Chapter 27 Hudson
HUDSON
Ihop over the boards, claiming a spot on the bench after my shift ends as I fight to catch my breath.
Seattle is not messing around, and I’m struggling to keep up.
Not only that, but they’re far more aggressive than I remember our last game with them being.
Every possession has felt like a complete battle, and I’ve been thrown against the boards more tonight than any other game this season.
I’m struggling, we’re tied, and there’s still five minutes left.
It also doesn’t help that I’m really fucking distracted.
It’s been days, and I still haven’t heard anything from the adoption agency regarding Emily’s decision.
I finally broke down yesterday and called Holly, who assured me that whenever someone matches with Emily, I’ll be notified so I won’t be left wondering.
I know it’s a huge decision for her, and she’s got her own busy life to work around…
but that doesn’t stop me from stressing about what’s taking her so long.
Did I mess up something during our meeting?
Did she change her mind entirely? I doubt it; she seems very confident in her choices.
Still, the anxiety is very real as I await her decision.
So, I’m trying my very best to stay focused on hockey, but again, I’m struggling.
Ollie nudges my shoulder with his from his spot on the crowded bench next to me. “Let’s go out tonight.”
I chuckle dismissively. “No thanks. I’m not in the mood.”
“That’s exactly why we’re going to do it,” he insists. “We don’t need to go out to a bar, we can grab a late dinner, but I’m not going to let you sit alone all night in your hotel room staring at your phone again. A watched pot never boils or whatever.”
Now I actually laugh. “Yeah, alright.”
The rest of the game goes the same way, a whole lot of work with nothing to show for it. We have to go into overtime, as if I wasn’t tired enough, and they manage to psych out Anderson, slipping the puck into our net with only thirty seconds left.
At least we didn’t have to go into a shootout.
Reluctantly, I keep my promise to grab a late dinner with Ollie.
“You’re going to need to do a lot of the talking tonight. Sorry, I’m too drained,” I apologize after we’ve ordered.
“And are you really expecting a call from the adoption agency when it’s after midnight in Chicago?” he teases, pointedly looking at my phone that I just checked again where it’s face up on the table.
“No,” I sigh. “I just hate the uncertainty and all the waiting. I feel like that’s all I’m doing these days.”
“What else are you waiting for?”
“Mostly my house to be ready.”
He gives me a questioning look. “I thought that you liked living with Adrian?”
“I do…” I trail off. As influential as Ollie has been this year on me coming to terms with my feelings for Adrian, I haven’t actually shared them with him, or anyone else.
I’m not ashamed that I’m into a man, I just have no idea how things will play out.
If I finally make a move, and it doesn’t work out, I’d rather less people know I was rejected.
Still, the longer the waiting goes on, the closer I feel to blurting out everything, and it’s probably better that I do it to Ollie than Adrian himself
“But…?” Ollie prompts when I don’t say anything else.
“But… you were right. I want to be with Adrian, and I’ve decided that I should wait to tell him that until we’re no longer roommates.”
His jaw drops open. “Are you fucking kidding me?” I shrug, shaking my head. “Why the hell are you waiting? You’re already living together! You could be hooking up every night and no one would know. Why are you wasting that opportunity?”
“Because I want to do more than ‘hook up’ with him. I think we could be really good together, and I don’t want to rush into things. Adrian deserves better than that.”
Ollie shudders. “God, I didn’t realize you were such a romantic.”
“I’d also like to avoid the awkwardness of still sleeping on the other side of the same wall if he rejects me,” I add.
“Okay, first off, there’s no way Adrian rejects you. Second, sleeping on the other side of the wall sounds hot. Do you ever hear him, ya know?” He raises his eyebrows suggestively.
I immediately think of all the nights I’ve left the door open just a crack, hoping to hear something, hoping he’ll hear me as I jerk off thinking of him.
He’s all I think about these days.
I clear my throat and shake my head again, but I know I’m blushing, and Ollie’s smug expression makes it clear he doesn’t believe me.
“Well, then I hope your house is ready soon.”
“You and me both.”
My ringtone wakes me up the next morning instead of my normal alarm, and I bolt upright, sitting on the edge of the bed as I glance at the clock on the hotel’s nightstand. Six a.m.—who the hell is calling me?
Any grogginess is gone when I see it’s Holly’s name on the caller ID. Fuck. This is it. I have no idea if it will be good news or bad, but I think the period of uncertainty might finally be over.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Hudson. Do you have a moment?”
“Of course,” I agree on a heavy exhale.
“Well, I am very excited to inform you that Emily would like to move forward with you adopting her child!”
My heart stops, and I jump up out of bed. “Oh my god, really?” I need to hear it again to confirm it’s real.
She chuckles. “Yes, really. Congratulations, Mr. Roy. It sounds like you two really hit it off.”
I’m going to be a dad. It’s real.
