Page 72 of Pieces

The gesture catches me completely off guard, the weight of the blanket settling over me like a hug. It’s such a small thing, but it feels like so much more. That he’s here, paying attention, even to the things I don’t say out loud.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice catching slightly.

As his hand drops, something pink catches my eye. It’s my scrunchie on his wrist again. The one he slipped off me at that party and claimed as his own. It’s mine, my brain says, my scrunchie, and he’s wearing it like it means something to him.

I swallow hard and look away before he sees me staring, but I land on another bracelet circling his wrist. A thin, beaded one.

He sits on the blanket and taps the space beside him, following my gaze still glued to his wrist. Moving to sit next to him, I touch the beaded one. “What does that one say?”

His lips twitch, holding his arm up so I can see. “2ndBest.”

A surprised laugh escapes me. “Who gave you that?”

“My sister.” He laughs, running a finger over the beads. “She said it’s a gentle reminder that she’s the favorite child.”

I grin. “She’s ruthless. I like her already.”

He laughs at that and rubs his finger over my scrunchie now, and that same feeling ripples in my chest. There’s something far away in my mind whispering that won’t be the only thing he claims if given the chance.

“Tell me about your mom and sister.”

“Every summer,” he says, leaning back on his hands. “This was our spot. My mom, Aurora, and me. We’d fish sometimes, skip rocks, pack way too much food. It wasn’t fancy, but it didn’t need to be.” He pauses, his gaze fixed on the water. “It was just…happy, you know? Life wasn’t perfect, but here, it felt like it could be. I think this is where I learned how to dream big. Sitting here with my mom, listening to her talk about all the things she wanted for us. She’d tell us that no matter what happened, we had to believe we deserved good things.”

I tilt my head, watching him closely. “Do you still believe that?”

His lips twitch into a faint smile. “Most days. But lately...I think about this baby, and it feels huge, Daph. Bigger than anything I’ve ever done. Then I think about what my mom would say, how it’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up. Loving people so hard they never doubt it.”

I feel a lump rise in my throat, and I glance back at the lake, blinking back the swell of emotion rising. “Hudson...” I start, but the words dissolve on my tongue, so I let them fall away. Instead, I reach out and take his hand, threading my fingers through his. I feel incredibly lucky to have him with me, this man who, I’m learning, cares so deeply and listens so intently. His mama sure did something right with him.

“Yeah?”

“Can I meet your mom and sister one day soon?”

He looks down at our hands, then back at me. “I’d like that.”

The sound of the water lapping against the shore fills the space between us. The breeze carries the faint scent of pine, and I breathe it in, letting the calm of this place settle over me. Letting his presence ground me.

Hudson shifts slightly, leaning closer, his voice dropping as he asks, “Have you thought about the scan? You know...seeing the baby?”

I nod, my hand instinctively brushing over my stomach under the blanket. The reality of it feels closer now, more solid, especially with everything that’s happened in the past few days. “I guess we should call soon,” I say, my voice quieter. “I have the letter now. It’s probably time to book it.”

“We’ll do it together.”

I lean my head against his shoulder and let out a slow, shaky breath. Watching Hudson sitting here by the lake, I realize something. He isn’t just the guy who makes me laugh or makes me feel good. He’s someone who’ll carry a blanket in case I get cold. Someone who’ll show up for me, and for this baby too.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “For this. I didn’t realize how much I needed it.”

He looks at me then, his expression serious but gentle. “I needed it too.”

***

Hudson

“You ever skip rocks?” I ask, rolling a smooth one in my palm. It’s the perfect size.

She snorts softly. “Not since I was a kid. And, spoiler alert, I sucked at it.”

“Perfect,” I say, standing and brushing off my jeans. I extend a hand, wiggling my fingers in invitation. “Today’s your lucky day. I happen to be a skipping expert.”

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