Page 32

Chapter thirty-one

Daphne

I stare at the ceiling for a moment, my chest heavy, before instinctively pressing my hand to my stomach. The baby. Just the thought feels surreal, like I’ve stepped into someone else’s life. Nothing about me looks different, but I can’t pretend I’m the same. It’s not just the nausea that’s been hounding me during the day, it’s this strange, overwhelming awareness that I’m going to be someone’s mom.

This isn’t how I imagined it happening, and I’m trying so hard not to focus on that detail.

I’m supposed to be creating content for my feature with CLUSports media team, not researching breast pumps at three in the morning. But life doesn’t hand you a playbook, and I’ve always believed things happen for a reason, despite this not being the perfect scenario. Maybe this is my reason.

My phone buzzes on the nightstand, and I stretch out to reach for it. There’s a text from Liv, telling me to call her. It’s unlike us to go a few days without talking, but things have been busy. My life is a bit like a three-ring circus lately, and I need to get a handle on that.

I bring up Liv’s name and press video call. She answers on the first ring. Her slightly sweaty face comes into view and the camera is unstable, kind of like… Is she jogging?

“Thank God, I was about to send a search party out. Did you know it’s been three days since I’ve seen your face?” she says, breathless.

“The running is making me wanna puke.” I cover my mouth and close my eyes. “And I’m sorry it’s been three days.”

“Whew, alright, I’ve slowed down for you.” I open my eyes to see the jostling has stopped. “So, catch me up. Are you in love with your baby daddy yet?”

I scoff loudly, but don’t have a chance to answer her because she goes on.

“Okay, okay, we’re not in love yet, but something happened. I can see it on your pretty face.”

I sigh. “We told Mom and Dad.”

Her mouth opens with a gasp. “You didn’t tell me!?”

I scrunch my face, fighting guilt. “I know, I’m sorry. I told you things have been crazy, and I’ve been—”

“Burying yourself in school?”

I nod sheepishly. “I’m sorry, though.”

“Eh, I’ve forgiven you already because I need to know how it went.”

Swallowing roughly, I wince at the memory of it all. “Mom wasn’t too bad, but Dad…”

“Freaked?”

“Big time. It was horrible. I still haven’t heard from him either. Mom called me, like, the next day to reassure me, and I needed that, but you know I’ve always looked up to my Dad.”

Liv’s expression morphs with a frown. “I’m so sorry, babe. I wish I could knock some sense into him.”

She would, given half the chance too. It’s a good thing she’s in Washington. “It’s okay. Hudson has actually been great.”

“Of course he has.” She grins. “The guy is a green flag. Greener than a golf course.”

A bubble of laughter bursts from me, and it feels good to laugh. “I miss you.”

She rolls her eyes playfully. “Then don’t ignore me for days.”

“Promise, I won’t.”

“Oh,” she squeals. “Gotta go. My new guy is calling me.”

“I still need to hear about him, too!”

“Soon,” she says, blowing me a kiss and hanging up.

When the video disappears, another notification catches my eye. It’s from an unknown number.

Unknown

Hey girlie, I hope you don’t mind me getting your number from Hudson. I wanted to let you know that I’m free for coffee whenever, and I’d still love for you to come to our scrapbook club soon! Quinn X

My eyes water, and I’m not sure why.

Is it because I feel like I’m gaining more friends who care about me and the baby? Is it hormones wreaking havoc on my emotions? Or is it because there’s a man in my life who cares enough to give my number to his friends. To make space for me in his world.

I reply to Quinn and save her number because, of course, I want to go to the scrapbook club.

Then Hudson’s name lights up the screen.

Hudson

Morning, Daph. Hope you got some sleep. Call me when you’re up.

I stare at the message, remembering how he’s been with me the last couple of weeks. How he’s been since we’ve found out. He was solid with my parents a few days ago, exactly what I needed when I thought I was going to shatter into pieces. It didn’t matter that my dad threw hurtful words like daggers; he didn’t waver once. I can’t fault him at all. So why am I scared to let him in more? I trust him so much more now, and I’ve never been scared of commitment. There’s a guy who’s the father of my child, and he wants to be with me and I’m stalling him. Am I running scared, or am I scared he only wants me because of the baby? I can’t deny that fear feels real.

Before I can wallow any more, my phone buzzes again, this time with a call from Hudson. My stomach swoops, before I swipe to answer.

“Hey,” I say, my voice scratchy from sleep.

“Hey yourself,” he says. “How are you feeling?”

