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“I’m not really into men, so that’s a good thing,” I try to joke. But she doesn’t look impressed. “Listen, because I’m only going to say this once. Don’t believe everything you read in the papers. I’ve known you since you were a twelve-year-old kid, taking your first judo lesson. Do you really think I’d hurt her?”
She thinks about it for a second before letting out a quiet huff. “Fine. But I’m watching you.”
“Good.” I grab her shoulders and guide her to the door. “Now get out of here, so I can drive a pretty girl home. Okay?”
“Smooth, King. Real smooth.” She points two fingers at her eyes, then at me. “Best behavior, King.”
I nod in agreement as Carys and she leave the gym, then turn to find Maddie walking my way.
“Where are the girls?” she asks as she shoulders her gym bag.
I reach out and take it from her, then open the front door. “Looks like I’m driving you home after all, sunshine.”
She gets into the passenger side of my SUV and reaches over to unlock my door. “Do you ever get told no?”
My arm brushes against hers as I slide behind the wheel, and a frisson of electricity courses down my spine. “Only by you, Mads.”
HUDSON
With just a few days left before the fight, training starts earlier and lasts longer. But that doesn’t mean it’s all day. So, with my first break between sessions, I grab my phone to get out of the gym and away from everyone for a couple of hours.
I haven’t seen my sister Lenny in a few days. My siblings and I try to do some form of family dinner once a week, if we can. Whether that’s a Sunday night at the Kings games or all of us picking a night to watch the Revolution play during the season, we still try. Occasionally, we actually manage to get together at Dad’s old house, where his final wife, Ashlyn, and our youngest sister, Madeline, still live. But we skipped family dinner altogether last week, since so many of us spent the weekend in London watching the Kings game. I wasn’t disappointed about missing that trip.
After I make a pit stop at Amelia’s bakery to grab something for Len, I head to her house. When I walk through her front door, I notice Lenny’s gray eyes look like she’s gone a few rounds in the ring with one of my opponents and lost.
Of course, that’s not what it is because long before I’d ever get the opportunity to destroy anyone who hurt my sister, Len’s husband, Sebastian, would have killed any man who even considered laying a hand on her.
According to the family group text, my nine-month-old nephew, Maverick, has another ear infection and has gone on a sleep strike. Which means his momma isn’t getting any sleep either.
I hold up the cup carrier I’m hiding behind my back and smile, knowing the large coffee and bag of muffins should at least help a little. “I come bearing caffeine and muffins from Sweet Temptations.” And maybe an ulterior motive, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“Shh... Maverick’s sleeping in the swing. If you wake him up, I swear to God, you’re taking him home with you, Hudson.” Scolding complete, she lifts up on her toes and kisses my cheek. “But seriously, you know you’re my favorite brother.”
I hand Lenny the coffee. “Sure I am.”
Don’t get me wrong. I love being Len’s favorite brother. Considering there’s five of us, that title is hard-won. We’ve always been close, and it’s a title I cherish. But right now, she’d say that to anyone who walked through the door with coffee.
Lenny grabs the bag of muffins from the counter, then sits down on a kitchen chair and kicks up her legs to rest on the one across from her before she sniffs the bag. “Our sister is a goddess.”
“Hey.” I pull out the chair next to her and sit. “Amelia’s great and all, but I’m the one who brought you sustenance. She only made it.”
Her tired eyes roll before she picks her muffin and throws the bag at my head. “I said you were my favorite. What more do you want from me?”
I catch the bag, stick my nose in it, and inhale deeply. Then I push it aside.
“Just eat one, Hud. You know you want to.”
“Training camp, remember? I’ve got a fight in four days.” I pat my abs and ignore the growl coming from her. “No sugar. You know the rules.”
“Why are you here and not at the gym then?” She rips off a chunk of the cinnamon swirl goodness and pops it into her mouth, then moans.
“Save it for Bash, Len. I don’t need to know what that sounds like.” I lean out of the way when she tries to smack me. “I was already there this morning, and I’ve got to be back later today.”
Maverick picks that moment to let us know he’s awake with a pathetic whimper, and one look at Len tells me she’s about to burst into tears right behind him. I push her coffee closer to her and stand. “You stay here. I’ve got him.”
An exhausted smile pulls at her lips as she whispers—“Definitely my favorite brother”—while I walk out of the room.
When I stop in front of the swing, Len’s lazy bulldog is laying at the foot of the baby swing, snoring. He’s completely ignoring my chunky little nephew, who stops mid-scream and stares at me. Tear-soaked dark-brown eyes blink before I unbuckle him from the seat and scoop him up. “Mav, my main man. Where’s your binky, dude?” I search the cushioned seat for the green pacifier, then stuff my finger in the hollow end, and plunk it back into his mouth, making sure to rub his gums the way Bash showed me. “Come on, dude. Your momma is going on strike if you don’t let her sleep soon.” He curls into my chest and closes his eyes, revealing the fat, wet teardrops sticking to his long lashes.
