Page 47 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats
One thousand percent, I would. She’s my whole world.
Her finger taps between my eyes, right above my nose. “That look right there, when you thought about protecting her.”
I grab her hand, holding it in mine on the mattress between us.
“My ex fucked me up. I was a mess when she left. I was in love with her, but I don’t know how deep that love can actually be when it isn’t fully reciprocated. I knew she wasn’t super happy being a mom, but I thought things would adjust as we both got used to being parents.
“That day never came. I woke up one morning, and she was just gone. All her stuff was gone. She left a note saying she just couldn’t do it, and she knew I’d be a much better dad to Evelyn than she could ever be a mom for her.”
Hadley stares at me with gentle eyes, not rushing me.
“Evelyn was barely three months old. I couldn’t fathom how she could leave her. I already loved that little girl so much. It made me sick. Then, I got angry. When I petitioned for full custody of Evelyn, Rose signed over all of her maternal rights like it was nothing.”
The emotions from back then feel so real and raw. Tears built up in the corners of my eyes.
“I have never been angrier than I was back then, but I was also heartbroken. Heartbroken for myself because I lost the person I thought I was going to marry and build a life with, but more than anything, heartbroken for my little girl who was never going to have a mother.”
She squeezes my hand as a single tear falls from my eyes. I brush it away with my free hand.
“Evelyn saved me. I put all my focus into being the best dad I could be for her. She became the sole focus of my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Hadley sniffs as a few tears slip down her cheeks. She quickly wipes them away, not wanting to pull me from my thoughts.
“My parents have helped me every step of the way so I could have a career outside of being a dad, even when Evelyn was tiny. Your brother, Conrad, and Brooks helped me keep living, and they’ve been there for Evelyn in a way I never could have expected.”
“I’m glad you have all of them around you. You really aren’t doing it alone, and neither is Evelyn,” she says quietly.
I shake my head. “No, I’m not.”
I thought I would have to after Rose left, but the people who care about both Evelyn and me have proven time and time again that they’re here no matter what.
“I swore to myself back then that I would never let anyone else into our lives, though, because the thought of her having to feel that kind of heartbreak was more than I could fathom.”
Her eyes flutter closed, and more tears fall onto the pillow. “I understand.” She takes a stuttering breath. “I’m going to miss you, Austin.”
No…My heart screams as a knife stabs through it. I’m moving over on top of her before I can even think it through.
“No. No,” I say, my forearms on either side of her head and my body pressing into hers.
I can’t let her go. I just can’t.
I know Grayson is going to want to murder me, but I’ll deal with him. I think she’s worth taking the chance of getting my heart broken again.
No, I know she’s worth it. Evelyn loves her already. If there’s a chance Hadley could become a bigger part of Evelyn’s life, I have to try.
I drag in a ragged breath. When I exhale, I try to push all of my fears out with it.
It isn’t like they’re completely gone, but with her here in my arms, it feels like I can jump and she’ll be right there with me.
She lies beneath me, staring up with wide, curious eyes.
“Despite everything I said, I can’t let you go. I’m still scared, but no. You don’t need to miss me when I’m right here.”
“And everything with the guys?” she asks tentatively.
“We’ll worry about that tomorrow. For tonight, it’s just you and me. That's it.”
No more words need to be said as my lips crash down onto hers.
