34. Epilogue #2
Hudson mutters something about never being able to relax ever again now, and I can’t help but grin as I sprint to the back door to let Rocket out to pee.
Of course, he doesn’t just do his business, but has to check out everything in our backyard and investigate it thoroughly.
But I don’t rush him. I’m just about ready to head inside when I see Hudson coming through the door, two beers in his hands as he steps onto the back porch.
“Everything okay?” I ask. Hudson watches me, his gaze drifting to Rocket, who is chasing his own tail.
I never had a pet growing up, since my mother was allergic, and I’d never considered getting one before because I knew I’d feel guilty with all the traveling I did, so it didn’t make sense, but now?
Now that I’ve moved in with Hudson, officially, and have a steady job where I’m in the same place most of the time…
it just felt like the time was right. Thankfully, Hudson agreed.
He told me he’d never had a pet growing up either, and even though the idea made him a little anxious because it was a big step—for the both of us—he agreed it felt like the right thing, too.
Though I’m sure he questions his choice multiple times a day.
“Yup,” he says as he takes a seat on the porch swing—which Alex built when he came to visit last month after the annual hockey expo. I’m still shocked it took him less than a day to build it, but apparently he does this sort of thing all the time, according to Jordan.
Hudson holds out one bottle to me, and I don’t hesitate. I take it from his hand and sit next to him, the swing moving gently as I do.
He twists the cap off as I do the same, and one glance shows Rocket running around the yard, chasing butterflies. I laugh.
“He’s so fucking cute.”
Hudson wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me closer, until I’m next to him, breathing in his familiar rainwater scent.
“Yeah, I guess he is,” he says, his voice tinged with awe that makes me smile.
I take a sip of my beer.
“And so are you…” he says, leaning over to kiss my jaw.
I settle my beer in between my legs and shift closer to him. With one hand, I reach out and grasp his jaw and turn him to meet my lips.
I kiss him slowly, reveling in the smooth feel of his tongue in my mouth. When he pulls away, I see the undeniable happiness in his eyes.
“We should head inside,” I say as I check my watch. “Get dinner ready before the big game.”
Though we’d wanted to go to Andre’s first game back coaching, Hudson couldn’t get the time off, and so I didn’t want to go without him.
So, we opted to stay here, but told everyone—including Andre—that we’d be watching from home and cheering him on from our couch.
I still can’t believe I get to say that— our couch. Our home.
If you would have told me two years ago that I would be here—living with my best friend and boyfriend—I would never have believed it, but I guess that’s the thing about life. Sometimes it surprises you.
“Not yet,” Hudson says, taking a pull of his beer. “We have time.”
I pull my legs up and stretch them out on the swing, adjusting myself as I lean against Hudson’s chest. He moves his arm from my waist to my shoulder so I can get comfortable, his hand finding its home right over my heart.
I slowly drink my beer, relishing in the warmth of his solid body against mine as I watch Rocket bound up the steps and leap up onto the swing, nearly knocking my beer out of my hand.
Luckily, I manage to hold it up as he throws himself in my lap, tail wagging happily as he licks Hudson’s hand, my shirt, and my neck.
Hudson sighs.
With my free hand, I scratch behind Rocket’s velveteen ears and he closes his eyes, burrowing his face against my hand.
“Sure you don’t want to bail?” I say, leaning my head back to look up at him. I catch Hudson’s gaze, noting the flecks of gold shimmering as bright as the sun that’s shining.
His lips turn up in a soft smile.
“Positive,” he says, reaching his fingers to play with Rocket’s fur. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.”
Rocket settles in my lap, and I catch his big stretch and yawn.
I pet him slowly, the motion oddly calming.
“But you’re free to head in and make dinner, if you want,” he says, his voice full of teasing.
I’m not the best cook—since most of my adult life was spent eating takeout rather than learning how to cook because I was never home—but I’m slowly learning. Hudson’s definitely better than me when it comes to cooking, for sure.
I look at Rocket in my lap, who’s now zonked out and snoring softly. I let out a chuckle.
“Can’t,” I say with a grin, relaxing against him as I rest my hand on top of Rocket’s big head.
The birds tweet, and somewhere in the distance I can hear a sprinkler going off and the faint laughter of the neighbor kids.
“What do you mean? Of course you can,” he says, setting his empty bottle down on the table next to the swing. I finish mine, and without saying a word, he grabs it from me and does the same with it.
“Nope,” I say, closing my eyes as I lean my head on his chest. My fingers play with Rocket’s soft fur and Hudson’s crisp rainwater scent fills my lungs. My heart feels so fucking full, I think it’s going to burst.
“If I move, I’ll wake him up,” I say, my eyelids feeling heavy all of a sudden. I’m warm and comfortable.
“Mhmm,” Hudson mutters, pulling me into his lap. I don’t fight him as I lay my head down. The swing shifts, but it’s a welcome movement; almost soothing. Rocket shifts, but doesn’t wake, his soft snores turning to little chortles of heated puppy breath on my leg.
Hudson’s fingers slide through my hair rhythmically.
“Then I guess we’re stuck here,” he says, but I note how soft his voice is. How full of love it is. “Until he wakes up, anyway.”
“Uh-huh,” I mutter, slumber calling my name. “Should be a couple minutes.”
I feel the faintest rhythm of the swing; back and forth. “Five minutes,” I breathe.
