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The look on Hudson’s face almost makes me believe him. God, I want to believe this is real, because the truth is, I never stopped loving him. It was why I spent so long feeding into the hate I thought I felt. It was easier than allowing my broken heart to let go of this man.
Knowing I need to play my part, I lean in and kiss Hudson’s cheek as he turns to me with a soft look in his eyes that steals the breath from my lungs.
“All I need is to be loved by you.” If he only knew that was true.
“May I ask something of you both?”
Hudson and I both agree as we turn to my father who is watching us with a smile.
“Of course, Daddy. Anything.”
“I know it’s asking a lot, but would you consider having a second wedding? I’d dearly love to walk my daughter down the aisle to the man she loves.”
Stunned by his request and not having a single excuse ready, my throat closes up. How can I do that when none of this is real. Hudson is doing enough for me already.
“Of course, John. It would be our pleasure. Honestly, I’m ashamed of myself for the way it happened the first time. Audrey deserves the wedding of her dreams, and she should have her father walk her down the aisle.”
My heart feels like it’s lodged someplace in my throat. All my dreams of getting married died with Hudson and now it’s like being plunged into an ice bath of lost dreams. So much has happened, so many secrets still stand between us. The people we could hurt with this lie just grows and grows. We’re getting in so deep now, and I don’t think there’s a way out. The worst part is I’m starting to wonder if I want one.
“Daddy, are you sure this won’t be too tiring for you?”
“Of course not. Nothing would make me happier than watching you join your life to the man you love.”
“Then as long as Hudson is okay with it, we’ll plan a second wedding so that everyone we love can attend.”
“Excellent. Now, when do we get to meet Tia? I can’t wait to have a child in the house again, and she sounds adorable.”
I smile at my mom and it’s the first genuine one since we walked in the house. “Oh, Mom, you’re going to love her. She’s sweet and smart and her smile lights up the room. And Hudson is so good with her.”
His hand skims up my spine before resting on the back of my neck, and I turn to check he’s truly okay with all of this. He’s going above and beyond what I asked of him and getting nothing in return. His smile is soft, and his eyes crinkled at the corners, making my tummy flip over. He always had this way of looking at me in the same manner when we were together. Like the outside world didn’t exist and it was just the two of us against the world.
“She makes it easy to love her.”
He is talking about Tia but looking at me, and it takes everything in me not to lean into him, so I don’t fight it, telling myself it’s for show. His lips skim my forehead as his arm comes around me. I want to stay like this forever, wrapped in the safety of his arms where nothing can hurt me. Where cancer doesn’t exist, where hearts won’t break and dreams can’t die, but my mother has other ideas and is excited to plan the wedding.
The drive home is quiet, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s mad at me, so I blurt it out. “Are you mad?”
Hudson pulls into the driveway and shuts off the engine before getting out of the car. His silence weighs heavy, and I feel my defensive anger rising. If he’s going to ignore me, then fuck him. I shove past him and he grabs my hand, yanking me back into his arms so I fall against his hard chest.
“Stop being a brat. I’m not mad at all. I just don’t want to have all our big conversations in the damn car.”
“Well, you could have just said that rather than go all silent, alpha-male on me.”
Hudson gives me a sexy smirk, as he pushes open the front door, pushing me in first. “You love it, so don’t even deny it.”
I’m glad I have my back to him as I answer so he can’t see me lie. “I hate it.”
Before he can respond, Mrs. Price is coming down the hall and his attention is on her.
“How was she?”
I love how much he worries about Tia but it also hurts in ways I can’t explain to him. Seeing him as the father I always knew he’d be is gut-wrenching but also beautiful.
“She was perfect. She’s sound asleep so I’ll leave you two love birds to it.”
I walk into the kitchen as Hudson sees Mrs. Price out and pour myself a sparkling water. Today was a lot to process. His revelations about his mom and how it changes everything I thought about him. I want to be mad still, it’s the safest option, but how can I hate him for loving his mom and sister and stepping up into what must have been an awful, situation for him? Yes, he could have handled it better, but I’m not innocent. I could have confronted him and fought harder too.
“Hey, you okay?” His hand brushes my chin as he stands in front of me, and I nod.
