Page 144 of Between Hate and Desire

“Um, well…I was thinking since you’re here we might wanna take a picture,” I finally tell him. “To update the ’Gram. My parents will be expecting to see a new baby bump picture.”

“Oh.” His expression deepens. “Sure, we can do that. You wanna do it right now?”

“Yes!” Maddie answers for me, clapping in excitement. “I’ll take it.” She holds out her hand, and I drop my phone in her palm.

“Probably a couple and then maybe another one once we’re in the ultrasound room,” I tell her. Ever since I told them about Hunter confessing his feelings for me, they’ve found any opportunity to bring us closer together. Not that it matters. After walking away from him, I notice the way he looks at me.

Half heartbroken. Half understanding.

I hate thinking about how this tortures him, but he’ll never admit it aloud to me. I try to keep space between us, but since we need to keep up the act for my parents’ sake and update the Instagram account, I don’t argue the idea.

Hunter stands, and I follow him. Almost without a second thought, Hunter reaches for my hand and grabs it. We stand in front of one of the hospital windows with a fake plant in front of it.

As he wraps his arm around my waist, I move closer and fit perfectly into his side, molding together. I barely reach his shoulder because he’s so much bigger and taller than I am.

Maddie snaps a couple of pictures with a huge smile on her face. “So cute!” She takes another handful. “Okay, now…Hunter should put his hand on your belly.”

“Maddie—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“No, it’s fine.” Hunter looks down. “If it’s okay with you, I mean?”

My throat tightens, knowing this isn’t easy for him. Pretending to be my husband is one thing, but pretending to be the father of my baby has to be fucking torture.

“Sure,” I croak, sucking in a sharp breath. Instead of resting his hand over my bump like I expect him to, he kneels and wraps both arms around me with his head on my belly.

“Oh my God!” Maddie gushes, and I know she’s losing her cool. “Freakin’ adorbs.” She takes a million more pictures. Some with Hunter kissing my stomach, with us looking at each other, and others with us laughing at Maddie’s lack of a filter, saying whatever comes to her mind.

Then Hunter reaches for my face.

“For the ’gram,” he whispers with a wink. Then he cups my cheeks and kisses me.

I melt into him, forgetting we’re in public and that this kiss isn’t supposed to be real. So softly, his mouth brushes against mine, and his tongue slides in just enough to part my lips. I fight the urge to moan as I hear the camera clicking. I know Maddie is getting all the pictures—ones I probably won’t be able to look at.

We’re startled apart when a tech calls out my name. Quickly clearing my throat, I blink and look around Hunter.

“Right here,” I say, grabbing her attention, then glance up at Hunter. “Thanks.”

He licks his lips, his gaze intense as it burns into me. “You’re welcome.”

“I think I just got pregnant,” Maddie mutters to Sophie, and I scowl at her to shut her mouth before Hunter overhears.

He follows me and my sisters down the hallway. The tech introduces herself and makes small talk with me as we walk into an ultrasound room. After her instructions, I lie down on the exam table with a cloth tucked into my pants. My shirt is folded all the way up to my chest, and when the tech puts the gel on the wand, I know we’re close to seeing my baby again.

“Do you want to find out the gender today?” she finally asks ten minutes later after taking all kinds of measurements. When she says the heartbeat is strong and everything looks healthy, I smile so wide.

“Yes!” a resounding wave of voices echoes. Sophie and Maddie are just as excited as I am.

Hunter stands next to my head, but when I look up, his eyes aren’t glued to the screen like my sister’s. Rather, they’re laser focused on me. He shoots me a wink and a classic Hunter smirk.

And it sends shivers down my spine.

“Alright, time to find out, Mama…”

My eyes snap back to the screen as she lowers the wand. “Any guesses before the big reveal?” she taunts.

“Girl!” Maddie blurts.

“I think it’s a boy,” Sophie says.

---