Page 53

Chapter fifty-two

Hudson

The apartment is perfect. That’s my first thought as I step through the door and into the open-plan living room. The walls are a neutral, the floors polished hardwood, and there’s a small but functional kitchen off to the side. Big windows let in a ton of natural light, and the space is cozy without feeling cramped.

I walk inside, turning in a slow circle as I take it all in. “This is… Wow,” I say, running a hand over the windowsill. “It’s perfect. Daphne’s gonna love this.”

Coach stands by the door, his arms folded across his chest and an uncharacteristically soft expression on his face. He’s dressed casually for once, wearing jeans and a jacket instead of his usual CLU Wildcats gear, but he still has that air of authority that makes me stand up straighter whenever I’m around him.

“I thought so too,” he says. “Close to campus, enough space for the baby, and not far from that coffee shop you like. Figured it’d be a good fit for you two.”

I glance at him, something twisting in my chest. He’s trying. After everything, he’s here, helping me pick out an apartment for his daughter and our kid.

I step into the second bedroom. “This could be the baby’s room. I mean, it’s big enough for a crib, maybe a rocking chair.” I picture Daphne in here, holding our baby, and the image is so vivid it knocks the wind out of me.

Coach walks in, leaning against the doorframe. “You really care about her, don’t you?”

I look at him, surprised by the question. “Of course I do. Daphne and the baby…they’re everything to me. I’m in love with your daughter, Coach. I think I’ve been in love with her since the moment we met.”

I rub the back of my neck, feeling the weight of it all. “My dad wasn’t exactly a role model, you know? And every time I think about being a dad, I wonder if I’ll end up screwing it up the way he did.”

Coach’s expression softens, and he steps farther into the room. “You’re not your father, Hudson.”

I look at him, my throat tightening.

“You know how I know that?” he continues. “Because you’re here. Because you’re worried about being good enough, which means you already care more than a man like your father ever could. And because you love Daphne. That’s what matters.”

Slowly, I nod. “I’m going to try like hell to be the dad this baby deserves.”

Coach claps me on the shoulder, the rare gesture carrying more weight than words. “That’s all anyone can ask for, son.”

The word catches me off guard, and I blink at him, feeling an unfamiliar sting behind my eyes. It’s not just the word—it’s the way he says it. Like he actually means it.

Coach clears his throat, his gaze sweeping over the room. “Look, about this place. Daphne and the baby deserve a home they can count on. And you’ve got enough on your plate already—school, football, getting ready for the draft. You shouldn’t have to worry about paying for this too.”

I blink, caught off guard. “Wait, what?”

“Serena and I want to help,” he says simply. “We’ll cover the rent for the first year. Gives you time to focus on what matters—making the draft and building a future for your family. You have some money saved?”

I nod.

“Good. Then we’ll cover rent.”

I stare at him, a lump forming in my throat. “Coach, I can’t let you do that.”

“We want to. Besides, taking care of Daphne, stepping up for that baby, chasing your dreams, that’s more than enough. Let us help, Hudson. It’s what family does.”

Family. The word lodges in my chest, warm and heavy all at once. My voice is rough when I finally manage to speak. “Thank you. For this. For…everything.”

Coach smiles, his grip firm on my shoulder. “You’ve earned it.”

We step out into the crisp afternoon air, the apartment behind us. I can already see Daphne’s face when I show her. She’s going to love it. She has her baby shower this afternoon, then we’re doing dinner with her friends. Today is going to be a great day.

I pull out my phone to check the time and see two missed calls flashing on the screen. Both from Daphne.

Frowning, I unlock it and check the first voicemail. Her voice comes through, calm but serious. “Hey, Hudson. It’s me. Can you call me back when you get this? It’s important.”

The second voicemail is different. Her voice is shaky, panicked. “Hudson…my water broke. I’m in labor. Please call me.”

The blood drains from my face. I glance at Coach, my heart hammering. “It’s Daphne,” I say, shoving my phone into my pocket. “She’s in labor.”

His eyes widen, and he doesn’t waste a second. “Let’s go.”

We’re in the car a moment later, my phone pressed to my ear as I call her, speeding back toward campus. My thoughts are a chaotic mess, but Coach’s words keep echoing in my head. You’re not your father, Hudson. You’re already enough.

