Page 68 of Pieces

I glance at Daphne out of the corner of my eye. She’s sitting stiffly beside me, her hands twisted together in her lap. Her mom’s hand rests gently on her arm, but her dad… Her dad is all fire and judgment, barely keeping himself in check. I can see the hurt in her eyes, the way her shoulders are curled in like she’s bracing for more. It kills me to see her like this. I want to pull her into my arms and shield her from all of it, but I know that’s not how this works. I can’t protect her from this. I can only stand by her.

Coach finally breaks the silence once more. “I hope you can live up to your words, Hudson. You want my respect? You earn it.”

For a split second, I thought I saw something flicker in Coach’s eyes, maybe understanding, maybe just exhaustion, but it was gone as quickly as it came. His jaw tightens, and his gaze returns to its usual steel.

I nod, my throat tight. “I understand, sir.”

But sitting here facing the reality I’ve been terrified of confronting, I realize, it’s not his respect I care about most. It’s Daphne’s. When she looks at me, I want her to know I mean every word. I want her to feel like she can trust me, lean on me, believe in me. That I’m not just here because I have to be, but because I want to be. Because she and this baby matter more to me than anything else ever has. I want her to feel safe because I’m never letting her down.

“Sir?” I begin. “I know you don’t like me much right now, but don’t blame her for this. She needs you, don’t forget that.”

His eyes soften again just a little, enough to make me feel like I can leave this as it is and deal with whatever comes next.

I turn to Serena, who’s been quiet most of this exchange. “Thank you for letting me into your home tonight. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to take Daphne back to her dorm now. She needs the rest.”

Serena nods and stands, stepping toward Daphne. Her expression shifts from guarded to gentle as she wraps Daphne in a hug. She stiffens for a split second, before melting into the embrace. Her shoulders sag under the weight of everything that’s happened tonight, and she grips her mom’s arm like it’s the only thing keeping her upright.

I should look away, but I can’t, because what I see in Daphne’s face isn’t just exhaustion, it’s relief too. She needs this from her mom.

Her eyes find mine, and she mouths,thank youbefore squeezing her eyes closed.

Serena finally steps back, cups Daphne’s face, and says something I can’t hear. Daphne nods though with a watery smile.

“Daphne,” her dad says as he looks at her for a moment, his face calm enough to remind me that, beneath all the anger, he’s her father first. “We’ll…talk more soon. Just get home safe.”

Daphne nods, her throat bobbing as she swallows hard. “Okay, Dad,” she says, her voice breaking slightly. “I love you.”

His eyes glisten. “I love you too, kid.”

Her mom pulls her into a hug. “Call me tomorrow, okay? No matter what time. I need to know you’re okay.”

“I will, Mom,” Daphne replies as her lips tremble into the barest hint of a smile.

Mrs. James turns her focus to me then, her eyes scanning my face like she’s trying to see past the surface. “Hudson,” she says. “Take care of her.”

“I will, ma’am,” I promise, meeting her gaze. “I’ll do everything I can.”

Looking over at her dad, I give him a nod, and to my surprise, he nods back. I’m not sure what that means. He’s probably going to put me through my paces on the field. Those endless burpees he promised are definitely in my immediate future. I’ve got some work to do with him.

Daphne hesitates, glancing over her shoulder at her mom one last time, then opens the door. The cool night air brushes past us as we step outside, the sound of the door clicking shut behind us sounding louder than it should.

We walk down the path again, and when we get to the car, the heaviness of the that whole conversation sits like a boulder between us. But when Daphne spins around to lean against the passenger door, her hands automatically seek mine, and I don’t hesitate to take them. “That was…awful,” she whispers, her voice thick.

Itwasawful, but we’re through it. “They love you a lot. They might be mad now, but that’ll change.”

She sighs, deep and full of sorrow. “I couldn’t have done that without you. You were amazing.”

My lungs expand with a deep, satisfied breath. Stepping closer to her, I watch as her eyes widen slightly the nearer I get, until I’m almost touching her, but not quite. “I need you to know that I was serious back there,” I whisper, suddenly desperate to reassure her and feel her confidence in me. Her wide eyes lock onto mine, and I can see the storm of emotions swirling behind them. Fear, doubt, exhaustion. She presses her back against the car door, like it’s the only thing keeping her steady. “I meant it, Daph,” I continue. “Every word.” Her lips part slightly, but nothing comes out. She blinks rapidly, like she’s trying to hold back tears, and it makes me want to reach for her, to pull her into my arms and never let go. But I don’t. Not yet. I need her to hear this first.

“I know we haven’t known each other that long, and this is new for us,” I say. “But I want to spend this lifetime being a parent with you, alongside you, because from what I do know, you’re pretty awesome.”

Football taught me discipline, but this, being there for Daphne and our baby, this is what will make me a man.

Her baby blues take me in, and I know she sees what she needs in me when she smiles. “You’re gonna be a great dad, you know,” she whispers. Those words hit me harder than anything else tonight.

My heart pounds at the idea, but also, I realize she makes me feel good, grounded, and I need that. A tear escapes, rolling down her cheek. Before I can stop myself, I reach up and brush it away with my thumb. Her pink scrunchie still rests on my wrist, and she reaches up to run her finger over the fabric, smiling to herself.

Her gaze finally locks onto mine, and for the first time tonight, I see a glimmer of something other than fear in her eyes. That trust again. It’s tentative, but it’s there, and it’s enough to make me feel like maybe I’m doing something right.

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