Bexley
Six weeks later
It was dark as I crossed the parking lot of the hospital. I could see the fireflies dancing in the bushes beside my parked car, and I smiled to myself. I’d always loved those weird little bugs.
I’d just gotten into my car and attached my phone to my charger when my phone rang. I hit the answer button on my steering wheel.
“Hey.”
“Hey, sweetie. How was your shift?”
I let out a yawn, excited to hear Hudson’s voice. He’d been away at a conference the last week, and with my schedule, we hadn’t been able to chat for very long.
“Busy. I’m actually pretty exhausted tonight.”
“How have you been making out driving in the dark?” he questioned.
I’d asked him to help me regain some control over that part of my life, and so far, he’d done nothing but encourage me. He’d come up with a plan and so far it had been working fine.
“Okay, so far. I took the bus last night, though, and left my car in the parking lot,” I answered, taking a sip of the coffee I’d gotten from the cafeteria before getting in the car.
“One day at a time. No need to stress yourself out. You going to come by later?” he asked, yawning.
I looked at the clock. He was just starting his night shift as I was ending mine. I’d honestly been hoping to see him tonight. I’d planned to just go to his place and surprise him, until he’d messaged to say he had to go into work.
“How about you come by my place when you’re done with your shift?”
“I think I could do that.”
“Maybe you could bring your handcuffs too?” I said, feeling my cheeks heat as I bit my bottom lip.
He chuckled, and that was when I heard his car door slam. “Another booty call?” I heard Joe ask in the background.
“Oh my god, please tell me he didn’t hear that?” I said, my face surely completely red at this point.
Hudson chuckled again. “Relax, he heard nothing, sweetie. How about you message me once you get home so I know you are safe?”
“Will do. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hung up and secured my seat belt, then placed the brown paper bag I’d gotten from the pharmacy on the seat beside me. A wave of nausea hit me as I wondered what the results would be.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. I hadn’t slept all night. Instead, I’d tossed and turned, fighting every single thought in my mind. I glanced at the clock. It was a little after seven, and I knew any minute I’d hear Hudson’s key in the lock. Sure enough, two minutes later, I heard exactly that.
I rolled onto my side, fighting off another wave of nausea, when I heard the bedroom door open. He said nothing, which meant he thought I was asleep. I closed my eyes, listening as he undressed, then I felt the mattress dip down. In a matter of moments, his arm wrapped around my waist and he pressed a kiss on my shoulder.
“You awake?” he whispered. “I brought what you asked me to bring.”
I felt the chill of the cold steel against my wrist and jumped.
“Fuck I thought you were asleep,” he said.
“Sorry, that was damn cold. You could have warmed them up a little first,” I said, laughing.
He grabbed me, rolled me onto my back, and pressed his lips to mine, sliding his hand under my shirt and gently passing his fingers over my hardened nipples while kissing the side of my neck.
It was a matter of minutes before the cold steel of that handcuff secured my hands to the headboard and Hudson was so deep inside of me all I could do was moan.
He held onto my hip with one hand, the other in my hair, ever so gently tugging every once in a while.
“God, I love taking you like this.” He groaned as his body stiffened and he poured himself into me.
He got off the bed and, grabbing his keys, he quickly undid the cuffs and then smacked me on the ass as he left the room. He came back with a hot cloth and cleaned me up, before sliding back into bed and pulling me into his arms.
“My god, I can’t believe that Everly is pregnant,” Hudson said, pulling into his driveway and cutting the engine of his truck.
“I know, but did you see how happy they were?” I said, thinking back to their announcement at dinner tonight. “I’m so happy for them. Maya was a little shocked. I wonder how her parents are going to take the news.”
“They haven’t told them yet?” Hudson questioned.
“Not that Maya told me. I don’t know. Maybe they were testing it out on us first.” I giggled.
“Perhaps we should have pulled the parent routine, so they had practice.” Hudson chuckled, climbing out of the truck.
