More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“He looks at you all the time,” Piper tells me gently. “I’m not sure there’s a moment when he’s not looking at you.”
“You’ve seen how Hudson is,” Piper tells me. “You’ve been around him for months. When he loves people, he loves them with every part of himself. Is it a flaw? Maybe. But you know you’re never going to doubt his feelings for you.”
I’m proud to sit beside them. I’m honored to call them my friends, and I know no matter what happens with Hudson, I’ve fallen in love with four women I’ll have in my corner for the rest of my life.
His mouth twists as he says it, and I decide he has a very punchable face. Decking him between the eyes has suddenly become my lifelong dream, but I know violence isn’t the answer.
“We’ll go as slow as you want, sweetheart.” I touch her chin, tilting her head back. I kiss her, not caring who is watching. I sure as shit hope Clark is. “It’s you, me, and Lucy. For as long as you’ll have me.” Her grin is my favorite thing. “What a team we make.”
“Wow.” I smile and close my eyes. “Sounds like you want to keep me around. How long is all this spoiling and pampering going to last?” “Forever, if you’ll let me,” he says, and my heart skips a beat. “And then some.” “Okay,” I say, and his hold on me tightens. “Forever sounds really nice.”
She needs to be the one to say it first, not because I doubt her feelings for me, but because I love her so unbelievably much, the last thing I want to do is scare her away.
I love you so much, my wasted heart is finally healed because of it.
Like a dad? My friends say their daddies love their mommies. I’ve never had a daddy. Yeah. I swallow. Like a dad. Yes, she tells me with tears in her eyes. That would be okay. Mommy and I love you, too.
I’ll have those two in the stands, which means I already won.
“Enough?” He takes the tray from my lap and shoves it on the bedside table. “Sweetheart. You are everything to me. I want you, and I don’t give a shit about anything else.”
“Loving you is easier than anything I’ve ever done. It’s like breathing. Something that comes naturally, because I don’t have to think about it. You’re just… there. Perfect and wonderful and mine. Made for me, I think.”
“I love you, Madeline Galloway. I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I love how strong you are. How wonderful of a mother you are. I love your sarcasm, but I also love when you slow things down. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before. And if there’s ever a doubt in your mind, I want you to ask me, because that means I’m not doing a good enough job of showing you how fucking gone I am for you.”
I’m going to spend the rest of my life disappointed I’ll never get the chance to meet Sarah Hayes. If I could spend just thirty seconds with her, I’d tell her how good of a job she did as a parent. How strong and self-aware her son is without being cocky or overbearing. I’d tell her how he loves everything in his life with his whole heart, and he holds himself accountable when the situation calls for it. I’d let her know he’s emotionally mature. Breathtakingly beautiful. Passionate and proud, humble and gracious in moments of defeat.
“A loving best friend. A gentle romantic partner. A teammate.” I take a second to collect my thoughts. “A father figure,” I add softly, and he wraps his arms around me. “The people who love you—me. Lucy. Maverick and the boys. Your dad. Your mom—we see you as so much more.”
“Maybe you weren’t ever broken,” I whisper. “Maybe you just needed someone who could help put the pieces back together. And I’m glad I could be the one to do it.”
“Get your ass over here, Galloway, so I can celebrate with my girls.”
“I love you too, Hudson, but you should be with your teammates. You all have worked so hard this season. I’m in the way.” “No.” I grin at her, on top of the fucking world. “You’re exactly where you should be.”
The honeymoon phase with Hudson hasn’t faded. We’re just as happy, just as stupid about each other as we were when we first confessed our feelings. I’ve stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m learning that when you’re with your soulmate, when you’re with your perfect other half, you don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to worry if they’re going to leave when the going gets tough because they show up for you, day in and day out, and remind you how much they care.
Every time I think Hudson can’t get any better, he does something so selfless and so profound, my heart nearly falls out of my chest.
Maverick scores, and the crowd cheers. He finds the camera after he does and pulls out the necklace tucked into his jersey, proudly showing off the little charms with the initials of Emmy and their daughter to all of America.
Lucy waves and jumps up and down. She answers with an I love you of her own, and I’m still not sure how I ended up in love with a man who publicly acknowledges my daughter.
He doesn’t know about the envelope Lucy is grabbing from her desk drawer. He’s clueless about the adoption papers she begged me to file so Hudson could legally be her dad. He’s been in that role since they met, and no one else will ever hold the title.
That’s how Hudson feels about Lucy’s present too. He adopted her favorite dog from the shelter where we volunteer every month. He was planning on giving him to her on Christmas morning, but every day that passes, he gets closer and closer to ruining the surprise and bringing Bartholomew home.
“You did. You came into my life, and it’s been the biggest blessing I could ever ask for. I was so fucking lonely before you and Lucy got here, but look at us now.” He switches back to signing. I’m the luckiest guy to have such amazing girls. Get me a pen and let me sign. I would’ve said yes on day one.