I shrug, even though he can’t see it. “Tired.”

“Me too. Practice has been brutal this week.” There’s a pause, and I feel guilty, wondering if my dad is putting him through it because of all this. “I’m outside.”

I sit up, startled. “You’re here?”

“Outside,” he repeats. “With what is probably the most expensive, most ridiculous frappe I’ve ever ordered. It’s got no coffee but tons of chocolate. They didn’t have any milkshakes, so this was the next best thing. Indie made it for you.”

My heart hammers behind my ribs. This sweet side to him, the thoughtfulness is unmatched, and I’ve never known anyone to wear their heart on their sleeve quite like he does. A small smile tugs at my lips. “Hudson, what are you doing?”

“Trying to make you feel better,” he says simply. “I want to take you somewhere.”

“Where?” I ask, already knowing that he’s made an effort for me this morning, so I can do the same by going with him.

“It’s a surprise,” he says, and I can hear the grin in his voice. “Come on, Daph. Put some shoes on and let me do this.”

I sigh, but it’s not from annoyance. Far from it. It’s from something softer, something that feels like relief because I’m about to let him have control over my day. “Give me five minutes.”

When I make it outside, Hudson leans against his car, arms crossed loosely over his chest, his hoodie slightly wrinkled like he threw it on in a rush. His dark blonde hair is a little messier than usual, losing that golden glow from the summer sunshine. The faint shadows under his eyes confirm what he told me about being tired And yet, when he sees me, his smile lights up his whole face. “Morning, princess.” He moves toward me, and I tingle all over, wondering if he might just kiss me. I think I’d let him. No, I know I would. But instead, he looks down at my belly and says, “Morning, baby.” And my heart somersaults.

Don’t cry because he’s being sweet. Don’t cry. He’s just saying hello. Stupid hormones. Biting the inside of my cheek I smile. “Morning.” I manage, keeping my voice clear.

“Here.” He holds out the drink, keeping one for him that looks more like coffee. When I take it, our fingers brush. His grin doesn’t falter, and there’s something warm in his expression that has my pulse fluttering. Yeah, I’m trying really hard not to crush on my baby daddy, but that smile, this drink, him saying morning to our unborn child, just being here, it’s all making me slip down a very slippery, stupid slope that I can’t seem to stop. Jesus, I’ve gone through a lot of emotions and it’s barely 10 a.m.

The frappe is just as ridiculous as he promised, cold, sweet, drowning in whipped cream and chocolate. But it’s not the drink that makes my stomach do an unexpected little flip. It’s him. “Mmm,” I moan around the straw, and his throat clears. “That’s really good.” Lowering the cup, I lick a stray bit of whipped cream from my lip, and when I glance up at him, his eyes are locked on my mouth. His throat bobs as he swallows hard.

“Good, huh?” he says, voice rougher than before.

I nod and take another sip, just to see where this goes. Testing the waters again.

His fingers tighten around his own cup. “I’m just a man, Daph. A simple, weak man. And you…” he trails off. He’s called me Daph before. Princess, too, but something about him feeling comfortable enough to use that nickname too, gives me butterflies.

“I…what?” I encourage him to finish his sentence.

He shakes his head, running his tongue along his teeth before leveling me with a look that makes my stomach flip again. “You’re killing me…in the best way.”

I smile at that. Then take another sip, watching the way his jaw clenches and wonder how long it’ll take before he does something about it.

He mutters something before he opens the door for me, stepping aside, and even something small like that is making me want to cry and throw myself at him all rolled into one emotion. “Thanks,” I say as I brush past him into the passenger’s seat.

When he slides into the driver’s seat, the space instantly feels smaller. The faint scent of his cologne, sweet and spicy, lingers in the air, mixing with the chill from outside. I sip the frappe, but this time to enjoy it, not tease him, letting the chocolate and whipped cream melt on my tongue, and despite the fact I have zero control over what’s happening today, I feel my shoulders loosen a little.

He fiddles with his phone, and just as he pulls onto the road, Gracie Abrams filters through the speakers. Not just any song either, my favorite one. I glance over to him, wondering if he did it on purpose, if he remembered. I study his profile, the casual way his hand rests on the wheel, the slight curve of his mouth.

As if feeling my gaze, he glances at me too. Then he winks.

He remembered.

I bite down a smile, turning back to the window as the music wraps around us.

“So, where are we going?” I ask needing a distraction from the warmth in my cheeks.

