Page 177 of Slap Shot
“That’s the sign for hockey, which you did earlier. Name signs can be based off hobbies or what you looked like, so she thought it would fit for you,” Madeline explains.
I mimic Lucy’s movements, committing it to memory. “Thank you so much for the name sign.Do you have one? Does your mom?”
M-O-M-M-Y, Lucy spells, and then she crosses her fist over chest, almost mimicking a hugging motion.L-U-C-Y, she does next. After fingerspelling her name, she touches the tip of her finger to the corner of her lip, like she’s smiling.I’m Lucy!
“Those are beautiful, Lucy,” I tell her.
She giggles and sits with the dogs, petting them on their heads. I take her distractedness to check on Madeline. I give her arm a gentle tug, helping her to the couch beside me.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “It’s silly to be emotional over this.”
“Don’t you dare apologize.” I link our hands together and give her palm a squeeze. I’m on the verge of tears myself. I feel like someone crowned me king of the world, and no high could ever be this good. “It’s a big day.”
She wipes under her eyes with her thumb and lets out a soft laugh. “I don’t think you’ll ever know how much it means to us that you did that, Hudson. I could visit a hundred different worlds and I’d never find someone as wonderful and kind as you.”
“I was afraid it was too much,” I admit. “I know I’m… some guy y’all are living with. But I wanted to show you that there are people out there who are willing to show up for you girls. That you should never have to settle for someone who can’t do the bare minimum.”
“Nothing you do is too much, and you’re not some guy we’re living with. You’re my best friend in the entire world,” she whispers, and I drop a kiss to her forehead. “I think you’re everything to me.”
“You’re my best friend too, Maddie. And I was serious when I said I want y’all to stick around.”
Stay forever, I almost add.Here’s my broken heart.I think you’re the only one who can fix it.
She touches my cheek, and her smile rocks my world. “I don’t think we’re going anywhere anytime soon, Hudson.”
FIFTY-ONE
MADELINE
I’m fallingin love with Hudson.
How could I not be?
The man learned sign language for my daughter. He spent hours and hours of the little free time he has to figure out how to communicate with her. He put in the effort, did the work, and because of it, he stole my fucking heart.
It was bound to happen.
If it wasn’t this, it would’ve been something else. Another selfless act of his, because that’s who Hudson Hayes is.
The greatest man to ever exist.
All of this—our relationship, his adoration for my daughter, his adoration forme—is something I never let myself think I could have, could want, but hell am I glad I get to have it.
He makes me think I’ll never have my heart broken again. He makes me realize there’s so muchgoodthat comes with giving yourself to someone, and maybe one day, after I’ve been with him for a year or two, I’ll never be afraid of the pain that could come from things going wrong.
He makes me believe.
In love, in healing, in relationships that don’t end.
He makes me want to take off my cynic-colored glasses and give in to a romance full of respect and communication, without the fear of being abandoned.
Again.
I need to talk about all of these feelings I’m having, though. The ones that make my head spin, make my heart jump with joy whenever he’s near. I want to gush and brag and be the one with a story to tell for once, and a night out with friends sounds the perfect excuse.
“Wow.” Hudson leans against the wall to my bedroom and looks me up and down. He stares at my skirt and the boots that come halfway up my calves. He moves to my shirt, a strappy white tank top I paired with a leather jacket. “You look like a goddamn dream, Mads.”
I smile and put in an earring before checking my lipstick. “I’m grabbing dinner with the girls. Lucy is at a sleepover, so you’re on your own tonight, champ.”