I climbed out of the truck and followed him inside his house, wondering all the way how I was going to break the news to him I too was pregnant. I’d taken the test I’d gotten from the pharmacy shortly before we’d left for dinner, and took the second one just to be sure. I’d even booked an appointment with an OBGYN from the hospital before he’d picked me up.
“I’m not sure we’d play the part correctly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Joe and Maya’s parents get really angry at anything.”
“I have. Trust me, it’s not pretty.” Hudson chuckled.
“Well, they are living together. I’d imagine it would be worse if it were Maya and Liam.”
“Oh god, could you imagine. They’ve been sneaking around for months, too, and under their roof. That I’d love to be a fly on the wall for.”
I laughed, thinking back to Maya telling us how her parents had demanded there be no sex under their roof. I could only imagine the fallout.
“They looked pretty excited, though,” Hudson said as he walked into the living room with two glasses of wine. “For you,” he said, holding the glass for me to take.
I did so, but didn’t drink it. Instead, I placed it on the table and smiled up at him.
“Well, that is a first that you didn’t drink that puppy down. It is your favourite, just so you know. I’m done trying to get you to drink the drier stuff.” He winked, sitting down beside me.
“It’s not that,” I said.
“Just not in the mood for wine tonight?” he asked, brushing the strands of hair that were covering my eyes.
I shook my head, meeting his eyes. “I’d actually kill for a glass right about now.”
“So…drink up.” He took a mouthful of his wine. Then, as if it hit him, he stopped, lowered the glass, and looked over at me. “What…what are you…saying?” he mumbled, looking at me with hopeful eyes.
I nodded. “I’m pregnant.”
Hudson sat forward, placing his glass on the table, and placed a kiss on my lips before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me in for a hug. “You’re sure?”
“I’m pretty sure. I have an appointment with the doctor next week to confirm, but two tests told me yes.”
I could already see the excitement in his eyes and knew that he was happy about this news. I didn’t need to worry about that. He hugged me again and then chuckled to himself as he picked up my glass of wine and poured it into his. “Sorry for teasing you with this.”
“You didn’t know,” I answered.
“No, but I should have known something was up when all you did was stick to water for dinner. Even the girls wondered about that.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Are you excited?”
“Hell ya, I am. Fuck, I wish you’d have said something earlier. We could have blown Joe and Everly’s announcement out of the water.”
“Oh, believe me, I think it will when the time is right to announce this to our friends.”
“I think you are right.” Hudson laughed, pulling me in for another hug.
I lay on my side, wrapped in Hudson’s arms, still sweaty and breathing hard. We’d taken the night to talk about the future and had decided that in the next few weeks, I’d be moving in with him. He’d already marked down the first doctor’s appointment in his calendar and had already messaged Dax to see if he could cover for him at work that afternoon. Of course, I’d laughed at Hudson’s reaction when Dax was full of questions. I’d also threatened to cut Hudson off if he even hinted at why he needed him to cover for him.
He pressed his lips against the back of my neck as he pulled me tighter against him. “You’re sure you’re happy about this?” I questioned, knowing full well what the answer was already.
“Don’t even go there,” he whispered. “I’ll have to break out the handcuffs again.”
“Yes, please.” I giggled.
I was so excited about what the future held. I was with a great man, one I’d never even considered being a significant other if it hadn’t been for Maya. I was so glad that things hadn’t ended when they could have.
I rolled over in his arms and looked into his eyes.
“Would it be silly if I told you I can’t wait to meet him or her?” I questioned.
He softly smiled. “No, not at all.”
He pressed a kiss to my lips, and I closed my eyes and nestled myself against his chest. Laying in his warm arms would forever be my favorite thing.
As I lay there, I thought of all the things over the last couple of months I had to be thankful for. First, I would forever be thankful to my best friend for giving me this opportunity, even if at the time I was less than thrilled, and to my other best friends for making me think twice and forcing me to hear him out before ending everything.
I’d always think back to these summer nights when I’d fallen in love and to those fireflies I saw the morning I’d purchased those tests before coming home, and I’d forever love the man who gave me this life that was growing inside of me.