“It’s a place I used to go as a kid,” he says, turning onto the road. “Still in Oregon. Near the border of Idaho, my hometown. It’s a couple of hours away, but trust me, it’s worth it.”

When we finally pull up to wherever we are, it’s even more stunning than I imagined. I grew up in Oregon, sure not this far east but still, this place is beautiful. The lake stretches out like a mirror, reflecting the jagged peaks of the mountains and the dense pine trees that frame the horizon.

Hudson parks the car on a gravel patch near the perfect view of the water and turns off the engine, letting the stillness settle around us. I lean forward, peering through the windshield at the scene before me. “This is beautiful,” I murmur. “What’s it called?”

“Aurora Valley,” he says. “My mom named my sister after this place.”

I turn my head to look at him, remembering him mentioning the night we met he had a sister. “Your sister’s name is Aurora?”

He nods, and we both exit the car, walking to the trunk as he pulls out a thick plaid blanket. “Yeah, but we call her Rory.”

“And they still live here?”

“Yeah, just the other side of town. When she found out she was having a girl, there was no question. She said she wanted my sister to carry a piece of this place with her, no matter where she ended up.”

I blink at him, momentarily speechless. “That’s…really beautiful,” I say quietly.

We start walking toward the lake, the chill nipping at my skin. I instinctively pull my coat tighter, and Hudson notices, stopping mid-step to unwrap the plaid blanket in his arms. Beneath it, there’s another, a softer, fluffier one.

“Here,” he says, coming up beside me. Without waiting for a reply, he drapes it over my shoulders, his hands brushing against my arms as he makes sure it’s secure. “Figured you might get cold, so I brought extra.”

The gesture catches me completely off guard, the weight of the blanket settling over me like a hug. It’s such a small thing, but it feels like so much more. That he’s here, paying attention, even to the things I don’t say out loud.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice catching slightly.

As his hand drops, something pink catches my eye. It’s my scrunchie on his wrist again. The one he slipped off me at that party and claimed as his own. It’s mine, my brain says, my scrunchie, and he’s wearing it like it means something to him.

I swallow hard and look away before he sees me staring, but I land on another bracelet circling his wrist. A thin, beaded one.

He sits on the blanket and taps the space beside him, following my gaze still glued to his wrist. Moving to sit next to him, I touch the beaded one. “What does that one say?”

His lips twitch, holding his arm up so I can see. “2 nd Best.”

A surprised laugh escapes me. “Who gave you that?”

“My sister.” He laughs, running a finger over the beads. “She said it’s a gentle reminder that she’s the favorite child.”

I grin. “She’s ruthless. I like her already.”

He laughs at that and rubs his finger over my scrunchie now, and that same feeling ripples in my chest. There’s something far away in my mind whispering that won’t be the only thing he claims if given the chance.

“Tell me about your mom and sister.”

“Every summer,” he says, leaning back on his hands. “This was our spot. My mom, Aurora, and me. We’d fish sometimes, skip rocks, pack way too much food. It wasn’t fancy, but it didn’t need to be.” He pauses, his gaze fixed on the water. “It was just…happy, you know? Life wasn’t perfect, but here, it felt like it could be. I think this is where I learned how to dream big. Sitting here with my mom, listening to her talk about all the things she wanted for us. She’d tell us that no matter what happened, we had to believe we deserved good things.”

I tilt my head, watching him closely. “Do you still believe that?”

His lips twitch into a faint smile. “Most days. But lately...I think about this baby, and it feels huge, Daph. Bigger than anything I’ve ever done. Then I think about what my mom would say, how it’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up. Loving people so hard they never doubt it.”

I feel a lump rise in my throat, and I glance back at the lake, blinking back the swell of emotion rising. “Hudson...” I start, but the words dissolve on my tongue, so I let them fall away. Instead, I reach out and take his hand, threading my fingers through his. I feel incredibly lucky to have him with me, this man who, I’m learning, cares so deeply and listens so intently. His mama sure did something right with him.

“Yeah?”

“Can I meet your mom and sister one day soon?”

He looks down at our hands, then back at me. “I’d like that.”

The sound of the water lapping against the shore fills the space between us. The breeze carries the faint scent of pine, and I breathe it in, letting the calm of this place settle over me. Letting his presence ground me.

Hudson shifts slightly, leaning closer, his voice dropping as he asks, “Have you thought about the scan? You know...seeing the baby?”

I nod, my hand instinctively brushing over my stomach under the blanket. The reality of it feels closer now, more solid, especially with everything that’s happened in the past few days. “I guess we should call soon,” I say, my voice quieter. “I have the letter now. It’s probably time to book it.”