Hudson’s fingers twist in my hair, and I think sleep is too hard to fight.
So I don’t fight it.
When I wake, the sun is going down, and Rocket is no longer in my lap, but is sprinting about the yard. When I look up, I see Hudson is still next to me, his gaze on Rocket.
“Shit, how long was I out?” I ask, rubbing my eyes.
“‘Bout an hour,” Hudson says, his voice smooth, warm.
“Didn’t mean to pass out on you,” I say, sitting up. Hudson lets me go.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind,” he says, rocking the swing back and forth as he pushes off the deck.
“Yeah, but I was supposed to make dinner…” I groan.
Hudson laughs. “Good thing I ordered takeout then.”
“Takeout?” My eyes widen.
Hudson gets up from the swing and offers me a hand to help me up.
“Yup. Should be here in ten minutes, just before the game starts.”
I stumble forward as he pulls me, and I fall into his arms. One arm slides around my waist as the other steadies me by my arm. I wrap mine around his neck, finding his gaze with mine.
“You know me so well,” I say with a grin.
Hudson’s gaze flits from my eyes to my mouth as he smiles.
“I know.” He leans in and kisses me, slowly. Deeply.
My hands slide up his neck, my fingers twisting into his hair as I savor his kiss.
As I savor this moment.
Rocket bounds up the steps and paws at our legs, barking at us with excitement.
Hudson groans against my lips, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Alright, alright,” I say, breaking away as I lean down to pet our boy and give him a kiss, too, as Hudson gets the door. He holds it open for us. Rocket runs in, skidding across the kitchen floor as Hudson sighs. I stop at the door, my heart swelling with pride and awe.
“What?” he asks as I hear Rocket’s nails against the tile.
“I love you,” I say, leaning in to kiss him swiftly. “I love this. ”
Hudson gives me a warm grin.
“Yeah, I guess it’s not so bad,” he says as a crash pulls both our attention and the doorbell rings.
“Shit…” I tense.
“You get the dog; I’ll get the food,” he says, as we both head into the house.
“You got it, baby.” I sprint toward the sound of the crash, finding Rocket wearing his water bowl on his head, drenched. Hudson comes into the kitchen just as I’m setting the bowl on the ground, and Rocket shakes the water off of him, getting it on both of us. Hudson laughs.
“This was your idea, remember that,” he says, pulling the food out of the boxes and setting it on the counter.
“I know…” I say as I head for the bathroom to get a towel to dry us off.
When I’m done, I wash my hands, grab my container—a sushi burrito and salad—and join my boyfriend on the couch as he turns the game on.
Rocket jumps between us, making us both laugh as he settles his butt in my lap and his head in Hudson’s.
Neither of us say a word, but we don’t have to.
We just enjoy each other—and Rocket, too.
When the game is over, Rocket finally in a deep sleep in his oversized pet bed in the living room, I clean up the kitchen as Hudson showers, making sure the coffee pot is set for 5:00 am and his favorite mug is already out.
I shut the lights off and undress on my way to the bedroom, tossing my phone on the nightstand.
I turn around, finding Hudson already out of the ensuite shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. I saunter over to him and he catches my gaze, narrowing his eyes.
“Trey,” he warns, but his tone is full of humor and love. So much love, it’s hard to refute. He might not say it all the time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t hear it and it certainly doesn’t mean I don’t feel it.
Hudson has his own way of saying things without words, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love it. It’s kind of like our own language.
I reach for his towel, my grin more than genuine.
“Hudson…” I whisper as I lean in to kiss his jaw.
He groans. “It’s late… I still have to—”
“Set the coffee pot?” I kiss his neck. “Done.”
I trail my lips up to that sweet spot beneath his ear as his hand finds mine. He slides his fingers between mine.
“I even set out your favorite mug.”
Hudson’s voice is sweet as I pull away. “You did?”
“Uh-huh.” I move away from his neck, swiftly taking his lips with my own. I lead him back to the bed, pulling his towel off as I go and he doesn’t fight me. Not one bit. Not when I pull him with me, not when I pull him on top of me, not when I take our cocks in my hand and bring us both to release.
Hudson’s head falls against my chest and he laughs.
“What?” I ask, trying to catch my breath. My heart is racing beneath him, but I can’t stop smiling.
“I just got clean,” he mutters.
I wrap my arms around him and kiss his hair as he groans.
“Guess we’ll just have to shower together…” I say with a smirk.
Hudson shakes his head, but he doesn’t argue.
Of course, it takes us both far too long to get one another clean, and we end up making out until the water runs cold. We dry off and get into our underwear, Hudson getting onto the right side of the bed and me on the left.
Wordlessly he reaches for me, pulling me in against his warm, solid body; and exhaustion hits me.
His smooth voice is faint.
“What time is your mom coming in tomorrow?” he asks.
“1:00,” I say, my breathing evening out as his lips find my hair. “I took a half day.”
“That’s funny,” he says with a deep yawn.
“Why?”
“I’ll be done at 11:00,” he says, and I can tell he’s fading fast.
“11:00?” I ask with a heavy yawn.
“Yeah, I took a half day,” he says, his whisper warm on my skin.
I grin, letting sleep come for me like a thief in the night.
“Oh, really?”
“Mhmmm,” he murmurs, his heartbeat steady beneath my palm.
And as I fall asleep with Hudson, I think this is the best idea I’ve ever had and I can’t wait to see what’s next.