A gale of laughter from the dining room forces me to pull back. My eyes swing to the doorway, but Hudson and I are still alone in the kitchen. Hesitantly, I take a step back.
My cheeks feel flushed. My body trembles with nerves and awareness and anticipation and—gah, all the things I’ve been missing out on for too long.
“Christ, Pipe,” Hudson breathes. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
“What?” I gasp, convinced I heard him wrong.
“Since high school,” he snorts. “Fuck that. Since before high school.”
I shake my head, a hand coming up to rest on my cheek. “No. No way. Because I tried to kiss you?—”
“It wouldn’t have worked,” he cuts me off, his eyes turning more blue than green. “Not then. I wasn’t ready for a woman like you.”
His words rip that old wound wide open. “Right,” I mutter, nodding. “I’m not your type and?—”
“You’re too good for me,” he corrects, his voice unwavering. “You always were. Fuck, you still are. Back in high school, my type was temporary. Fleeting. The moment only. And back then, I didn’t have it in me to prioritize a relationship, a woman, over hockey. Or even balance it with hockey. But now…”
He trails off and my world crashes down around me. Everything I thought I knew, understood, no longer makes sense. I glance around Sandra’s kitchen. This is insane. Crazy. Wild.
Exhilarating.
“What are you saying?” I press.
Hudson closes the space between us and grabs my hand. He presses my palm against his chest and holds it there. “I’m saying I never fully realized, until today, how much I miss you. You’ve been a constant presence in my life for so fucking long and I hate that you’re not anymore. I didn’t realize how far apart we grew. I didn’t understand how much the thought of you with another guy would gut me. And fuck, Pipe, I didn’t know, couldn’t have known, that kissing you would change the whole game.”
I release a shaky exhale at his words. A confession, a declaration, an apology, all rolled together.
“I’m saying I want you back in my life, Pipe. Fuck, do I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.” My voice sounds scratchy.
“Why don’t we talk anymore?” he asks again, his eyes holding mine with an unwavering resoluteness.
“You hurt me,” I admit. “The night you shut me down, told me I wasn’t your type, left without a backward glance and posted photos of your new girlfriend, a redhead, three weeks later… I was humiliated, Hudson. I never thought I was pretty enough to?—”
“Are you fucking kidding me, Piper?” he cuts me off, a slant to his eyes, an edge to his voice. “You’ve always been the most gorgeous woman in any room.”
I shake my head. “No, I never felt that way.”
“Because you’re too pure hearted to see it.”
I roll my lips together. “When I put myself out there and you rejected me, it hurt.”
“I never meant to reject you,” he says softly, understanding dawning in his expression. “I didn’t want to hurt you from something you’d regret. Because, back then, Piper, there was no winning scenario. I wasn’t going to be a good boyfriend, not with hockey taking all my time and attention. And I wasn’t going to kiss you, or sleep with you, and not call you either. I tried to avoid the fallout but…fuck, we lost our friendship anyway.” His voice is threaded with disbelief. As if he’s just realizing now, today, how far apart we are. His eyes meet mine. “I’m so sorry.”
At the sincerity in his apology, I laugh. It’s not funny and yet, it is unbelievably ironic. Emotion sweeps the backs of my eyelids and I nod. “Me too.”
“I’m shooting my shot, Pipe. Give me tonight.” He tips his head cockily, even as his eyes plead.
“You think it will only take one night?” I tease.
He laughs. “There she is.” He tugs on my hair before moving it behind my shoulder. “No. But if only have this weekend to prove that this could be something, that we can erase the distance we put between us, that I’m the same guy you used to call your best friend, but with a more balanced lifestyle now, then I’m claiming tonight.”
“Uncle Hud!” Kimmy rushes into the kitchen, tossing her arms around my waist.
“Hey, girl,” he says, wrapping an arm around her. “You trying to get into the desserts early?” He gestures toward a stack of pastry boxes.
Kimmy laughs. “I’m really spying on you and Piper.”
