Chapter Twelve #2
The kid just kept proving that he was smart.
“They don’t. Grandma Grace is very Catholic.
She’ll object the most, so I’m waiting to tell her until after her wedding next month.
I don’t want to upset her and ruin it.” Seth speared Hudson with a serious expression.
“Until then, I’d appreciate it if you’d keep this on the down-low.
My friends here, like River, all know. You’ll meet Raine, Liam, Hammer, and the rest soon. ”
“You’re trusting me with information that could fuck you up?”
“I want our father-son relationship to work, Hudson. I care about you being in my life, and I’m hoping we can figure out how to get along and build something solid together.” Seth’s voice was steady, but he felt the weight of the admission. He was already attached to this kid, snark and all.
“Huh.” Hudson seemed to digest that as they moved into a new area of the map. “Okay. Your turn to ask questions.”
“I wasn’t waiting for permission, but since you offered… You have a driver’s license?”
“Yeah, got it on my birthday. Already told Beck that.”
“You drink or do drugs?”
Hudson hesitated. “I drink at parties sometimes. Tried coke once but didn’t like it, so I don’t do that shit anymore.”
“Good. It will rot your brain. I was a teenager once, so I get wanting to party. If you drink, it won’t be out there, without me knowing. And it won’t be behind the wheel. I get custody of your car keys. Deal?”
“Deal, I guess.”
“Tell me about your childhood. Before your mom got married.”
“We were pretty poor and lived in run-down apartments. We moved around a lot, but mostly stayed close to Grandma. I spent a lot of time with her when I was little. Mom didn’t have any other family.
” In the game, Hudson took heavy fire, so Seth came with backup and blew his attacker away.
“We didn’t have to watch every dime once Mom married Ted, but… ”
“But you don’t like him.”
Hudson gave a half shrug. “He’s not a bad guy. A bit of an asswipe. He treats me like I might break something valuable.” Hudson made a face. “But everything turned to shit after the baby came.”
Seth could imagine that suddenly having an infant around was a shock. “Tell me about school. You have a favorite subject?”
“I like science and history. Math is okay. I make decent grades…but I could do better if I actually tried.”
“Try.” Seth slanted him a fatherly glare. “Sports?”
“I play football and baseball. Made varsity in both as a sophomore.”
Of course Hudson would be athletic, like him. “Nice. Got a car?”
“No, but I want one.” Hudson shot Seth a hopeful look.
“We’ll see how you do with the rules first.” Seth grinned. “You got a sex life?”
“Hell, yeah. That’s not changing,” Hudson said matter-of-factly.
Christ, the kid really was just like him. “You use protection?”
“Always.” He frowned. “No offense. I don’t want to be a teenage father.”
“Smart. I didn’t plan on that, either. Any idea what you want to be when you grow up?”
Hudson was quiet for a moment, concentrating on an incoming wave of enemies. “I always wanted to be a cop.”
Seth nearly dropped his controller. The words brought back memories of his father in uniform, of his own years on the force before everything went to hell.
“Really?”
“Beck mentioned you used to be one. Like your dad.”
Seth’s throat felt tight. Grace would be shocked when she found out about Hudson, but learning he wanted to follow in the Cooper tradition of law enforcement? She’d be over the moon. And his father… God, his dad would be so proud that another generation wanted to carry on the legacy.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll help however I can,” Seth managed.
They finished the mission in companionable silence, then started comparing likes and dislikes while loading into the next mission.
They both loved spicy foods, action and sci-fi movies, and sports—especially the Yankees.
They both hated beets, Brussels sprouts, and standing in lines.
Seth was shocked to discover how much they had in common.
“You know,” Hudson said during a brief lull in the action, “I came here planning to rip you a new asshole for running out on my mom. Wanted to find a whole bunch of reasons to hate you.”
“And now?”
Hudson glanced at him sideways. “You’re actually…decent, which is annoying because it would be easier if you were a dick.”
Seth felt relief settle in his chest. “Whether or not you came to LA looking for a dad, you’ve got one now. I mean that, Hudson. I want to be involved in your life.”
“Yeah?” For the first time, Hudson’s mask slipped completely, revealing the vulnerable kid underneath. “Even though I’m already sixteen and probably more trouble than I’m worth?”
“Especially because of that.” Seth bumped Hudson’s shoulder with his own. “Coopers stick together.”
It was too early, but Seth was already itching to make Hudson a Cooper legally. He’d have to see how things went, but the way everything stood now? He’d be talking to his son and Laura about that soon.
