Page 68 of One Night With You

“And we’re going to try to keep doing it,” Kingston said as he came forward.

“I was just thinking that you would. Is Leif already on the plans?”

“He contacted his mother, and Aunt Sierra and Uncle Austin can do anything.”

“I’m surprised you guys don’t already have a foundation in your name. What with all the hospital visits I hear you guys have.”

I knew Hudson was trying to lighten the mood, and I was grateful for it. My brother let me go and I leaned into Kingston instead.

“We have one, but it’s to provide meals for children in schools, as well as housing for families in need afternatural disasters, and we have another section that works well for women and families that need to get out of bad situations at home. It’s not much, we’re all smaller parts of a whole, but we do some things.”

“Your family is out of this world.”

“There’s just a lot of us. We can’t help it. We have been the recipient of good tidings and people who care about us over the years. So we’re trying to do the same.”

“I know that we’re not going to be able to save every single kid. But I want to believe we can.”

“I would say I need a drink, but I need to go pick up the kids. You’re going to stop by later?” Hudson asked.

“I might. I have a work call later tonight.”

Both men raised their single brows, and once again, I was jealous.

“You’ve worked how many hours on this?”

“And I would do it all again. But there’s an event in three days, and Trix is handling most of it, because I’m trying to give her more responsibility, but I do have things to do. It’s okay. I’m not overworking.”

“See that she doesn’t,” Hudson said, and Kingston lifted his chin in acknowledgement.

“Don’t worry. I will.”

“Okay, I really don’t like you two working together against me.”

“Weren’t you the one that worked with Oliveragainst me in order for me to actually take a Sunday off?” Kingston asked.

“That was different. That was your little brother annoying you.”

“And this is your big brother annoying you,” Hudson said, as he tapped my nose.

“Call tonight. The kids miss you.”

“I saw them yesterday. And I miss them already.”

“It’s a good thing we all live close then. Love you, little sis.” He kissed my forehead, then headed off to his car. And after we said our goodbyes to everyone else, I found myself sitting next to Kingston in his SUV on the way to his house.

“That was tough,” he said after a moment.

“It was tougher than I thought it was going to be.”

“I need that little kid to be okay. Even if it’s not me. Even if they find another donor, or it turns out he doesn’t even need one, I need him to be okay. I don’t need to be the one that saves the day, I just need someone to do it.”

“I never thought you were the one who needed to put on a cape for the acknowledgement. You just throw yourself in when it’s needed. It’s not for praise. If anything you get embarrassed if anyone praises you.”

“I’m not quite sure I like the psychoanalyzing,” he said through gritted teeth, and I leaned over to squeeze his knee.

“Kingston.”

“Claire,” he said in the same tone, and we both sighed simultaneously.

---