Back Country (The Country Duet #2)(25)

I finally muster up enough courage to peer up at him. “It was a sterile environment with minimal toys because Jerico hates clutter. She was never exposed to daycare or preschool because Jerico had a nanny for her. Her only interaction and play was with me. I never missed my time with her until I had to leave.”

This part of the story makes me cry. Leaving Baker behind nearly killed me. I left a piece of my soul with her that day, but I had to do it for our future.

“I knew that he was a bastard when his smug ass stepped into the shop that day. I immediately hated him.”

“He’s a cruel bastard. Baker was never his concern, it was their family image.”

Hunter’s hand cups my cheek. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, Teale.”

“I’m a failure.”

“No, you are not.” Each one of his words are well-pronounced.

“I am. I failed Baker for so many years and then crushed you.”

“You did hurt me, Teale.” His raw honesty destroys me, but I don’t let my face show it. “I’ve never been so devastated in all of my years, and it’s because how much you mean to me. There hasn’t been one day since I walked out that you haven’t been on my mind. It’s all you.”

“The ice cream shop,” I whisper.

A bolt of pain slices through me, but now is the time to put everything out on the table. No more secrets or hesitations.

“I won’t lie to you, Teale.”

I wince when he says this because it’s all I did to him in the beginning. I never flat out lied, but withheld the truth which is the same.

“There were several girls at home this summer.”

I grip his forearm unable to hear any more of this. “Hunter, I can’t hear about you with other women.”

“There were no other women who touched my heart and soul like you, Teale. There were old friends at home this summer who threw themselves at me. Burton did everything but sell his left nut to get me a hookup. I couldn’t do it.

Then the girl you saw me with, well that was my last-ditch attempt to forget you. It felt good, but wrong at the same time. Then when you walked in on our first kiss, I knew right away how big of a mistake it was. I talked with Chloe, and we agreed just to be friends.”

He pulls back holding up his index finger. “There was one kiss, and I’ve regretted it every day since.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“I’ve been around a lot of younger kids. Most of them family friends, but not one has ever taken to me like Baker has. Why is that?”

My shoulders sag in relief knowing that all of the difficult elements of the conversation have been tackled.

“That’s easy.” I lean forward and kiss his cheek. “Every night I’ve told her stories about you. I want Baker to grow up a powerful and courageous woman. I want her to know just because a guy gives her attention that doesn’t mean love. There’s no better person to teach her about real love and a real good man. She deserves to be treated like the way you treated me from day one.”

“Any more secrets? I’ve told you everything.” His husky voice causes chills to break out over my skin.

“One more thing.” I pause for added effect. “I shit my pants one time in kindergarten.”

Hunter’s smile breaks out across his face. “I shit my pants in Costco when I was in high school and cutting weight for wrestling.”

His forehead drops to mine. We sit silent for a long time, just breathing each other in and clinging on to the hope of forever. There will never be another man for me. If Hunter decides to walk away, he’s the end of my story. And I’m okay with that because deep down in my bones I know he’s my beginning, middle, and end.





14





Hunter





“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” -Willie Nelson



The inevitable time of the season is here, and the snow is flying. Every part of the landscape is covered in pristine snow. I’m grateful I bought the truck to make it out to Dave’s place. There’s no way in hell I’d make it in my car.

To say the last month has been the best of my life would be an understatement. My days are still twenty-four-hour worries of Dave, coupled with school, my feedlot job, and my girls. My life is complete again. Teale and I don’t share heated nights in the sheets, rather spending time with Baker until she falls asleep. Then there’s a lot of passionate kissing and reuniting.

We are taking it slow in our own way. The harsh truth and reality of us are, our sores are too in-depth and raw to dive right back in. Sweet, little Baker is the perfect mediator healing all of our wounds.

I did get a damn trampoline set up just in time before the snow fell. It took up the entire grass area that Teale’s apartment was allotted. I thought I had a broken heart before, but I was wrong. It wasn’t until Baker told us that her Uncle Jerico bought a trampoline for looks, but she was never allowed to jump on it. He showed her YouTube videos of broken bones and warned her about the danger.

We jumped our asses off every single night until the snow was too thick to wipe off the trampoline. The chilling temperatures outside didn’t even stop us. We jumped our ass off no matter the time of night. It hasn’t been easy juggling my time, but worth it.