Chapter 32
Mean girls – Not limited to cheerleaders who ban you from cheerleading for life
Nova
“T here’s no need to be nervous.”
I scowl at Hudson. “I’m not nervous.”
I’m totally nervous. We’re meeting one of Hudson’s friends from his time in the NFL. I’d never heard of him before. But I googled Seth Cox and the man is a Big Deal in football. He has four Super Bowl Championship rings, was a Heisman Trophy winner, and is now an assistant coach.
Whereas I sell beer. Of course, I’m nervous.
He places a hand on my knee to stop it from bouncing. “Seth will love you.”
I beam at him. “Because I’m awesome.”
He chuckles. The sound doesn’t surprise me anymore since he’s laughing more often but it still causes warmth to spread through my chest whenever he’s amused. I love making this man happy. I love him. Plain and simple.
He kisses my forehead. “Yes, you are, Sunshine.”
My extremities tingle in excitement. Hudson isn’t referring to the baby. He’s referring to me. Maybe I don’t need to encase my heart behind a concrete wall after all.
My stomach rumbles. “I’m also hungry.”
He checks his watch. “Seth is late. Let me give him a call.” He reaches for his phone but stops when a giant of a man enters the restaurant. I recognize him from my online search. It’s Seth.
Hudson stands with a smile on his face. A real smile. One I haven’t seen since we were in high school together. I frown. Is Hudson unhappy living on Smuggler’s Hideaway?
Seth holds out his hand and a woman joins him. She is stunning. She’s wearing a floor-length sparkly gown. With her long, blonde hair and curvy body, she should be on the front of some glossy fashion magazine.
I glance down at my oversized sweater and plaid, pleated skirt with knee-high black leather boots. I thought I looked cute when I left the chalet but now, I feel fat and frumpy.
As Seth and the woman make their way through the tables to us, every person in the restaurant turns to watch them. The woman tilts her nose into the air and ignores the attention whereas Seth greets the men with claps on the back and high-fives. I fear I underestimated his fame.
“Cox.” Hudson greets him with a handshake and back clap.
“Clark. It’s been a while. Good to see you, man. You’re looking good.” He ushers the woman forward. “This is my wife, Naomi.”
“Congrats, man. Sorry, I didn’t make it to the wedding.” Hudson helps me to my feet. “This is my Nova.”
Naomi’s gaze falls on my belly and her eyes widen. I place my hand over my belly in a protective manner. Sprog can’t sense her contempt, but I feel the need to protect him anyway.
Hudson places his arm around my shoulders. “Nova, meet Seth Cox, my former teammate.”
I offer him my hand but instead of shaking it, he pulls me into his arms for a hug. Hudson growls and yanks me away from Seth causing his friend to burst into laughter.
“Never thought I’d live to see the day,” he says as he pulls out a chair for Naomi. “The great Hudson has fallen for a woman.”
Is it true? Has Hudson fallen for me? Am I worried for nothing?
Hudson grunts. Which doesn’t enlighten me whatsoever. My insecurity lives to fight for another day.
Seth scans the room. “You’re doing well for yourself.”
Hudson shrugs, and I hurry to fill the gap. “Hudson owns the entire resort. It’s the largest hospitality establishment on the island of Smuggler’s Hideaway.”
Naomi snorts. “Which isn’t saying much.”
Is she dissing Smuggler’s Hideaway? No one disses the island in my presence. “I grew up here. As did Hudson.”
She holds up a hand. “I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
I force a smile. I know how to deal with mean girls. “None taken. Are you staying on the island?”
“We’re here for the weekend,” Seth answers. “I heard Clark was here laying low and came to check things out.”
“And rehash your glory days,” Naomi says.
Seth leans back in his chair and smirks. “I’m still living my glory days.”
“What are you doing these days?” Hudson asks.
“Assistant coach of our old team.”
“Is the head coach still a ball breaker?”
Seth snorts. “Jerry hasn’t changed a damn bit. Do you remember the time he made us run laps in the snow because we were fifteen minutes late to practice?”
“I wasn’t fifteen minutes late.”
Seth rolls his eyes. “Of course, you weren’t.” He focuses on me. “This guy is the epitome of discipline. He doesn’t shirk from his responsibilities.”
“It’s better than sneaking out to the bar and getting drunk on tequila shots.”
Seth shakes his head. “I still don’t remember what happened that night.”
“And yet you didn’t learn your lesson.”
Seth shrugs. “There’s more to life than football practice.”
Naomi frowns. “There is?”
Seth throws an arm around her chair. “Football is a religion in our family.”
Hudson nods in agreement. “Football’s a damn good religion to have.”
“Do you remember the time you ran for nearly one hundred yards to make a touchdown in overtime? I believed in God then.”
I know exactly which game they’re referring to. I watched all of Hudson’s games when he played. It was hard not to. Smuggler’s Hideaway is proud of our football hero.
“I sprained my ankle when I jumped up and down with the ball in the endzone. I spent the next two days icing it while coach yelled at me.”
“I didn’t realize you sprained your ankle that day,” I say.
Hudson grins at me. “Did you watch the game?”
My cheeks heat but I shrug. “Every bar in Smuggler’s Rest aired all of your games. It was impossible to avoid.”
Seth leans across the table. “Did you watch the time he got tackled and ended up in the lap of the opposing team’s coach?”
Naomi stands. “If you two are going to relive your glory days, I’m going to use the powder room.”
“I’ll go with you,” I say.
“There’s no need.”
I place a hand on my belly. “Sprog makes me have to pee every fifteen minutes.”
Hudson helps me to my feet and kisses my cheek. “You, okay?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine.”
Naomi doesn’t wait for me. By the time I catch up to her, she’s already in one of the stalls. I try to finish my business as quickly as possible but quick doesn’t exactly exist when you’re six months pregnant and decided wearing tights was a good idea.
When I exit the stall, Naomi is re-doing her make-up, which appears perfect to me, in front of the mirror.
“I have to say I’m impressed,” she says without looking at me.
“Huh?” What is she talking about?
“Snagging the great Hudson Clark.”
“He’s just Hudson to me. We grew up together here on the island.”
She nods to my belly. “Getting pregnant was a good move. It’s hard to snag a football legend with your… ahem…assets.”
Oh wow. Did she just say I’m ugly? I didn’t think Naomi was nice before but it’s been confirmed now. She’s a mean girl.
“I wasn’t trying to snag a football legend.”
“It is a shame, though. Hudson is wasting his potential on this Podunk island. He could be a superstar with his looks and playing ability.”
“He got injured. He can’t play anymore.”
She waves a hand at me in dismissal. “He doesn’t need to play anymore. He just needs to get back in the game. Get some exposure. The places he could go. But, instead, he’s stuck here on this island with you.” Her gaze sharpens on my belly.
“I didn’t trap him here.”
She cocks an eyebrow. “You didn’t?”
I didn’t trap him. He can leave whenever he wants. I’m not keeping him here. If he wants to leave, he can.
Hold on. Does Hudson want to leave? Does he hate it here? He smiled at Seth in a way I haven’t seen him smile since high school. Maybe he does miss football and fame.
I recall the comments he’s made about being an athlete. Dang it. Is Hudson miserable and wishing he were still playing football? Is that why he’s such a grump?
Naomi finishes applying her lipstick and snaps her purse closed before marching to the door. “Are you coming?”
“Yep.”
I smile at her as if my heart isn’t breaking. As if I don’t have to let Hudson go for him to be happy.