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“You look damn good, sunshine. We could always skip the game.” His fingers thread through my hair as he kisses me.
I sigh, contentment in the moment flowing through me, and he deepens the kiss with a hot stroke of his tongue. Within seconds, I’m clinging to him, addicted to this feeling—this all-consuming need for Hudson Kingston. “I’m fine with staying here to watch it, but one way or another, I’m watching my brother play, King.”
“Fine,” he pouts. “Where’s your coat?”
I shrug. “I didn’t bring one.”
“Swear to God, Madison. There’s two inches of snow on the ground, and you don’t have a coat? What am I going to do with you?” He wraps his peacoat around my shoulders and kisses me again.
“I can think of a few things. But they’ll have to wait until after the game.” I brush my lips over the scruff on his chin and hum. “We’ll have a few hours before I need to get back to my house tonight.”
His face falls. “You’re not sleeping here tonight?”
“I thought I was going home.” My eyes search his face for guidance. “Hud, you’ve got to remember I’ve never done this before. This whole... I don’t know, relationship thing. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“That makes two of us, Mads. We’ll figure it out together. We’ll do what feels right for us.” He runs his hands over the back of my head, and I nearly swoon, unsure if he could possibly say anything more perfect than that.
HUDSON
Maddie Facetimed with Daphne as we drove to the game. It was funny listening to this side of the conversation. Daphne was giving her the lowdown on how to handle my family like an old pro, and my chest expanded, yet again, for my brother’s wife. For the way she was boosting Maddie’s confidence. And for the hesitance I recognized in her voice when she started talking about being initiated into our family.
I like that my girl found her tribe, and that they’re fiercely protective of each other.
We valet park at Kings Stadium, and I hold her hand in mine as we walk in, greeting most of the security and vendors as we go.
It’s been a few years since Scarlet took over control of the Kings from Max when he moved over to the Revolution hockey team. One of the first things she did was buy the new family suite to insulate us from the constant eyes of reporters and guests, who were always present when we watched the game from my father’s owner’s box back in the day.
It was how we’d all grown up.
Constantly having to beon.
To behave a certain way.
To carefully curate the way we spoke, what we wore, and the things we said.
To be part of the Kingston brand, not just part of the family.
She didn’t want to raise her kids in that environment. She didn’t want any of us to have to do that. And suddenly, we didn’t. During football season, Sunday family dinners are at the stadium in this box. Admittedly, it’s a little different from your typical family when you consider where we are and what we’re doing. But it’s also that we all try to make it to as many home games as we can, just to be with each other, that makes it special. Playpens and toys are scattered around the room for the kids. Brynlee insisted on a swear jar that sits on the bar each week, and when Maddie and I walk in, I retrieve a twenty-dollar bill from my wallet and drop it in.
“What are you doing?” she asks before anyone realizes we’re even here.
“Prepaying the swear jar.” And with that announcement, the horde swarms.
Max and Daphne are the only ones not here today, which leaves a whole lot of my family to contend with. Within seconds, Lenny has an arm linked through Maddie’s as she tugs her toward Amelia and Scarlet, who are sitting in the corner with babies crawling around their legs. If Maddie doesn’t want to be touched by my family, she better speak up now because we’re a touchy-feely bunch. But she doesn’t say a word. Just spares me a quick, forced smile and lets my sister drag her away.
Becket waves a beer in front of my face to get my attention. “Come on, champ. She’s only across the room.”
“Fuck off, Becks.” I take the beer from his hand, and we join Jace, Sawyer, Cade and our brother-in-law, Sam, who happens to be both Amelia’s husband and Lenny’s husband’s older brother.
We stand in front of the window of the box and watch the team line up on the field. Len’s husband, Sebastian, takes his spot out there, and Lenny points with Maverick’s hand toward the glass. “Wave to Daddy.” Mav claps, and my smile grows.
Guess the little dude is finally sleeping again.
“How are you feeling?” Jace asks, and I sip my beer while wicked thoughts of last night come to mind.
I clear my throat and stifle a laugh. “I’m good.”
Cade glares as he takes a long pull from his bottle of beer.
