Page 84 of Here's to Tomorrow

“How about I let you and Nana decorate next weekend? You’ll still have to spend next Sunday and possibly Monday night here, and we have to get your school bus schedule figured out Monday morning when the address change goes through.”

“YES!” she yells, punching the air. “Woo to the hoo! Thank you, Daddy!” She launches herself into his arms and he hugs her tightly, soaking in her happiness.

They look so happy together, so ready for this next step. It makes my heart swell.

He looks at Tucker and Gaige, who are sitting on the loveseat. “You two are going to help me move in what little I have on Saturday. We’ll say you were at work so you’ll get paid for it.”

“Sweet, dude. Thanks,” Gaige says.

“How do you know I didn’t already have plans?” Tucker fusses.

Hudson glares at him. “Simple. You cancel them.”

I catch Tucker mouthassholeto him. I know that if Joey weren’t all wrapped up in her daddy’s arms right now, she’d have caught it too.

“Okay, movie time!” Elle announces, turning the TV on.

We all grab a few slices of pizza and get comfy. Elle takes the recliner and Gaige and Tucker remain on the loveseat, leaving Hudson and me on the couch with Joey between us.

We’re about halfway through the movie when I feel the first touch. Hudson has his arm stretched across the back of the couch, gently twirling my hair around his fingers. It feels so soothing, so natural.

I check my peripheral to find him watching me. He must see me do it because he chuckles softly. Joey shushes him. She means serious business when she watches movies. There’s to be no talking and hardly any moving. It’s comical to watch three grown men try to sit still for an hour and a half and get scolded by a seven-year-old when they can’t. We had to pause the movie three times so she could tell Tucker to stop talking. We all wisely kept our laughter to ourselves.

Joey only allows for a short break to grab drinks, desserts, and use the bathroom. Then we’re back to movie-watching. This time around it’sMonsters University.

“Can I sit on your lap, Rae?” Joey asks sweetly right before the opening credits begin.

I nod, not even thinking on it for single second, which is unusual for me.

Joey climbs up on my lap and makes herself comfortable, wrapping a blanket around her. I look to Hudson because I canfeelhis gaze on me. The look in his eyes makes my chest heavy because it’s so full of love. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that look to be directed at me too. He scoots closer to us and slowly wraps his hand around mine.

It’s the last thing I remember before falling into a peaceful sleep.

* * *

“They look so content,” I barely hear Elle say. I have no idea who she’s talking to because my eyes are still closed.

I feel something heavy on my lap shift around. It takes me a few seconds to remember it’s Joey; we must have fallen asleep during the movie.

I’m about to open my eyes when I hear Hudson speak. “Ma, this isn’t good,” he says, worry filling his voice.

I do the most asshole thing I’ve ever done in my entire life: I pretend to keep sleeping because I can tell that whatever he’s about to say next is big.

“You’re in love,” Elle states, the shock in her voice clear. “How? You two haven’t been together long at all. Are you sure?”

If I’ve learned anything about Hudson over the past few weeks, it’s that he likes eye contact. So, I assume he pierces his mother with his beautiful blue-green gaze, because I can hear her sharp intake of breath.

“Holy shit, Hudson,” she breathes out.

Holy shit is right! If I didn’t have Joey on my lap right now, I’d be jumping for joy—or running out the door. Maybe.

How in the world is it possible to fall in love this fast?

“When you know, you know. Isn’t that what you used to always say to me?” She must nod. “I know, Ma. I’m sure of it. It feels soon, but it also feels right. Right trumps soon.”

“Damn,” Elle says softly.

Tucker and Gaige must be gone, because I don’t hear them chime in at all.

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