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“Was he mad?” Mia asks me, still sounding anxious and worried.
I reach for her hand resting in her lap and give it a little squeeze. The last thing I want her to do is drive herself insane over this. “Shocked was more like it.”
“I’m sorry, Liv. I didn’t know?—”
“You said that already,” I cut in simply, watching Rory lick the corner of her lips. “Don’t lose any hair over it, okay? If he can’t handle it, then he’s not the man I thought he was.”
And that’s going to be a disappointment.
If I’m being honest, Hudson is one of the best human beings I’ve ever met. I’ve already grown somewhat into having a stronger mentality because of his stubborn ways and I don’t give a fuck attitude.
“Is he going to fire you?”
I scoff because if there is anyone that’s petty between the two of us, it’s me. “For what? I didn’t steal any money or not do my job.”
“Right, right.” Mia bounces one of her legs off the floor and starts to conjure up some unease in me that I’ve been trying to fight. “Is he going to break things off with you?”
The first answer to my brain is immediately yes.
I intentionally kept it from him, no matter how you look at it. I purposely kept Rory under wraps for a reason—many of them—and it never was a topic of conversation. People just assumed, because I’m in my early twenties, that I’m single, unattached, and waiting for the right guy to marry and have children with.
Nonetheless, it’s my life and I choose what is known and unknown in it. My coworkers and boss aren’t obligated to know those pieces of me.
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly, trying not to worry about anything else today. “We’ll see.”
The doctor comes into the room then, giving us the discharge papers and advice on what to look out for, for the next few days. Rory is excited to leave, as am I, and we’re quick to leave the hospital room and head outside.
I’m barely able to get my grounding yet before my entire heart ceases beating at the sight of Hudson strolling up the hospital entrance in all his inked and muscled glory.
He looks like someone out of a damn movie.
The Instagram eye candy that you shamelessly eye-fuck because you can.
And when his green eyes lock onto me, I don’t know which way is up or down, or anywhere. All I know is that I’m fastened to his gaze and there’s no way of getting out of it.
“Take Rory to the car,” I mutter to Mia when Hudson’s eyes fall to her at my side. Her hand holding mine and unaware of anything malfunctioning in my head or body right now.
My inner mother lioness kicks in. Anything and everything he has to say to me, she’s not going to be around to hear it.
“C’mon, Ro,” Mia says cheerfully, noticing Hudson and grasping the hint. “Mommy is gonna meet us home and we’re gonna order pizza!”
My daughter cheers excitedly, but I can’t join her. I’m too shell-shocked with what’s going to happen and how Hudson is here.
I allow him to eat up the distance between us while my daughter and best friend amble toward her car. Taking the lead like he always does, because I don’t seem to have the right mind to do shit when he’s looking at me with a mixture of lust and the possibility of choking me alive.
“She alright?” he solicits when he is close enough for me to hear but far enough away that I’m unable to wrap my arms around him and explain everything.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “Did you…” Come here to make sure?
I wait on bated breath for his answer before he nods, giving me the reassurance I need that he cares.
He really freaking cares.
It might not matter now, especially to him, but it speaks volumes.
“Thank you,” I reply, taking a small step closer. “That means the absolute world?—”
“Let’s stop the bullshit and get to the heart of the matter.”
