing me apart to know that my fucked-up situation holds you back. I can’t be that person. I won’t be.”

He tenses, grabbing the steering wheel tight before glancing at me. “You have nothing to worry about. I know we’re just friends, Lennon, so stop believing you’re going to ruin some relationship of mine that doesn’t even exist because you’re not. I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but I haven’t been with anyone in a while. And before you even start, it’s not because of you. I don’t want to be with anyone, especially not right now.” His words linger, filling the car.

I open my mouth to say something, realizing how confused I am about this. Instead of speaking, nothing comes out. I want to ask him how he can feel that way, how he can be so content with this plan or how it could mess things up with his potential dating life. But I don’t. My hormones are completely out of whack, and I’m overly emotional. I need to gain control because, in ten minutes, we’ll be face-to-face with my parents. I can’t show up upset or crying with a man I’m claiming to be my husband. It would be the worst first impression ever. My mother will notice, and it’ll be a conversation I don’t want to have before I drop the pregnancy bomb on them.

“Listen. We’re almost there, and I think it might be best to put this on hold and wait to talk about it when we’re back home. Right now, we have a fake marriage to pull off. We have to get into character and play the part of the madly in love newlyweds for my unsuspecting parents.” I look at him, and he nods in agreement.

“That’s probably for the best,” he says, turning down my parents’ street.

I swallow down the knot in my throat as the house comes into view. We pull into the driveway, and I try to gain an ounce of strength, though I feel like I’m crumpling from the inside out. Hunter grabs my hand and squeezes.

“Do I look pregnant?” I ask him with a smirk, gesturing to my baggy shirt. Although I’m only fifteen weeks pregnant, my small bump is noticeable in tight shirts. They can’t know how far along I am because it would ruin our entire lie.

“You look great,” he reassures me with a wink, which should calm me down, but I’m hit with a rush of nerves. “Let’s do this, wifey.”

“What if this is a disaster? What if my parents freak the hell out? What if they figure out we’re lying, and this was all for nothing? What if?—”

“Lennon.” Hunter’s deep voice snaps my gaze up to his eyes. He wraps a hand around the nape of my neck and pulls me close until our lips collide. I instantly relax, letting his mouth erase all my fears. He pushes back, and I frown. My breathing is erratic as I replay what just happened in my mind. “Better?” he croaks out as if the kiss affected him too.

“Uh-huh,” I manage to say, thoughts of my parents vanished. Why does he have this effect on me? I blink, wishing I had time to figure it out but knowing I don’t.

A chuckle escapes him. “Good. We’ve got this.”

“Right.” I nod in agreement. “Did you just kiss me to shut me up?”

“I’d never.” His light tone has me thinking otherwise. “Let me say this, I’ve not met a woman’s parents who haven’t loved me.”

I scoff with a chuckle. “Oh, overconfident, are we? Well, my parents aren’t like most,” I remind him.

Hunter lifts my hand and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles. Electricity streams through me when my eyes meet his. “It’s going to be so damn believable,wemight end up believing we’re married by the end of the trip.”

His encouraging words have me laughing, and I feel a lot better. Hunter knows what he’s doing, and we’ve prepared for this.

Hunter gives me a reassuring smile, then opens the door to get out. Rounding the car, he comes over to open mine. He helps me out, being the sweet gentleman I’ve seen these past few months. As we walk around to the trunk, I glance down at my left ring finger and wonder what the fuck I’m doing. There’s no time to break it down, though, because my mother’s voice causes me to still. When I look up, I plaster a smile on my face. She closes the space between us, then pulls me into a big hug, with my father behind her.

“Lennon! I’m so happy you’re finally here,” she squeals. “How was the flight?”

Hunter pops his head up from the trunk and gives her his infamous boyish grin. My mother’s eyes meet mine right before her jaw falls to the ground. He does seem to have that effect on people. My mother included.

“Mom. Dad. This is Hunter,” I introduce.

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