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Chapter twenty-four

Hudson

The Lakeside Diner is packed, as always, the buzz of conversation mixing with the clatter of dishes and the faint sound of the jukebox. We’ve claimed our usual booth, the one in the corner by the window. Miles sits across from me, while Jay pokes at his fries next to me. Seb is wedged next to Indie, who’s scrolling through her phone with an air of disinterest, while Quinn leans forward, her chin propped on her hand, talking to Miles.

I fidget with the sleeve of my Henley, suddenly wondering if I should’ve worn something different? No, because this is just friends meeting another friend. No big deal.

Jay nudges me. “You’re quiet today. Everything okay with, uh, y’know?”

I quickly look at our friends to see who’s watching and no one is. “Yeah, everything’s fine.”

I’m just a big bag of nerves. For a guy who Daphne thinks is calm and collected lately, which, in my defense, I usually am, all I’ve been feeling is scared and overwhelmed. It isn’t every day a beautiful girl who’s pregnant with your baby meets your best friends. I can afford a few jitters. My leg bounces under the table. I guess I’ve never done this before—not the baby part, obviously, but the girl thing. I’m not the commitment guy, and she’s not even officially my girl…yet. There’s no doubt in my mind that she will be, though. I see how she looks at me. I just need to give her time to see that we belong together. I can be patient.

But no matter my nerves, it’s happening. Today.

I clear my throat, readying myself. “Guys?” I say. “I’ve got a new friend.”

All eyes snap to me, conversation and fries forgotten. Seb is the first to react. “A new friend?”

Miles chuckles, wiping a pretend tear from his eye. “Our boy is growing up so fast.”

Seb laughs as he shoves a fry into his mouth, and I grumble, “Shut up. She’s really cool.” They’ll see when they meet her. “She’s also, uh…” I begin, but stop myself, because I don’t want to accidentally blurt out that she’s pregnant. “She’s also a girl.”

Eyes flicker around the table, confused faces staring back at me. “We got that part when you said she, like, three times,” Indie says.

“Do you know how to be friends with a girl and not get in her pants?” Miles asks.

And the answer is no, but I do need tips on how to be friends with my baby mama, especially when she’s easily the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, and I’m not allowed to date her, touch her, kiss her, hold her hand. “I can be friends with girls, right? I’m friends with you two without getting in your pants.” I look over to Indie and Quinn, and one of them nods enthusiastically.

“I love being your friend,” says Quinn, while Indie mumbles, “You’d never get in my pants.”

Ugh, well, now I’m feeling insecure again. Can dads get baby hormones too? Is that a thing, because I’m super sensitive.

“So when do we get to meet this friend of yours? Or are you keeping her a secret because you’re scared we’ll scare her off?” Seb asks.

“I’m not scared,” I shoot back, but my tone is a little too defensive.

“Hudson,” Quinn says, drawing out my name. “If you’re not scared, why do you look like…that?”

“I don’t look like that ,” I grumble, whatever that is, but my hand goes to the back of my neck out of habit, rubbing at the tension that’s been building all morning. “And you’ll meet her. Soon. Just…don’t be weird, okay?”

Jay snorts, his laugh sharp. “You’re asking them not to be weird? You know who you’re talking to, right?”

“Hey,” Quinn protests. “We’re nice. Right, everyone? We’ll be nice to Hudson’s friend?” She glares around the table, and there’s a chorus of mumbled agreements, none of which fill me with much confidence.

“If she’s cool, we’ll be cool. But if she’s your ‘friend,’ why are you acting all cagey about her…” Miles narrows his eyes at me like he’s trying to read my mind. “Are you sure you’re not into her?”

I freeze for a second too long, and that’s all it takes for him to jump in. “Oh my god. You are . You totally have a thing for her.”

“I don’t,” I say quickly. Too quickly. I kind of wish I had time to prep Jay with this so he could support me, but I ran late and everyone was already here.

Seb leans forward, grinning. “Oh, this is good. I need to meet her. Like, yesterday.”

