Page 42 of Curvy Desire's Second Shot

“Long enough,” I said, brushing my fingers along her back. “You sleep okay?”

“Better than I have in weeks,” she admitted, resting her chin on my chest as she looked at me. “How about you?”

“Best sleep of my life,” I said honestly.

Her smile widened, and she traced a lazy circle on my chest with her finger. “What are you thinking about?”

“You,” I said without hesitation.

“Good things, I hope,” she teased.

“Always,” I said, my tone softening. “I was just thinking about how much has changed since you came back.”

“Changed how?” she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

“In every way,” I said. “You’ve given me something I didn’t think I’d ever have again.”

“What’s that?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Hope,” I said simply. “For us. For a life beyond all of this.”

Her expression softened, and she leaned up, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. “I want that too, Hudson.”

The words settled over me, filling the empty spaces I hadn’t even realized were there. For the first time in years, I could see it—really see it. A home, a family, a life where we weren’t constantly looking over our shoulders.

And with Naomi by my side, it didn’t feel impossible.

The day passedin a blur of quiet moments and easy laughter. We stayed in, cooking breakfast together—though Naomi’s attempt at flipping pancakes ended with batter splattered across the counter. She laughed so hard she had to lean against me for support, and I couldn’t help but join in, the sound of her laughter warming me from the inside out.

Later, we sat on the couch, her legs draped over mine as we talked about everything and nothing. She told me about the places she’d seen during her time away, the cities she’d explored, and the people she’d met. I listened, captivated, storing away every detail like it was a treasure.

“You’ve seen so much,” I said, shaking my head. “Meanwhile, I’ve been here, stuck in the same old routine.”

“Your routine isn’t bad,” she said, resting her head on my shoulder. “And besides, it brought us back together, didn’t it?”

I nodded, my hand brushing over her hair. “Yeah, it did.”

As the evening rolled around,I found myself imagining what it would be like to make this permanent. To wake up every morning with Naomi by my side, to come home to her laugh, her smile, her warmth. It wasn’t a dream anymore—it felt like something real, something we could have if we just fought hard enough for it.

She caught me staring at her and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing,” I said, smiling. “Just thinking.”

“About?” she pressed, her curiosity piqued.

I hesitated, then decided to tell her the truth. “About us. About the future.”

Her expression softened, and she leaned into me, her voice quiet but firm. “We’ll figure it out, Hudson. Together.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Naomi

The sound of laughter and the faint hum of conversation filled the small community center as I stepped through the double doors. Hudson had dropped me off earlier, insisting he’d run errands while I spent a couple of hours volunteering. He hadn’t been thrilled when I suggested it, his protectiveness flaring up as usual, but he relented when I promised to text him every fifteen minutes.

The center was bustling with activity, a stark contrast to the quiet of the apartment. Long tables lined the room, each one crowded with people of all ages sharing meals, stories, and warmth. It was a safe haven, a space for people who needed a break from the harshness of the outside world.

A woman greeted me at the door, her face lighting up when she saw me. “Naomi! You’re a lifesaver. We’ve got more people than we expected today.”

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