“I… I can’t believe it. Everything said it would take so long. I didn’t want to get my hopes up of course, but obviously I did. I’m so excited! I have to tell Adrian. I have to tell my parents. What happens now?” I ramble.
“Well, you’ve both indicated that you would like an open adoption, and our agency believes in supporting as much independent communication as possible from the beginning to help establish a healthy relationship between all parties involved.
We have you both come in and fill out paperwork regarding your intentions.
The finalization of your parental rights won’t happen until after the child has already been living with you for at least six months, though.
The agency will remain very involved with post placement requirements, more visits, interviews, and paperwork. ”
That all sounds familiar from those early meetings, but at the time it had seemed so far away. I can’t believe this is all actually happening already. “Okay! That sounds great.”
“Emily is in the office now filling out her paperwork with one of my colleagues,” Holly continues. “She requested to talk with you. Would that be alright?”
“That would be amazing!”
“Okay, I’ll put you on a brief hold while I find her.
” Waiting music starts to play, and I want to scream with how excited I am.
I want to run around the hotel and wake up the whole team so we can all celebrate.
But I know I only have a few moments where they can’t hear me, so I opt for a silent happy dance instead.
“Hudson, thank you for holding,” Holly says, pulling my attention back to the call. “I’ve got you on speaker here with both Emily and one of my coworkers who was helping her with her paperwork.”
“Hello!” I greet them all eagerly.
“Hey, Hudson!” Emily says. “I was wondering if you wanted to be included in the rest of my OB appointments?”
I gasp, and apparently it’s loud enough for everyone on the other side of the line to hear because there are a few chuckles in response. “If that would be alright, I would love to!”
“Awesome! I actually have one this afternoon at twelve thirty. I’m sorry I didn’t plan this sooner; this past week was a really busy one with school and today is the first day I’ve had off to come down here.”
I deflate. I have a flight in a few hours and another game tonight. “Wow, I so wish that I could come. But I’m in Seattle right now. There’s no way I’d make it back in time even if I did get approval from the team to miss tonight’s game.”
“No worries,” Emily responds easily. “Hopefully you can make it to the next one. Or hey, if Adrian wanted to come and take pictures or call you or whatever works, he’d be welcome to join me too.”
I perk up again. “If you wouldn’t mind, I can see if Adrian is available. That would be amazing.”
“Cool. I’ll be here for a while filling stuff out if you want to call us back.”
“Perfect! I’ll call him now, talk soon!” After quick goodbyes, I hang up and immediately dial Adrian while I pace the room, far too excited to even attempt to sit still.
“What’s wrong?” he answers on the second ring. “Isn’t it like six a.m. for you?”
“Emily agreed to move forward with me adopting her child!” I practically scream into the phone.
“Holy fuck! Congratulations!” he shouts back. If my smile wasn’t already the biggest it’s probably ever been, his level of immediate excitement would have it growing even more.
“I mean, obviously she made the right choice! No one else could be a better fit. But still, it’s so exciting to have it official and confirmed!
Oh my god! We have to start getting the nursery together!
You should make a registry! Ohhhh, do you think she would want to be at a baby shower?
Obviously the team is going to throw one.
I wonder if I could get your mom to fly out for a few hours, if I set up backup, on-call nursing staff to be available for your dad.
He wouldn’t want to come, would he? I could set up a wheelchair van with medical staff to drive him, even across states if he wanted.
I’ve looked into it, and it’s a little pricey, but it’s an option,” he rambles.
I have to take a few moments to process everything he just said. He’s researched ways to get my dad to Chicago? That’s probably the most thoughtful thing anyone’s ever done for me, and he just said it so casually. I’m actually a little choked up thinking about it.
“So what happens now?” he asks when I’m unable to respond quickly enough, and his question reminds me of the reason I was calling.
“She offered to have me go to her doctor’s appointments with her.”
“That’s amazing!”
“There’s actually one today, and when I said I was out of town, she asked if you’d want to go and call me, or take a picture and tell me all about it later, whatever makes the most sense. If you’re free that is. No pressure, I know how busy you are.”
“Oh my god, Hudson! Of course I’ll go! What an honor. Send me the details, and I’m there.”
I sigh in relief. I was so excited about the opportunity to participate in the prenatal appointments, and I know I’ll be able to go to another, but having Adrian help me be a part of the one today, so soon after I found out that the baby will be mine, is a huge relief.
“Thanks, Charming. You’re the very best.”
“I’m honestly happy to do it, Hudson. I’m so excited for you! You’re going to be a dad! Congratulations!”
There’s another part of me that’s excited to have him involved for more selfish reasons. I want him to be a part of everything in my life, including this adoption. And hearing Adrian say those words, that I’m going to be a dad, somehow makes them feel even more real.
My dreams are coming true. Maybe Adrian will even want to continue to be a part of things after I move out, too.
All my goals for becoming a parent are happening… Why not the ones about Adrian and I?