As they settled into the next mission, Seth’s thoughts raced.
In the span of a few hours, he’d gone from fearing hypothetical fatherhood to actually being a dad to a half-grown teenager.
Part of him was terrified. But another part of him, the part that was already growing fiercely protective of this snarky kid, wondered if maybe this was exactly what he needed.
He just had to figure out how to be the father Hudson deserved without derailing his future with Beck and Heavenly in the process.
While Beck set the table, Heavenly called down the stairs, “Dinner’s ready!”
Heavy footsteps bounded up from the game room, and Seth appeared, slightly out of breath. “Sorry, we lost track of time.”
“No apology necessary.” Heavenly kissed his cheek, breathing in his familiar scent as she whispered, “How did it go?”
“Better than I expected.” Seth’s smile looked both genuine and a bit surprised. “I’ll fill you and Beck in later.”
Hudson’s slower footsteps announced his arrival.
“Wash your hands,” Seth called over his shoulder to his son, head-bobbing toward the sink.
Grumbling, Hudson did, and Heavenly caught herself smiling at how naturally Seth had slipped into dad mode.
As they all settled into their chairs, Heavenly looked around the kitchen table. Having a teenage boy here—especially Seth’s son—felt surreal. He’d been here for twenty-four hours, but she supposed that Hudson’s presence would take some getting used to—for all of them.
As they each filled their plates with the pasta and salad Beck had prepared, Seth and Hudson immediately launched into good-natured ribbing about their gaming session.
“That last headshot was pure luck,” Seth said, passing the garlic bread.
“Luck, my ass. I’ve got skills you can only dream of, old man.” Hudson’s grin was the first genuine smile Heavenly had seen from him, and it transformed his entire face. The defensive armor was still there, but it had definitely softened.
Beck caught her eye across the table. He’d seemingly noticed the change, too.
“Yeah?” Seth tossed back. “Who saved your scrawny ass more than once from incoming hostiles, whelp?”
“Bite me,” Hudson groused.
Seth laughed, then turned his attention to her and Beck. “What did you two do while we went on a Call of Duty killing spree?”
“I slaved away in the kitchen like a proper housewife,” Beck said dryly.
“I’m jealous. Cooking sounds like paradise compared to studying for Monday’s Pharmacology test,” Heavenly groaned. “I crammed all afternoon, and I still don’t know if I have a prayer of passing.”
“You’re still in school?” Hudson frowned. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-three, and I’m studying to become a nurse.
I just started my final year. It’s getting harder—lots of memorization.
Drug interactions, dosages, contraindications.
” She twirled pasta around her fork. “It’s worth it, though.
My dad was sick for so long with Guillain-Barré before he died, so I decided to devote my life to helping people. ”
The teenager seemed impressed. “That’s actually…cool.”
“It is, and she’ll be a great nurse.” Seth smiled her way before slanting Hudson a pointed stare. “Speaking of school…”
He rolled his eyes. “I know. You already told me I’m going.”
“Damn straight. Every day.”
“I heard you.”
“Good.” Seth turned to Beck. “What do you know about the schools around here? I need to get Hudson enrolled ASAP.”
Beck shrugged. “I’ve never paid much attention. I know there’s a local high school and a couple of private academies, but you might be better off talking to that retired teacher down the street or the folks next door who have three kids. They’ll know which schools are actually good.”
“I’ll do that. I’m already leaning toward one of the private academies.”
“Wait. Whoa…” Hudson shook his head. “Don’t put me in a fucking all-boys school. Please.”
Seth shot him a warning look. “Language.”
The kid shot him a glare. “I’m serious. I’ll lose my fucking mind.”
Seth wasn’t going to win the F-bomb battle, in Heavenly’s estimation.
First, he and Beck used the word constantly.
Second, trying to change Hudson’s habits—especially since Seth had functionally been his father for a handful of hours—seemed unlikely.
And really, would cleaning up Hudson’s language really matter that much in the long run?
Breaking down his walls and making him feel like family were the far bigger issues.
Beck suppressed a smile. “Why would you lose your mind? I mean, academic emphasis. Focus on sports.”
Seth joined in, also trying not to laugh. “Exactly. Lots of great connections. School spirit…”
“But there’s no pus—” Hudson slanted a glance at Heavenly, then stopped himself. “Um, girls.”
At that, they all burst out laughing.
“Hey, private schools aren’t all bad. I went to one when I was about your age,” Beck offered. “I turned out okay.”
Seth snorted. “Did you, really?”
“Fuck off.”
“You first.”