“We’ll do it together.”

I lean my head against his shoulder and let out a slow, shaky breath. Watching Hudson sitting here by the lake, I realize something. He isn’t just the guy who makes me laugh or makes me feel good. He’s someone who’ll carry a blanket in case I get cold. Someone who’ll show up for me, and for this baby too.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “For this. I didn’t realize how much I needed it.”

He looks at me then, his expression serious but gentle. “I needed it too.”

***

Hudson

“You ever skip rocks?” I ask, rolling a smooth one in my palm. It’s the perfect size.

She snorts softly. “Not since I was a kid. And, spoiler alert, I sucked at it.”

“Perfect,” I say, standing and brushing off my jeans. I extend a hand, wiggling my fingers in invitation. “Today’s your lucky day. I happen to be a skipping expert.”

“Did you miss the part where I’m bad at this?”

“I heard you.”

“As in unredeemable.”

“More of a challenge for me then.” I wink at her and watch that smile break free, my favorite one when she’s going with the flow. “Alright, rule one: it’s all in the wrist. Rule two: don’t overthink it. And rule three…” I pause dramatically. “Look cool while you do it. Like this.”

I flick my wrist, sending the stone zipping over the surface in a clean string of skips. It hops five times before sinking, and I glance back at her with a smug smile.

“Show-off,” she mutters, but there’s a spark of challenge in her eyes. “Finn would love this. I’m more of a sit-and-observe kind of girl.”

“Sounds like Finn and I would get on well.”

“You would.” She smiles. “He’s the adventurous twin. Always off exploring, dragging me to climb a tree with him. That’s what he’s doing now, traveling.”

Her expression shifts, as does her mood.

“You miss him.”

She looks out to the water. “I do. He’s like an extension of me in some ways. It’s hard not being with him and it’s harder not being on the same time zones too. Like if I’m struggling, he just knows.”

“That’s nice. I bet you got into trouble as kids.”

She snorts. “Not me. I was a good girl.”

Her eyes find mine, and I have to swallow those words without making it too obvious that I’m affected by them. By her. But there’s also a slight pinch to those two words, a shadow that’s quickly blinked away, like they affect her more than she’s letting on.

Clearing my throat, I hand her a stone. “Your turn.”

She mirrors my earlier stance, her tongue poking out in concentration, and hurls the stone…straight into the water with a spectacular plop.

“Solid splash,” I say, biting back a laugh.

“Still think I’m worth the challenge?” she says, putting a hand on her hip.

That little action has me drawing closer to her. She’s so freaking beautiful.

I step up behind her, close enough that the sweet scent of her shampoo sneaks past the crisp air. My hands settle around her waist as I move her hips to where they should be to throw better, or that’s what I tell myself. But it’s impossible to ignore how easily she leans into me, like she belongs there, like she was always meant to fit against me.

Taking a chance, I brush her hair from her shoulder, my fingertips grazing the silky strap of her camisole peeking from beneath the cardigan. A glimpse of bare skin, delicate and distracting. I lean down, my lips just close enough for her to feel my breath. “You’re definitely worth the challenge, Daphne,” I say, the words carrying more weight than I intended. Or do they? Her and the baby have quickly become the center of something important to me and I’d do anything for them.

She turns her head, tilting toward me. Her tongue peeks out to wet those lips I so desperately need to claim. “That so?” she murmurs, her voice betraying her with a slight shake.

I move my hands down her sides, hitting her jean-clad hips, squeezing slightly, relishing the way she shifts her body backward just a touch. “Absolutely,” I say. Her breathing changes, and it takes everything in me not to take that kiss from her. But I restrain myself because that’s not what today is about. Yes, I want her, but I want to show her that what this could be between us is more.

As I guide her arm again, my hands linger longer than necessary. “Let’s try again, hm?”

She nods with a thick swallow that I notice, because I’m right fucking there, inhaling her, basking in her body heat. Adjusting her feet, she throws the rock, and this time, it skips twice before sinking. Her laughter bursts out, bright and full of shock.

“Two skips! Did you see that?” she says, spinning to face me, her eyes alight.

“I saw it,” I say, grinning back at her.

She spins back toward the lake with a triumphant laugh. “Two skips! That’s practically professional level, right?”