And I believe it. I have to, because the baby is coming.

***

I practically skid into the hospital lobby, nearly taking out a potted plant in the process. My heart’s racing, my palms are sweaty, and I can’t remember the last time I took a full breath. The nurse at the front desk points me toward Daphne’s room with a sympathetic smile, and I’m halfway down the hall before I realize I’m still wearing my jacket.

By the time I reach her door, I’m bracing myself for screaming, crying, doctors shouting things like push! but the scene I walk into is…not what I expected.

Daphne is sitting upright in bed, a Styrofoam cup with a straw in her hand, sipping on what looks like juice. Her face is relaxed, her cheeks flushed, and she’s smiling like she just won the lottery.

“Hudson!” she exclaims, waving the cup in my direction. “You made it!”

Stopping in my tracks, I can only stare at her. “Wait. Did it happen? Did I miss it?” I look at her belly, and it’s still swollen, but the baby books said that could happen even after baby is born, since it takes time for organs to shift…but I think I’m wrong anyway.

She looks at me like I’ve just asked if the sky is blue. “Miss what?”

“The baby,” I say, gesturing wildly. “Did the baby come already? What’s going on?”

She laughs, a light giggle that’s so unlike her usual sarcastic chuckle, it throws me completely off. “No, silly,” she says, drawing out the words. “The baby’s still…inside. But the nurse gave me this thing for the contractions, and now I feel awesome. ”

My eyes narrow, and I step closer to the bed. “Daphne, are you high right now?”

She grins, her head tilting slightly to the side like she’s trying to decide whether to take the question seriously. “Probably. I feel kinda floaty.”

I laugh, because seeing her all chilled out like this is the polar opposite of what I thought I’d find here.

“Okay,” I say slowly, pulling a chair closer to the bed and dropping into it. “So, just to clarify: the baby hasn’t been born, there’s no issue with your placenta, and you’re on some kind of happy drugs, and you’re…fine?”

She nods enthusiastically, the straw in her cup bobbing as she takes another sip. “I’m great. Doc said that everything is fine, even though it’s a little early, they aren’t worried, isn’t that nice? But they need to make sure we’re both happy which is why I’ve got this thing on my belly, beeping away. Contractions were super sucky, but now it’s like…pfft, whatever.” She waves a hand dismissively as her smile grows even wider. “Hudson, did you know my legs feel like Jell-O? But, like, the fun kind of Jell-O?”

This is not how I imagined this moment going. It’s so much better. I look at her, a grin on my face I couldn’t wipe off if I tried. “You’re so cute, you know that?”

Before I can say anything else, the door swings open, and Coach walks in. His gaze darts between me and Daphne, his brow furrowing. “Everything alright in here?”

Daphne’s face lights up even more. “Daddy!” she exclaims, throwing her arms wide. “Did you and Hudson fight again?”

I choke on air, glancing at Coach, whose jaw tightens just slightly before he exhales and shakes his head. “No, sweetheart. We didn’t fight.”

She frowns, her bottom lip sticking out like a pouty child. “Good. ’Cause I don’t like it when you fight. Hudson’s a good boy, Daddy. He’s trying really hard.”

Coach glances at me, and for once, there’s no tension in his expression, just a flicker of amusement. “Yeah, I know, sweetheart. We’re good.”

Daphne nods. “Good. That’s good. I love you both, you know?”

Coach looks like he’s biting back a smile, and I’m barely holding it together myself. “We love you too, Daphne,” he says, stepping closer and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

She sighs contentedly and leans back against the pillows. “You guys are the best. The absolute best.”

I glance at Coach, raising an eyebrow. “So…this is happening.”

A smirk tugs at his lips as he nods. “Looks like it.”

“Do they tell us how long this stage is supposed to last?” I ask, gesturing toward Daphne, who is now humming to herself and occasionally giggling for no apparent reason.

Coach shrugs. “Might be a while. You’ve got time to sit down and enjoy the show.”

I glance back at Daphne, who’s holding her cup up like a toast to no one in particular, and shake my head. “Yeah, I think I’ll do that.”