Page 197 of Beautiful Collide

“Hell yeah, she would. She wields the control over who gets her famous cookie bar like a power-hungry demon.”

Molly laughs. “That’s mean.”

I shrug. “It’s the truth. Wait. You’ll see. Dad is always in the doghouse; he never gets seconds.”

Molly laughs nervously, and I can’t help smiling. She’s out of her element, but she’s here. With me.

We aren’t even up the path to the main house when the screen door swings open. My mom steps out, her hands on her hips and a grin on her face.

She’s wearing her usual faded jeans and a T-shirt, this one with a giant soybean on her chest. Her hair is pulled back into a messy bun like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

I love that about my mom. She’s not one to change who she is for anyone else.

The king of England could be coming to our house for dinner, and she would still look and act the same.

“Hudson. Molly, you’re here. Finally.”Way to play it cool, Mom.

With Molly in tow, I climb the stairs and pull my mom into a hug. “Hey, Mom. You remember Molly?”

My mother swats me on the arm. “Of course, I remember my daughter-in-law.” I look back at Molly and see that she looks a little tense, but it’s short-lived because soon Molly is being pulled toward my mom, who’s hugging her like her life depends on it. “You know this is the most proud you ever made me, Hudson.”

“You weren’t this proud when I got called up to the pros?”

She doesn’t answer.

Molly shifts in her arms.

“Mom. Let her go. I don’t think she can breathe.”

“I’m fine, Hudson,” Molly says, meeting my stare and practically begging me to shut the hell up. “Hi, Mrs. Wilde.”

“I already told you. It’s Mary.” She lets Molly go finally. “I have so many stories to tell you. And pictures to show you. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.” My mom turns to me, narrowing her eyes. “I thought you’d be bringing a girlfriend home, not a wife. But this will do.”

“Gee, thanks, Mom. Happy to have your approval.”

“Shh, Hudson. Or there will be no death by chocolate for you tonight,” my mom fires back, making Molly laugh.

“What? No. That’s unfair.”

She places her hands on her hips and challenges me to continue.

Molly watches us like a person watching a tennis match, her gaze bouncing back and forth. “Stories, huh?”

Damn. She caught that.

“Only the good ones, okay, Mom?”

“No promises,” she says before giving Molly a once-over. “You’re even prettier than I remember.”

Molly blushes, stammering out a thank-you, and I feel a weird sense of pride swell in my chest.

“You guys go get settled in Hudson’s old room—”

“Mom, it might be better if Molly sleeps in the guest room since I only have a twin bed,” I say. While I’d love to sleep in a bed with Molly, I want her to be comfortable and sharing a twin isn’t ideal.

“Oh, about that…Don’t you remember. I turned the guest room into a craft room.”

I narrow my eyes but don’t say anything.

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