“Practically,” I tease, crossing my arms as I watch her. I don’t even care about the skipping anymore. I’m too busy watching the way she’s smiling, how her eyes are alive with that wide-open kind of joy that you don’t see every day. It’s different from her usual smiles, the ones that she gives out to be polite. This one? It’s completely her.

“What?” she asks, catching me staring.

“Nothing,” I say, but I have to clear my throat. “Just…you. You’re kind of incredible, you know that?”

Her cheeks color, and she looks down, her hand on her stomach. “Expert rock skipping aside, I don’t feel that incredible. I feel bloated and nauseous and the only things I can even think about eating are chocolate milkshakes or McDonalds fries with extra salt, which isn’t incredible at all. In fact, it’s gross and not good for the baby, so I shouldn’t eat it.”

“Hey,” I say, stepping closer. “You’re growing a whole human being. If that doesn’t make you incredible, I don’t know what does. And honestly? If McDonald’s fries are what you need, then I say we get you some. I could totally go for some nuggets.”

“Aren’t you banned from junk food right now? My dad is the king of healthy eating. If he knew I was corrupting you and feeding you nuggets…”

“Listen, I think I’ve hit peak pissing your dad off, so let’s just go eat the junk food, princess.” I hold my hand out for her to take, and she looks down at it, then back to me.

“I’m not sure who’s the bad influence here, you or me.”

“Both, probably, which means our baby is going to be one heck of a little hellion.”

We laugh together as we collect the blankets and walk back to the car.

Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into a drive-through. “What’s this future troublemaker craving aside from fries?”

“Fries. Extra salt. Oh, and a small chocolate milkshake.” She pauses, frowning. “I was about to say cheeseburger, but I just gagged thinking about it. Definitely no burger.”

“Fries and shake, no burger. Got it.”

When the food arrives, Daphne dives into the bag and pulls out a fry, sighing in relief as she pops it into her mouth. “Oh my god. You’re my favorite right now.”

“Aw, thanks, Daph,” I say, smiling at her.

She tilts her head, a fry dangling from the corner of her mouth, and grins. “I meant the food.”

I fake a dramatic gasp, clutching my chest. “The betrayal. I thought we had something special.”

Daphne snickers and steals another fry. “We do, right behind the fries. They’re my number one.”

“Noted,” I say with a chuckle, pulling out of the drive-through. “You and the fries can have your moment, but don’t forget who brought them to you.”

She waves a fry at me like a trophy. “You’re the delivery guy. Fries still win.”

I laugh, but an idea pops into my head. Delivery guy. Shit. I could work Door Dash to fit around my schedule. “You’re a genius.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “I am?”

I nod, excitedly bubbling inside. “I’ve been thinking about how I can make some extra cash for us—”

“Hudson, you don’t—”

“I do and I will.” I meet her gaze directly. “Listen, Door Dash is easy, it works around my training and schoolwork. It’ll be the fastest way to get us what we need.”

She swallows a fry, eyes wide and locked on me. “You…I…” Then she drops her hand to her stomach, and I track the movement. I know what she’s thinking, what she’s trying to say without saying it.

“I want to do this. For all of us, okay?” I say quietly.

She doesn’t say anything right away, she picks another fry and eats it slowly as though she’s turning my words over in her head. I let her process, giving her the space to decide if she’s going to protest again, but she doesn’t. She turns to me and those plush lips curve up into a smile that notches itself into the walls of my heart. I can tell she’s letting go of something. Letting me have control of a situation she probably wishes she could control herself. But we’re a team. And I think she’s finally letting herself believe that.

She dives back into eating her fries, a little more relaxed. “Don’t I get one?” I ask, tipping my head toward the bag, wanting to lighten the mood.

She slowly plucks a fry from the bag and holds it out toward me. The second her hand gets close, I lean over and snap my teeth at her fingers.

Daphne yelps, jerking her hand back, the fry tumbling into my lap. “Oh my god!” she gasps, eyes wide before she dissolves into laughter. “Did you just try to bite me ?”

I give her an innocent look as I grab the fry from my lap and pop it into my mouth. “Better watch those fingers, princess.”

She shakes her head and reaches for another fry. But this time, she keeps her eyes on me. “I’m not scared of you.”

I snap at her again with my teeth, earning a laugh that fills the cabin of my car.

I like her like this. Her walls are nowhere to be seen, and the smiles she’s been throwing my way all day have knocked me on my ass.

She’s got a grain of salt on her chin, a stray fry crumb tangled in her hair, and she’s slurping her chocolate milkshake with a ridiculous, satisfied moan. And honestly? She’s never looked more beautiful.