Quinn taps her brother’s chest with the back of her hand, a pointed look aimed his way, before turning to me. “You’re making this way harder on yourself, you know. Just bring her by, and we’ll play nice.”

I glance at my phone, the time shining at me, telling me I have no more time to freak out. Daphne texted me earlier to confirm, and she’s probably on her way right now. I want her to meet them, I really do, but I hate that this feels so much bigger than it should. I hate that we can’t tell them the whole truth yet.

“She’ll be here any minute.”

Miles claps his hands together. “This is going to be amazing. I can’t wait.”

I’m about to respond, when the bell over the diner door jingles. My heart jumps into my throat as I glance over, and there she is, standing in the doorway, scanning the diner for me. She’s wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, her blonde hair tumbling over one shoulder, and my eyes flicker to her belly, feeling that protective streak flare inside me. Damn, she still manages to make the room feel smaller, the air thinner.

Her eyes land on me, and she smiles. It’s soft, hesitant, but it punches through my chest all the same.

I really need to keep it cool here. I’ve only ever had one long-term girlfriend and that was in kindergarten. I’m sure that doesn’t count, but as she walks closer, all I can think about is how she already belongs to me. My primal lizard brain can’t compute that we aren’t together. Well, it’s gonna have to learn, and fast. We’re friends, only. Just friends. Casual mates . Jesus, why did I say that in my head like a British person? I’m losing it.

Seb nudges me under the table. “That her?”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. Swallowing my lingering feelings, I look at Daphne. “That’s her.”

“Well,” Indie whispers, her voice dripping with curiosity. “If that’s how you two look at each other as friends, I’d love to see what happens when it’s more than that.”

If they only knew.

Daphne walks toward the table, and I brace myself.

As she weaves her way through the crowded diner, my eyes stay on her. I’m aware of my friends watching me, probably trying to gauge the situation. She looks calm, even casual, but I know how much courage it must’ve taken for her to say yes to this, to walk in here with all eyes on her. I straighten up a little, glancing at the others as she gets closer. This is it.

Her eyes scan the group as she approaches. I stand up too. Have I made it weird by standing? Eh, fuck it, too late now. “Hey,” I say, keeping my voice as even as I can manage.

“Hey,” Daphne replies, her smile breaking through as she looks around. If I was her, I’d hate this. I’m suddenly feeling like we’re at a zoo and people are staring.

“So, you’re the new friend,” Miles says, leaning forward. “Blink twice if you’re here against your will.”

Daphne doesn’t miss a beat. “I’d blink, but Hudson promised me free food if I played along.”

The table erupts into laughter, and I take my first breath before collapsing back into my seat.

“I like her already,” Quinn says.

“Honestly, if you’re just here for the free fries, no judgment. Hudson’s charm only goes so far,” Indie says, but before I can defend myself, Daphne is slipping into the seat next to me, replacing the diner smell with her sweet scent. I try so freaking hard not to inhale deeply, because she smells so damn good, and I’ve totally forgotten what Indie even said.

“I’m Daphne,” she says with a wave.

Everyone introduces themselves, and it all feels completely normal…except for the fact that my friend is having my baby and no one here knows yet. All completely fine and normal. No need to freak out.

“You know, you look familiar,” Seb says as he leans back with narrowed eyes. “Wait, you’re Coach’s daughter, right?”

Daphne nods, glancing at me briefly. “Yeah, he’s my dad. I haven’t been around too many games yet, though. My schedule is pretty packed.”

Quinn interjects. “Ohhh, do you know what you want to major in already?”

“I want to work in PR, so media, communications, and since I want to work for a women’s sports team, I’ll minor in women’s studies too.”

“That’s awesome,” Quinn replies. “Well, if you have time, I’d love for you to come to our scrapbook club.”

“You have a scrapbook club?” Daphne asks, turning to me as well. I’m about to answer, but Quinn interjects.

“Oh my god, you should see his scrapbook. It’s so cute.”

