Page 75 of Verdict

This was what a good, normal date should feel like. No guessing or wondering where you stood. No underlying tension or uncertainty.

I should’ve liked that more, I should’ve been relieved. But instead, I felt… restless. My gaze drifted to the candle between us, watching the flame flicker as I tried to listen to what Hudson was saying. I think it was something about the off-season, about training, and how he was planning to spend a few weeks back home before coming back to Austin.

I nodded, smiling in the right places, but my mind kept slipping back to a different table… a different kind of night. Sitting outside across from Cohen at a crowded brewery, as a live band played, Ellie sleeping soundly in her stroller beside us while we split a basket of fries and argued over which team had the better bullpen.

There were no reservations, no dress code.

Just… us.

I blinked, dragging myself back to the present. Hudson was watching me now, his head tilted slightly like he was trying to read something I hadn’t said out loud. I forced another smile and reached for my wine. This was better for me. He was a good guy, this was right. He was right.

So why did it feel like I was sitting in the wrong place?

Hudson cleared his throat. "So, I heard you ride horses?" The mention of horses grabbed my attention.

My eyes met his. "I do. I've been riding since I was little."

A soft smile tugged at his lips before he cut off another piece of steak. "I was bit by one when I was about six years old. Never again. I don't mess with horses," he said with a laugh.

I tilted my head. "What do you mean by never again?"

He finished chewing and took a small sip of wine before answering. "I stay away from them, and I definitely won't ride one again.”

I thought of Cohen standing ten feet from Bentley, trying to pretend he wasn’t intimidated. The way he’d swallowed his nerves and gotten on Tex. The way he’d watched me like I was doing something extraordinary. He’d been scared, and he’d done it anyway.

I didn’t realize how much that mattered until this moment.

Dinner carried on politely. Hudson asked questions and told stories… he tried. And the harder he tried, the clearer it became.

This wasn’t it.

When he pulled up outside my building, he left the engine running. No offer to walk me in. No lingering moment. He leaned across the console for a kiss.

I lifted my hand to his chest gently. “Hudson…”

He gave me a small, knowing smile. “You’re not into me.”

I winced. “You’re a really nice guy—”

“Ah,” he said softly. “That bad, huh?”

I huffed out a breath.

He reached for my hand and squeezed. “That's okay. I felt like something was off tonight, like your mind was somewhere else.” He hesitated. “Can I ask you something?"

I nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"Is it Cohen?”

The question caught me off guard. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. For half a second, I didn’t know how to answer without lying.

Hudson watched me carefully—not accusatory, not angry. Just… observant.

I forced a small laugh. “No. I just don’t think I’m ready to date right now.” It wasn't entirely a lie.

He held my gaze a beat longer than was comfortable. Then he nodded once. “Right,” he said softly.

And the way he said it told me he didn’t believe me.