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I swallow, my fingers tightening around my champagne flute. A million emotions war inside me.
Anger.
Hurt.
Confusion.
Hope.
How dare she just pop up on the most important day of my life. I don’t care who flew her here. But then I think about Deuce, upstairs sleeping peacefully as his parents celebrate the second most important day of their lives (his birth being the first).
I have everything I’ve ever wanted now.
A home. A family. A man who loves me unconditionally.
And maybe… maybe that means I can afford to be a little bigger than my pain.
I let out a slow, measured breath. “I should probably go talk to her.”
Hunter arches a brow. “It can wait if you want.”
“Did you tell her that I asked you not to hurt her father?”
“No, she doesn’t know anything about that.”
I nod, setting my glass down. “Then, I think I want to talk to her.”
He presses a soft kiss to my temple, a silent reassurance, before releasing my hand.
I make my way toward her, weaving through the guests as I fight back the tightness in my chest. The moment Naomi sees me coming, she straightens, her big brown eyes wary but hopeful.
Neither of us speaks at first.
It’s… awkward as hell.
Finally, I sigh. “You came.”
Her lips press together for a beat; then, she gives a small nod. “I did.”
“You look good.”
“And you look great.”
I study her carefully, trying to read her. Trying to understand. I notice the subtle way her hands tremble. She’s nervous. Uncertain.
She’s never looked like this before.
Naomi has always been the bold one. The one who could walk into any room and own it.
But right now?
Right now, she looks like she’s waiting for me to tell her to leave.
And I realize…
She expects that I will.
“Hunter called you?” I ask after a moment.