Page 99 of The Only Goal

Why had he let me go so easily?

Why hadn’t?—

The front door clicks open, and I flinch. “Ray, I gotta go.”

“Okay.” I can see her smiling in my mind as she tells me to keep in touch… and give Kai a kiss from her.

“And a bear hug from Casey!” he shouts in the background, and I can’t help a watery laugh.

“Will do.” I end the call as Hudson and Kai walk into the kitchen.

“Who were you talking to?” Hudson places the grocery bags on the counter, and I immediately crouch down to hug Kai so I don’t have to look at my husband… or answer his question.

“Hey, Mommy.” Kai nestles his head against my shoulder.

“You have fun shopping?”

“Yep.” He nods, then darts his eyes to Hudson before looking at me. “Daddy let me buy three candies.”

“Oh, really? Just before dinner.” I can’t help an annoyed little huff. “Promise me you’ll still eat your vegetables.”

Kai gives me an impish grin, and I’m about to ask if he wants to help me start preparing our evening meal, but Hudson speaks before I can. “Kai, go play in your room.”

“But—”

“Now. You can open the new Legos I bought you.”

“You said you’d help me build it.” He takes the box from Hudson and stares down at the cargo train he’ll be constructing.

“Get started without me. I’m just gonna talk to Mommy first.”

“Okay.” Kai sighs and shuffles out of the room, hugging the box to his chest.

I gaze after him, tension coiling my stomach. Something’s off with Hudson. Spending time alone with Kai has always frazzled him, and maybe he’s irritated at having to do grocery shopping and then build Legos. It hurts my heart a little, although it is good to see him spending time with his son. That’s why I came back, because I’m trying not to rip this family apart. I should be happy that Kai’s father is putting in so much effort. It’d just mean more if he actually enjoyed it. I’d like him to want to do it, rather than just do it because he has to… or he’s trying to prove something to me.

A shaky sigh rushes out of me, and I make myself turn, forcing a smile at Hudson before starting to unpack the groceries.

He leans against the counter, watching me with a terse frown. I don’t know what he’s waiting for, until I hear Kai’s footsteps stop upstairs. He’s in his room now and far enough away not to hear Hudson mutter a curse and snap, “When the fuck were you going to tell me you were staying with Baxter Brown?”

I freeze by the fridge, gripping the handle and trying to sound unfazed by his venom.

“When the fuck were you going to tell me you were cheating on me?”

“Oh, don’t throw this back in my face,” he spits. I spin in time to see him point a finger at me. “Why didn’t you tell me he was there?”

I cross my arms. “Why should I?”

“Because!” His hands fly up before slapping back down on the counter. “The guy was in love with you in high school. Anyone with working eyeballs could see it! And you just run to him the first time we have any trouble?”

My heart starts thrumming, and it makes my voice shake. “He was my best friend.”

“Yeah, a pretty shitty one! The number of times you cried over the fact that he was pulling away from you…” Hudson rolls his eyes.

The cool air from the fridge swirls across my back, but I leave the door open, too stunned by the look of disgust on his face. “You knew he was in love with me?”

“Of course I did. That’s why I had to work so hard to keep you away from him. I didn’t want him ruining what we had! And then you just take off with my son—who can’t seem to shut up about the guy—and go and move in with him?”

The fridge starts beeping and I slap the door closed, the bottles rattling in protest. “I didn’t know where else to go. It’s not like I could head back to Gladstone, or should I say Judgment Central. They would have just sent me right back here to you.”

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