“And pink,” Indie adds with a grin.

Daphne faces me again. “Pink, huh?”

I shrug, feeling that very color creeping onto my cheeks. “I like pink, and I’m not ashamed.”

“I love that you love pink,” Daphne says with a genuine smile.

My cheeks radiate with more heat that I can’t control as I look at her. “Yeah? Cool. I mean, you should come to the club. I can show you my book, uh, if you want?” Jesus, be cooler, man.

“You’re being weird,” Indie says.

Before I can come up with a defense, Seb stands abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “Hudson, come get a drink with me,” he says quickly. I’m mostly grateful for the reprieve to exit because I’m scared of what I might say next.

“The waitress will be ov—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Now.” His voice is firm, almost biting.

I glance back at the table. The others are already deep in conversation, Daphne laughing at something Jay just said. I force myself to nod and follow Seb toward the counter. As soon as we’re out of earshot, he spins around, his expression stormy.

“What’s going on, man?” he asks quietly. “What are you doing?”

I blink, caught off guard. “Uh…following you to get a drink?”

Seb crosses his arms, giving me a no-bullshit look. “Come on, Hudson. Don’t do that. You know what I mean.” He glances back toward the table, where Daphne is still chatting with the others. “You’re suddenly friends with Coach’s daughter? After what he said? After we saw her on the field that day?”

My chest tightens, and I swallow hard. “It’s not what you think,” I tell him, though the words feel flimsy even as I say them.

He studies me for a moment, his eyebrows pulling together. “Tell me how it isn’t what I think.”

“It’s just…” I sigh. “It’s not, okay?”

He assesses me before saying, “This is my last season, Huds. My last shot at getting us to the championship. I need everyone focused. You’re one of our best players. I can’t have you distracted, especially not by something that could blow back on all of us.”

“I’m not distracted,” I argue, though it sounds weak even to my own ears.

“I’m not saying you are. Yet. You’ve been killing it this season.” He exhales, dragging his hand through his hair. “But you know how this looks, right? If Coach even thinks you’re messing around with her, we’re all gonna pay for it. You know how he gets.”

I wince. Coach finding out sends a shiver down my spine. I know it’s going to happen, but not for the same reasons Seb thinks. Still, it’s not a pretty picture, but it’s not the full picture either.

He doesn’t know what I know.

The thought sends a wave of resolve crashing through me, clearing away some of the guilt Seb’s throwing my way. I can’t tell him, can’t tell anyone else yet, but I know what I’m doing. There’s no way I’m walking away from her now. Not when she’s carrying my kid. Not when she’d have to face this alone just because my captain says it’s a bad idea.

“You don’t get it,” I say quietly, my voice firmer this time.

“Then help me get it,” he pleads. “Help me understand how this doesn’t end in disaster?”

And as much as I hate that he’s grilling me right now, I also hate lying to him. Seb’s not just my captain; he’s one of my closest friends. But this isn’t about the team or the championship or hell, even Coach. This is about Daphne. I glance back at the table, my gaze landing on her. She’s smiling softly at something Indie said, and I feel it again, that sharp pull in my chest. Something I can’t quite explain when I look at her. Something that makes me feel scared, yet I already feel something more for her, for them both.

I take a deep breath and meet Seb’s gaze again. “I can’t promise it won’t end in disaster, but I promise you this…I won’t hurt her.”

Seb’s expression softens as he shakes his head. “Huds… This isn’t just about her. If Coach finds out, he’s not going to care about promises. You’re risking everything. Are you sure about this?”

I nod, the conviction in my chest solidifying. “I am.”

Seb exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair as he looks away for a moment. When his eyes meet mine again, there’s still a hint of doubt, but there’s something else too. “Alright,” he says. “But if you’re doing this, you’d better make damn sure it’s worth it. For her, for you, for all the team. Because if this blows up, it’s not just you who’s going to feel the heat.”

“I know.”

But there’s nothing I can do to stop this now.