Page 45 of Curvy Desire's Second Shot

After dinner, we curled up on the couch, the soft hum of a movie playing in the background. Naomi rested her head on my shoulder, her hand intertwined with mine, and I couldn’t help but think about how far we’d come.

There had been moments when I thought we wouldn’t make it, when the weight of everything felt too heavy to carry. But sitting here with her now, I realized just how strong we were—together.

As the creditsrolled and the apartment fell into quiet, Naomi turned to me, her gaze steady. “Thank you, Hudson.”

“For what?” I asked, brushing my thumb over the back of her hand.

“For not giving up on me,” she said, her voice soft but full of conviction. “For believing in us.”

I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I’ll never stop believing in us, Naomi. Not now. Not ever.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she smiled, leaning into me. And in that moment, I knew one thing for certain: We’d fought too hard to let anything tear us apart now.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Naomi

The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the apartment in a warm, golden glow. I stretched lazily, my body still heavy with sleep, and let out a contented sigh. Hudson was already up, judging by the faint clatter of dishes from the kitchen. The smell of coffee drifted into the room, rich and inviting.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight on my chest was gone. The constant edge of fear, the gnawing anxiety that something was waiting around the corner, had quieted. It wasn’t gone entirely—there was always a part of me that stayed alert—but for now, it was just... quiet.

I pulled myself out of bed and padded into the kitchen. Hudson was standing at the counter, his back to me as he poured coffee into two mugs. He was wearing an old T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair slightly tousled. He looked relaxed, at ease, and the sight made my heart ache in the best way.

“Morning,” I said, leaning against the doorframe.

He turned, his lips curving into a soft smile. “Morning. Coffee?”

“Always,” I said, grinning.

He handed me a mug, and our fingers brushed for a brief moment. It was a simple touch, but it sent warmth rushing through me. I took a sip, savoring the familiar bitterness as I followed him to the couch.

We settled in comfortably, the silence between us unhurried. Hudson flicked on the TV, scrolling through channels until he landed on a documentary about travel destinations. I tucked my legs under me, resting my head on his shoulder as the narrator’s soothing voice filled the room.

“You know,” I said, my voice thoughtful, “I can actually imagine us doing this now.”

“Doing what?” he asked, glancing down at me.

“This,” I said, gesturing to the screen. “Traveling. Exploring new places. Building a life.”

His hand found mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “We’ll get there, Naomi.”

“I know,” I said softly. And for the first time, I believed it.

Later that afternoon,I found myself standing by the window, gazing out at the street below. The neighborhood was quiet, the kind of sleepy calm that I used to take for granted. A couple walked by, their hands entwined, and I couldn’t help but smile.

It was strange, thinking about how much had changed. When I first came back to Cedar Hill, I’d been a mess of fear and uncertainty, weighed down by everything I’d run from. I hadn’t felt like I belonged anywhere—not in this town, not in my own skin. But now, things were different. I was different.

Hudson had a lot to do with that. His steady presence, his unwavering belief in me, had chipped away at the walls I’d built around myself. But it wasn’t just him. I’d found strength in myself too, in the choices I’d made and the battles I’d fought. I wasn’t just surviving anymore—I was living.

The thought made me smile, and I turned away from the window, heading back to the kitchen. I grabbed a notebook from the counter and sat down at the table, flipping to the page where Hudson and I had started jotting down ideas for our future. It was a mix of practical plans and dreams, from finding a new place to adopting a dog.

I added another note to the list:Weekend road trip.

“Planning without me?” Hudson’s voice startled me, and I looked up to see him leaning against the doorframe, a playful grin on his face.

“Just brainstorming,” I said, holding up the notebook. “What do you think about a road trip?”

“Sounds like a plan,” he said, walking over to join me. “Where to?”

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