Page 105 of When the Time Is Right
I pursed my lips to stifle the chuckle, because I specifically remember what he’d said before that party when he saw me in my dress. In the way only Hudson could, he’d said, “Babe, someone’s getting pregnant tonight.”
Lo and behold, nine months later, our hellion screamed her way into the world.
“I still have that little black dress,” I teased.
His hold on me tightened, and he growled as he playfully bit my lobe. “You better watch what you say before this party becomes part of our family legacy.”
“Dad,” Jack said, popping his head in through the French door, saving me from three trimesters of swollen feet.
Hudson’s chin shot up, but he didn’t let go.
“Since you got the SS out, can I drive it to go pick up Nolan?”
I looked up into Hudson’s eyes and my heart grew for the billionth time.
“Yes, but no stopping to make out. Get right back. If I have to sit through an afternoon with your aunt Vanessa for your birthday, you and your boyfriend do too.”
When Jack had come out to us, scared and unsure how we’d take it only a year ago, I’d fallen in love with my husband all over again. At the dinner table after the girls had gone to bed one night, he’d confessed that he thought he was in love with his best friend and didn’t know what to do.
Hudson had only smiled at his boy and said, “Like father, like son.”
To which Jack almost fell out of his seat.
Under the table, Hudson grabbed my hand and said, “I fell in love with my best friend too once, son. I couldn’t care less if you’re gay. What I care about is you being a brave man and recognizing love when you feel it. It took me years to understand my love for Lex. So if you love Nolan, then tell him when the time is right and you’ll never regret it.”
I’d lifted our paired hands to my mouth and kissed my husband’s knuckles, thankful he was the father of my children, my lover, my bossy other half, my forever beer, wings, and darts partner, my biggest champion, and—that day and forever—my best friend too.
I smiled at the memory as I gave Jack back my attention. “The keys are on the counter.”
“’Kay,” Jack said, his gaze slipping down to his father’s arms around my middle. “The no-making-out rule also goes for you two though. I don’t need anymore siblings.”
Poor Jack. He’d spent so much of his life as the only child in our giant, crazy family until it seemed baby fever had hit us all at the same time. Cal and Vanessa had been busy with two girls and a boy, and even Lauren and Grandpa Mark had defied the laws of reproduction and had a little girl of their own a few years back. Jack loved them all and had secured a pretty substantial bank account as the family babysitter, but his patience was wearing thin.
“Boy, get out of here before I change my mind about you taking the Chevelle,” Hudson rumbled.
Jack rolled his eyes, but like the smart man we’d raised him to be, he snagged the keys and hurried out the door.
Hudson slid around in front of me, his hands dropping to my ass. “We’ve got a solid ten minutes before your parents get here.”
I shoved at his chest. “Right. Which means I need to hurry up and make my secret recipe salsa before Judy realizes it comes from a jar.”
He chuckled and dipped low to lean his forehead to mine. “I can’t believe he’s actually eighteen. Where did the time go?”
Encircling his neck, I placed a reverent kiss to his lips.
Time had gone to smiles and laughs.
It had gone to making memories and making love.
It had gone to the three little girls laughing and fighting upstairs.
And in ten minutes, it would go to an afternoon of cake and presents with the unconventional family we’d made together.
Although I’d known him most of my life, I’d spend every minute of every day proving to him I’d always bet on us.
“Love you, Hud.”
“Love you too, babe.”The End
