39. Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Thirty-nine
Mia
Early on Sunday morning, I wrap myself around Hudson as he flies down the highway. We’re going to our breakfast spot. It’s the first time we’ve been since that morning he stopped me when I was out running — the day this all started.
He has one hand gripping the handlebars, the other squeezes my arm every so often. It’s like he can’t resist touching me, even though the whole of my front is pressed to his back. He’s been like it all week and I am definitely not complaining.
He pulls the bike into a familiar gravel area that overlooks the city below and my stomach growls.
“Someone’s looking forward to their burrito,” he chuckles.
“I know what I’m getting this time. I’ve been looking forward to it since you mentioned it last night.”
“Me too, baby girl.” His words sound different, odd. I can’t quite put my finger on why, though.
We climb off the bike and head toward one of my favorite chefs.
“Morning, Marco,” Hudson calls as we approach. It’s still quite dark out, the sun hasn’t risen yet, but even at this early hour, Marco is prepping food and cooking up a feast.
He grins at me from the window of his shack. “I had a feeling I’d be seeing you again.”
“Psychic now, are we?” Hudson mutters beside me.
“You don’t need to be a psychic to know love when you see it.”
I just shake my head at him. I might be in love with Hudson now, even if I haven’t said it, but there was no way I loved him then.
“Why don’t you two love birds take a seat and watch the sunrise? I know that’s why you’re here this early. I’ll bring the food over when it’s ready.”
“Appreciate it, Marco.”
Hudson takes my hand as he pulls me over toward the picnic tables.
He keeps walking, though and leads us to the edge of the bluff.
We stand there together as the sky gradually changes from grey, to gold, to pink, and then blue.
I don’t know if I’ve ever taken the time to watch a sunrise before. It’s majestic.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmur as my gaze stays glued to the sky in front of us.
“Yes, it is,” he rasps from beside me.
Hudson
She looks stunning in the light of the early morning sun. The soft gold highlighting her beautiful features. I need to do it now; I can’t wait any longer. I need to make her mine in every way because that’s how I think of her.
Mine.
“You’re going to marry me.”
“Excuse me?” She whips her head around to face me.
“You heard me, sweet pea.”
“I’m not marrying you. I don’t want to get married.”
“Well, I’m not done fucking you. I’m not done spending time with you. I will never be done with you and I’m not hiding it anymore. You’re not my dirty little secret and the only way this works is for you to become my wife.”
“That’s not happening.” Why does she have to fight me on everything, even when it’s what she wants, too.
“You don’t want to be my wife?” I pull her into my arms, my forehead pressing against hers. “You don’t want to be Mrs. Davenport? I think Mia Davenport has a nice ring to it.”
“There’s something wrong with you.”
“I’m not getting any younger, baby girl. I’m forty-six years old. You’ve made me realize I want marriage and kids. And I want it all with you.”
“Find someone else to marry.”
I can’t help but laugh at that. I don’t think there’ll be a time when my girl’s not acting like a brat.
“Yeah? You’d be okay with that? With me holding another woman in my arms?
With me fucking someone else?” Her eyes darken at that; she hates the thought.
“With them taking my name? Bearing my children?” Her teeth grind together.
She wants me, wants this, just as much as I want her.
“Because let me tell you, sweet pea, no part of me is okay with having anyone else in my life.”
“But why marriage?”
“For one, it’s the only way we can be together and the college be okay with it. Two, it’s what I want. What I desperately want with you. And despite your words, I know you want it, too.”
I lower myself to one knee in front of her and pull out the box I’ve been holding onto since London. I snap it open and see her eyes widen as she gets a look at the ring she’s already tried on. The ring I know she loved as much as I did.
“Hudson, that’s…” Her words trail off as I take the ring out and hold it to the tip of her finger.
“I knew then that I wanted to marry you. The minute I saw this on your finger my whole life clicked into place. You’re my forever, sweet pea.” I slide the ring that I already know is perfect for her, onto her finger, and stand up, pulling her into my arms.
“This is the ring from London,” she breathes.
“It was perfect for you, just like you’re perfect for me.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“I’m not giving you a choice in the matter, baby girl. You’re marrying me because I refuse to do life without you.”
“So bossy,” she mutters, but she’s grinning up at me, and I know I’ve got her.
“This Saturday.”
“Yeah, maybe we can start telling people then. Gives me a week to get used to it.”
“No. You’re marrying me then.”