Page 125 of Must Have Been Love

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad she did. I’m over the moon that she’s actually able to say some words. But Hudson doesn’t owe me anything. I was just there, listening at the right time.

“The speech therapist would like to see Ayda tomorrow,” Dr. Methi says, bringing me out of my thoughts. “She thinks this is a very significant piece of progress.” He smiles at Hudson then me. “But she also says that you shouldn’t get ahead of yourselves. Ayda has a long way to go yet.”

“Tomorrow is fine. Can she send the details to my assistant?” Hudson asks, leaning forward. There’s an animated expression on his face that wasn’t there before, and I’m so happy for him.

“Already done,” Dr. Methi says. He looks at his watch. “Well we have thirty more minutes,” he says to me. “Why don’t we say goodbye to Ayda and Hudson and you can stay for a chat, Skyler?”

“Can I just have a word with Skyler first?” Hudson asks, his voice low as he glances at me. “In private?”

Dr. Methi looks at me and I shrug to let him know it’s okay.

“I’ll be outside,” Dr. Methi says, taking Ayda’s hand and striding to the door and leaving the room. Hudson stands, and I find myself doing the same, turning to face him.

“Thank you,” he says. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“I should have remembered earlier,” I tell him.

He shakes his head. “That doesn’t matter. There were other things going on. But thank you for being the one she trusts.”

I don’t know why, but his words send my emotions into a spiral. Tears spring to my eyes.

“Youarecoming home, right?” he asks, as I try to get them under control.

“I’m coming back to the bar, yes.” I need to make it clear. I’m not expecting anything. I’m not wanting it. And soon, very soon, I’ll be honest with him about what’s going on inside of me.

“I understand.” He takes a breath. “I need you to know, I’m so, so sorry for the things I said to you.”

“It’s okay,” I say quickly.

“No, it very much isn’t. What I said…” He trails off, running his fingers over his bruised jaw. “It wasn’t about you. It was about me. I like who you are.” He shakes his head. “Dammit, Ilovewho you are. I love everything about you. I love the way you see life as an adventure, not something to be protected from. I love the way I never know what to expect from you, but whatever it is, it’s always magical. I love the way you make me laugh and make me think and the way you challenge every single thing I do. And most of all,” he takes a breath, “I love how big your heart is. How there’s infinite room for everything and everybody.” His gaze is oh-so gentle as he looks at me. “I’m not asking you to forgive me. I can’t forgive myself. I’m just telling you the truth. Because you deserve it.”

I inhale raggedly. My heart thuds, like it wants me to let his words inside. To let them rebuild me.

But I can’t.

“Hudson,” I whisper.

“It’s okay. I understand if you don’t feel the same. I just need you to know how very welcomed you’ll be on the island. Especially by me.” He shakes his head. “By everybody. I’m absolutely sure if you took a poll, everybody would vote to push me out and let you back in.”

“You make it sound like a reality show,” I say.

“I’m trying to tell you that Ayda was right. Her words were right. Come home. Toyourhome. It’s where you belong.”

He steps forward, his hands reaching for my shoulders. He pulls me close, not close enough that our bodies touch, but still so near that it’s easy for him to drop his head and kiss my brow, right where my hairline meets my skin. Even that sends a shiver through me, like my body is waking up and remembering exactly who he is.

Oh hello, giver of orgasms, god of the unbelievable sex. I was wondering where you were.

“Okay then,” Dr. Methi says, coming back in. Hudson reluctantly lets go of me, giving me the softest of smiles.

“I’ll see you back on the island.”

And it doesn’t sound like a threat.

* * *

I pull onto the ferry the next morning, grinning at Jesse’s happy face as he realizes I’m on my way back home. He walks over and I roll down the window. “Hey,” I say to him. “I’ve got Lee on speaker phone.”

“Hi Jesse,” Lee calls out over the car’s speaker.

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