Beautiful Collide (Saints Of Redville #3)

Chapter 92

92

Hudson

What the hell is going on?

Why is there barking coming from my house?

The TV.

Obviously, Hex is watching something, or at least that’s what I tell myself as I walk inside.

I’m not dumb. I know it’s not that at all, because I can totally also hear Molly cooing at the same time.

Jeez, what has she got herself into this time?

Not working is one thing.

Creating lists is another.

Now this . . .

The farther I make it into the house, the more I’m one hundred percent sure it’s a dog.

The barking is way too high-pitched and chaotic to be anything else.

I’m about to step into something I’m not prepared for.

Great.

When I turn the corner, I realize how screwed I am. There, in the living room, is Josie. She’s crouched down, playing with a floppy-eared puppy.

“Look.” Josie waves at me like she hasn’t seen me in years. “Isn’t he cute?”

I blink, taking in the scene.

She points at the dog, and I shake my head, but then I hear the distinct sound of a second dog and I pivot to find the source. That’s when I see a smaller dog sitting on the couch, and lo and behold, Molly sits next to it. Her hand rests gently on its head like the puppy is already hers.

“Nope.” I run a hand through my hair. This is bad.

Molly looks up, and I can tell she’s trying not to laugh. “Hi, Hudson.”

Damn her and her innocent smile.

“Hi, Hudson?” I move closer to her. “No, absolutely not.”

“What?” She acts like she has no clue what I’m saying no to.

“You don’t get to act casual about this. There are dogs in my house. Plural. Explain.”

Josie jumps up, scoops up her squirming puppy, and holds it against her chest. “We adopted them. Aren’t they adorable?”

I blink at her, then look back at Molly, who suddenly finds the dog sitting with her very interesting.

“You what?” This is not happening.

“We adopted them.” Molly finally meets my gaze. “You remember the adoption event? Well, they were still looking for homes, so . . .”

“You went behind my back and brought a dog into the house?”

“It’s not behind your back.” Molly raises an eyebrow. “You’re standing right here.”

Josie bursts out laughing, and I shoot her a glare. “You’re not helping.”

“Don’t be mad,” Josie says, and I return my attention to her. She’s currently flashing me her most innocent smile. Don’t fall for it. “Look at this face.” She tilts her puppy toward me.

Molly stands with her puppy in hand and walks up to me. She places a kiss on my lips, which is followed by the white fluff ball in her hands licking me too.

“Dammit.” I wipe my face. “That’s cheating.”

“Well, that’s my cue to leave. Have fun with your new pup,” Josie says as she moves to leave the room.

Molly waves as Josie heads out the door. Once we’re alone, I look over at Molly. Both she and the dog are giving me puppy eyes.

This is cruel torture.

How can I say no to this?

I cross my arms. “All right, Hex. Spill.”

Molly sighs, patting the dog’s head as she looks up at me. “It’s not a big deal, Hudson. I’ve wanted a dog for a while, and this one needed a home. That’s all.”

“That’s all?” I narrow my eyes. “Molly, you don’t just adopt a dog. So what’s going on?”

She hesitates, her fingers stilling against the dog’s fur.

“Molly,” I say, my voice softer now. “Talk to me.”

She lets out a slow breath, her shoulders sagging slightly. “I told Dane about your injury.”

The words hit me like a slap, and for a moment, I just stare at her, trying to process what she said. “You what?”

“I told him,” she says again, her voice firmer now. “He’s the enforcer. Your defender. He can protect you on the ice. You needed someone to have your back, and now you do.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Because you would have objected.

“I knew you’d be mad,” she admits.

Welp, she’s right about that.

It’s true. I would have been.

I rake a hand through my hair, pacing the length of the room. “Jesus, Molly. You went behind my back—”

“I did it for you!” she shouts, cutting me off.

I almost stumble. In all the years I’ve known Molly, and despite everything we have been through, she’s never yelled. Sure, she’s snapped. But yell, no.

Something else is happening here. “And you’re welcome, by the way, because Dane’s been keeping everyone off your ass during practice, hasn’t he?”

Why is she acting like this? I start to walk. Why would she be so defensive about this? It’s almost as if . . . then it hits me square in the chest.

I stop pacing, turning to face her. “So, that’s why you let him fire you?”

Her mouth opens, then closes, and the guilt in her eyes tells me everything I need to know.

“You traded your job for me,” I say quietly, the weight of it settling in my chest.

“It wasn’t like that,” she says, but her voice is weak. She did.

“Don’t lie to me, Molly. Please, be honest,” I say, stepping closer. “You’ve spent years fighting to stay in that job, and now, suddenly, you’re okay with him firing you? It’s because of me.”

She looks away. “It’s done, Hudson. Can we not make a big deal out of it?”

“A big deal?” I repeat. “You gave up everything for me, and you don’t want to make a big deal out of it?”

“It’s not everything,” she says, but her voice trembles, giving her away. It is. “It’s just a job. I’ll figure something else out.”

I shake my head, closing the distance between us. “Molly, you didn’t have to do that. I didn’t want you to do that.”

“I know.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “But I did it anyway. Because I care about you. And because someone had to.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I can’t speak.

“You’re unbelievable,” I say finally, my voice thick.

She frowns, confused. “What?”

“You’re unbelievable,” I repeat, stepping even closer. “You drive me crazy, Molly. You’re stubborn and frustrating, and you make me want to pull my hair out half the time. But you’re also the most selfless, infuriatingly wonderful person I’ve ever met.”

She blinks, her mouth opening slightly.

“And I love you for it,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “You beautiful, chaotic storm. You collided into me, flipped my world upside down, and made it feel like home. I love you, Molly. Every maddening, incredible part of you.”

Her eyes widen, and she stares at me like she can’t believe what I just said.

“You . . . you love me?” she whispers.

I nod, my chest tightening. “Yeah. I do. And if you think for a second that I’m going to let you keep sacrificing yourself for me, I won’t.”

Her expression becomes more serious. “I love you too.”

“Yeah, obviously.”

Her lips twitch, and she lets out a laugh. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”

“Takes one to know one.” I grin.

She laughs again, and it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.

“So,” I say, glancing down. “What’s the deal with this little guy?”

“It’s a she . And she doesn’t have a name yet.” Molly scratches behind the dog’s ears.

“No name?” I say, mock scandalized. “Well, we’ve got to fix that.”

She raises an eyebrow. “What do you suggest?”

“Hmm.” I rub my chin, pretending to think. All the funny names Anna has come up with over the years as she begged for a dog come to mind. “How about . . . Fluffypants?”

Molly snorts. “Absolutely not.”

“Fine,” I say, smirking. “What about Bark Twain?” Anna came up with that one when she was eight. It was one of my favorites.

She groans, shaking her head. “You’re the worst.”

I grin, looking down at the dog. “All right, Twinkie, it is.”

Molly pauses, her hand stilling on the dog’s head. “Twinkie?”

“Yeah,” I say, my smile softening. “You know, like the ones we ate during the tornado. The ones that kept us alive.”

She stares at me for a moment, then bursts out laughing. “Okay, Twinkie it is.”

The dog wags her tail, clearly approving of the name.

And as Molly leans into my side, her head resting against my shoulder, I realize that this—her, me, Twinkie . . .

It feels like home.