40. Evan
Chapter 40
Evan
“Hear me out on this, Governor.”
Hudson blinked into the camera as he continued making dinner.
I was scheduled to fly to Sacramento Tuesday evening for the Christmas holiday. The coach had given us two days off before I had to fly to Vegas to meet the team.
“I feel like I should be concerned with whatever you’re going to say.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not every wedding idea has been off the wall.”
He wiped his hands on a cloth, then picked up the phone to stare into the camera.
“Evan, you have to admit some of your ideas have been crazy. I’m not getting married while bungee jumping or at the top of a Ferris wheel.”
I laughed. “Those were all Lennox’s ideas.”
“Why can’t we just go to the courthouse and get married? In fact,” he said, trying to sell me on the idea, “we could get married in my office. Adley can find a judge to officiate, and it will be done. Nice and simple.”
I groaned. “This is my only wedding, and I want to do something special and memorable.”
Hudson laughed. “When did you turn into a groomzilla? You said you didn’t care where we got married, as long as we did it soon.”
“I know, but my aspirations of being the first husband of California are dwindling. The only way we can make that happen is if we marry in Vegas next weekend.”
He shook his head. “I never dreamed this would be the discussion we’d have about getting married. I want something that feels like us. And Vegas isn’t it.”
I reclined on the chaise lounge and looked out over the water at the most magnificent sunset. When I think about us, I always see us here.
“What are you cooking up in that head of yours? No boats. I get seasick easily.”
I looked at Hudson as he leaned against the cabinet, giving me that smoldering look that melted me every time. His gray eyes were filled with the same love I felt for him.
“Look at this.”
I flipped the camera to show him my view over the Pacific. The water was a brilliant blue as the sun lit the sky on fire.
He hummed. “That’s a beautiful view. I can’t wait to live there.”
Flipping the camera back to me, I smiled.
“Here me out, okay?”
“You’ve already asked that, but go ahead. I’m listening.”
I sat up and looked into the camera. “I want to marry you right here on the beach. There’s no place in the world that means more to us than right here. It’s where we had our first kiss, and it’s where we fell in love.”
The side of his face pulled up into a smile as he gazed lovingly at me. “That sounds perfect. When?”
I nodded. “In the spring. It gives us time to sell your house, and for me to have Jack and Erin’s rooms redecorated. When they move, I want them to feel at home. Like this is their space.”
“You’re going to spoil our kids, aren’t you?”
My heart squeezed every time he shared them with me. I grinned and held up my fingers. “Maybe a little.”
Hudson laughed. “I love you, Superstar.”
“I love you, Governor.”
He stood back up and went to the stove. “You have a week to find a new nickname. Governor will no longer work.”
“You’ll always be my governor. But I’ve already found it,” I said, wishing I could crawl through the camera. “It’s gonna be husband.”
Hudson looked into the camera and nodded. “I love that.”
The next afternoon, I flew to Sacramento for Christmas. We decided to give the kids one last holiday in their home, rather than bringing them to San Diego. Coach gave me the okay to meet the team in Nevada so I could be with them.
After dinner on Christmas Eve, Hudson and I relaxed by the fire. He was stretched out on the sofa with my back to his chest. The rasp of his beard along my jaw settled every restless part of me.
The room was aglow in twinkling lights from the tree and flickering firelight. It was every dream I’d ever had about what life could look like outside of football.
As we sat wrapped up together, one concern weighed heavy on my mind.
“If they’re worried about leaving her behind, we can bring them back to visit her grave.”
Hudson paused, making me regret I’d brought it up.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I just thought they?—”
“It’s okay.” He ran his fingers through my hair.
“She’s actually buried in Escondido. So they’ll be closer to her than if we lived here.”
I turned my head to look at him.
“Why not here in Sacramento?”
He sighed. “We knew it was likely we wouldn’t stay here after my term was up. Even if we’d gone to DC, she was going to be inturned there. Being laid to rest where she grew up was her choice. She’s buried in a family plot alongside her father. It’s comforting that she’s never alone. And Marianne appreciated it. She takes the kids to visit when they ask.”
I nodded as we watched the logs crackle in the fireplace. The fresh scent of the tree filled the air, along with cinnamon and ginger.
“That’s good, right?”
“Definitely.”
Hudson relaxed me even more as he kissed the side of my jaw.
“Speaking of DC, do you regret turning down Senator Andrews’ offer?”
I felt his answer. “Not at all. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I choose our family. It’s time for me to take a new direction and be a full-time dad for a while. I missed so much of their childhood that I’ll never get back. It’s time to change that.”
I smiled, then shifted to kiss him before standing up.
“Where are you going?”
“Nowhere,” I said, digging in my pocket. I pulled out two rings and sat back down next to him.
Hudson sat up and looked at me.
“I want to give you this while we’re alone.”
I reached for his left hand and placed the rings in his palm. “These are for us to wear until we’re married.”
Hudson picked up the hammered, titanium ring and looked at it.
“Adley told me your wedding ring was made of yellow gold. So I chose something different this time around.”
He nodded as he looked up at me.
“It reminded me of how strong you are, like the titanium. And even though the outside looks like it’s been to hell and back, it’s survived the hammering. The inside of the band is made from Ironwood, the strongest and most beautiful wood in the world.”
I picked up his ring and put it on the third finger of his left hand, then did the same with mine.
“Together we’re strong and can endure anything, Hudson. Every time you look at your ring, remember I think you’re the real superstar here, and you’ll never be alone again.”
Hudson blinked away a tear as I leaned in to kiss him like I planned to do for the rest of our lives.