AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Unfortunately,” he said through gritted teeth, “she’s never been good with secrets either. Maybe that’s why she and your mother get along so well.” He sighed as he turned my hand back over, finally releasing it as he scooted his chair back, away from me and the brief comfort he’d brought. “I’ll tell her.”
“Thank you,” I breathed.
“Take that ring off, though. Wear it for appearances only. It’ll raise suspicion if people see the oxidation from it on your finger.”
Chapter 19
Hudson
Wednesday
The rain came in sheets, drenching everything from one side of Boston to the other. Just hopping out of my car to run into my favorite Chinese takeout restaurant had left me soaked. Instead of leaving my Mercedes in the driveway as I often did, I parked in the garage, hopping out of my car still dripping with a bag full of food in my hand.
For a moment, a single, solitary moment, I stood next to my car. I looked out at my driveway, watching the grays and blues melt with each other as the droplets formed a wall of water between me and the slope of cement. It was calming despite the chill I felt. For a moment, I was me, not Hudson-the-dad or Hudson-the-doctor or Hudson-the-friend-with-benefits. Just me. Alone.
With a steaming bag of Chinese food.
Eventually, the cold began to seep into my bones, and I had to go inside. I entered through the garage door, taking Jamey and Sophie by surprise as they turned from their spot in the kitchen. “I come bearing egg rolls and chow mein,” I grinned, lifting the bag for them to see.
“Daddy!” Jamey shouted, nearly tripping over the mat by the sink as he rushed for me. “You’re late.”
I laughed as he slammed into my thigh, nearly knocking the food from my hand. Sophie gave me a half-hearted grin from across the room, her hands wet and a towel between them. Her black leggings had something colorful smeared across them, the cardigan she wore matching. “I’m sorry. There was a crash out near Columbus Avenue, the roads were all backed up. Didn’t mean to get home so late.”
“It’s okay,” she said, drying her hands quickly before crossing the space and plucking the bag of food from my hands. “I’ll get some out for Jamey and then head home.”
“Stay.” It came out before I could think about it, before I could consider the ramifications of asking her to stick around again. “I got enough for all of us.”
“Stay! Stay! Stay!” Jamey shouted, the grin on his face matching the sheer amount of excitement contained in his little body. He grabbed onto the side of her shirt, tugging it just a little for emphasis. “Please stay, Sophie. Pleeeeease.”
Her smile was tight, but she nodded. “Okay,” she chuckled, “I’m not one to pass up free food.”
I quickly set out napkins, eating utensils and placemats, then poured a glass of wine for Sophie not because I wanted her to get tipsy but because she deserved it for staying so late. I decided to pour one for myself as well. She and Jamey took their seats at the dining table as I brought the plates and food over, setting down our glasses of wine last and a cup of grape juice for Jamey so he wouldn’t get jealous.
The table fell silent as Sophie helped herself and I filled Jamey’s plate. I paid close attention to what she grabbed the most of, what she grabbed the least of, making little notes in my mind of what her favorites were and what I should order next time. Next time. Stop fucking thinking about next time, you idiot. Jamey filled the silence as we ate, talking around mouthfuls of chow mein about everything they had done during the day, from reading a book to playing with clay.
I knew why Sophie was quiet. I knew what she was worrying about, what was holding her on edge, but I couldn’t quell her worries with Jamey in the room. I could have texted her, sure, but I was selfish. I wanted her reaction for myself, in person.
As I stood in front of the sink rinsing dishes and placing them into the dishwasher, Sophie got Jamey set up in the living room with that stupid pig show that was quickly becoming his favorite. I waited until she appeared in the doorway, an exhausted look on her face and her keys in hand.
“Soph,” I said, craning my head to get a better view of her.
“This was really nice, but I’m exhausted and I haven’t done much work today.”
“I told my mom about the engagement.”
Her tired eyes widened as she looked at me, her bones frozen in place. She blinked a couple of times, the words sinking in, and then she moved toward me quickly, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind, and pressing her head against my spine. “Thank God.” The feel of her body against mine, in a nonsexual situation, made my chest ache in a way I tried to ignore. It felt far too nice.
I laughed, turning in her arms so I was facing her, but she didn’t budge. Instead, she pressed her face into the front of my damp scrubs. “She was… well, she was happy for me, unsurprisingly. But she was angry that I hadn’t said anything. I just went with what you’ve been saying to your parents.”
“She wasn’t suspicious?”
“She was a little since I’d mentioned you to her as the new nanny. But I explained it away.” I placed my hand on her back, rubbing little circles between her shoulder blades. “I know you’ve been worrying about that since last Friday. I’m sorry I hadn’t gotten the chance until now. I saw her on Monday when she watched Jamey but I couldn’t exactly say we were engaged in front of him,” I laughed.
“Engaged?”
My hand stilled as my gaze snapped toward the living room. Fuck. Jamey stood, his mouth dropped open, his little green eyes lit with so much disbelief that I hated how much of myself I saw in them.
Sophie pushed away from my chest, taking a little shard of ice from it with her. “Jamey?—”
