Page 39 of Caged

“You’re so good with him, Hud.”

I turn to find my sister watching me. “Yeah well, I get to give him back at night, Len. It’s way easier to be the cool uncle than the tired parent.”

She takes a step toward me, then runs her hand over Mav’s back. “At some point, you’re going to love someone so much, you’ll refuse to let go.”

“It’s not like I don’t want that. I just haven’t found it yet, Len.” My confession is quiet, so I don’t upset the ticking time bomb in my arms, but it’s true, nonetheless. No one has ever held my interest for more than a night or two.

But even as I think that, I know it’s a lie.

I’d love to have what some of my siblings have found. But I honestly didn’t know if it was in the cards for me. Not until now. I’m pretty sure my chance has been right in front of my face, and I just needed to open my damn eyes.

Maverick’s breathing evens out, but I don’t put him down. Not yet. I want to make sure Len gets a few minutes to rest. “Is Bash at the stadium?”

Her husband is a monster on our football team.

“Yeah. They got back from London really early yesterday, so we took the day off together. But we ended up at the pediatrician’s office in the afternoon.” I follow her back into the kitchen and watch her inhale her coffee. “Did you really just stop by to check on me and bring me coffee?”

Did I?

I stand there with my hand spread wide over Mav’s back, debating how I want to answer her question. But I don’t have to debate for long.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you and Maddie Dixon?” Lenny picks up her muffin and tears another piece off. When I don’t answer her right away, she tosses the piece at my head. “Word travels fast, Hudson. Especially when your coach is married to our sister.” She tsks at me a few times, with a cocky expression. “He’s not happy with you. Says you picked a shit week to decide you’re ready to claim your girl.”

When my mouth drops open, Lenny smiles. “His words. Not mine. So, tell me again, Hud. Why are you here?”

“Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not the smartest sibling, Len.” I sit back down and press a kiss to Mav’s big old head. “How did you know Bash was worth the fight?” I ask, then shake my head. “That’s not what I meant...”

“Stop. I know what you mean, and I was there. I know I had to fight for my husband. But he was worth it. It was like it was something I knew deep down. There wasn’t any one thing. It was everything.” Her tired eyes rest on my sleeping nephew, and her whole body relaxes. “As soon as I realized that, I knew I was ready to dig my heels in and refuse to let go.”

She crosses the room and refills her coffee cup from the pot brewing on her counter. “Listen to me, big brother. Dad did a number on all of us, in one way or another. But just because he couldn’t keep it in his pants, and fell in and out of love more often than most people change their underwear, doesn’t mean any of us have to be that way. I honestly think because of that, none of us will be like him. Bash is it for me. He’s the love of my life. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

“How long did it take you to figure that out?”

“A week. Maybe less. But there’s no rule book here, Hud. Bash had his own issues to deal with, and from what I’ve heard, so does Maddie.” She sips her coffee and hums happily to herself. “If you’re looking for a rule book to follow, you’re going to be disappointed. It looks different for everyone. But seriously, if you’re here asking these questions, I think you already know your answer.”

Maverick buries his face against my neck and whimpers, so Lenny takes him from me and pats his bottom. “Somebody needs a diaper change. Wanna help, Uncle Hud?”

“That’s all you, Len. I’ve got to get back to the gym.” I stand from the chair and drop a kiss on her head. “Any chance we can keep this talk between us?”

The little brat laughs. “Not a chance. We were all taking bets on who you’d go to. Honestly, I thought it would be Max.”

“You coming to the fight Saturday night?” I ask as she follows me to the door.

“Wouldn’t miss it, big brother. Love you.”

A sound comes out of Maverick, followed by a smell I wouldn’t have expected from a baby. “Yeah... I’m out. See ya, Len.”

“Coward,” she calls back.

Ha. That’ll be the day.

* * *

Maddie

Tuesday afternoon, I finish up my meetings a little late and rush into the house to change for the gym. In hindsight, I really should have been paying closer attention. A scream is ripped from me as a man pops out in front of me. Instinct kicks in, and I smack him with my computer.

I guess I should have waited a minute before I did that because Brandon’s best friend and Kings teammate, Watkins, is now curled in a ball on the floor, cupping his hand between his legs and groaning.

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