Promise Me (Asher Family #1)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SADIE

I should have brought a heavier coat.

A shiver runs up my spine as I rub my hands together.

I’ve never been a big sports kind of girl. Growing up, I thought I wanted to be. It was the typical scenario where, maybe if I knew football, I could talk stats with our school quarterback, and then he'd notice me. Or maybe if I knew baseball, the pitcher on our town’s team would ask me out. Or even if I could dribble a basketball between my legs in one smooth motion, the point guard would take me to prom.

I learned just enough to know one position on each team. Heck, at the time, it was the position that mattered to me because of who was playing it.

Still, as I hear skates glide on the ice right now and sticks fighting for the puck, hockey was the one sport I intentionally took zero interest in. The obvious reason I didn’t care about it is currently standing in front of a team of boys, and one by one, they’re showing him the move he just taught them. I will be honest; I have no idea what it’s called. Even after all the times I watched his games without anyone knowing, I didn’t really pick up on the terminology. I was too dazed by the way he moved and how the fans loved him to learn anything else.

Should I want to know more? Maybe a little for Hudson’s sake, but honestly, I love that we have found other things to bond over. I don’t feel the need to impress him. I feel more myself with him than anyone else, and just thinking about it makes my heart beat a little faster.

No, what makes my heart race is thinking of last night.

The way he kissed me.

The way he touched me.

Hell, the way he licked me.

I know starting something between us is complicated, and I’m trying to let him sort it out on his own by not bringing it up, but god, the memory of how he made me feel is heavy, and I want more of that with him.

Only him.

Maybe I should give him space, but I don’t want miscommunication to be our downfall. Tonight, I’m telling him that I’m all in.

I blow out a breath into my hands.

Gloves. I will bring gloves next time.

Of course, there is a door that would lead me to warmth and concessions if I wanted, but it’s not the same out there.

I said I wasn't into sports or hockey, but I’m aware enough to know that watching this team would not have the same effect if I weren’t in this section where the action is happening.

Coach Beacher blows his whistle, and quickly, the boys all get into some kind of formation. Hudson grabs the helmet the coach offers him and then glides to his own spot.

He’s skating.

Until this moment, they have just been running drills, but it seems they’re putting the things they’ve been learning into action, and Hudson is going to do it with them .

I move to the edge of my seat as if that is going to change my view. Aside from me and a few other parents, there isn’t anyone here. I’m sitting in the first row.

The whistle blows again, and all the players move into motion, but my eyes remain glued to one in particular. The one who, until today, hasn’t been on the ice in three years.

My eyes start to blur, so I look up for a brief moment and blink until the tears vanish.

When I look back to the ice, Hudson is way ahead of the others, and he has control of the puck. His stick goes side to side, and I swear to god I know he’s skating, but he moves so effortlessly that he appears to be floating over the ice. One of the players gains on him, but Hudson turns in a fancy circle, hikes his stick back, and hits the puck into the net.

“Yes!” I jump up, screaming and clapping. “Yes!”

Every player turns to look at me. That’s when I remember that it’s just a practice and not a game, but screw that. Hudson is flawless, and I love every minute of it.

I slowly sit back down, quietly celebrating, when I spot Hudson looking at me as he skates toward the coach on the other side of the rink.

He reaches the box thing and pulls his helmet off. The biggest smile I’ve ever seen on him takes over as his eyes lock on mine. For a moment, we just stare at each other.

Then he winks.

Oh lord. I am so totally screwed.

The team wraps up practice, so I hop up hastily and practically run to the warmth as soon as Hudson is off the ice and following the others toward the locker room.

A rush of hot air hits me, and I shiver.

Whoever thought of inventing a sport and making it extra cold needs help .

Well, maybe not much help, because seeing him score that goal as if he didn’t need to try was sexy as hell.

I blow out a breath and then take my time soaking in the banners on the walls and the trophy case just inside the main doors. It seems like Wind Valley’s hockey team is the best in the state of Wyoming. They have an insane number of trophies, and the pictures from the past years show how far they’ve come. Since each team photo is in a frame that has the year printed on it, I find the year my brother and Hudson graduated. I spot Hudson immediately. The smile he’s wearing is very similar to the one he wore just moments ago.

I wish he’d smile like that more often.

It’s clear that hockey is a part of him. I hate that I can’t give it back to him. That I can’t fix his injury and get his career back for him.

“We won state that year,” Hudson says behind me, and I startle a little as I turn, stepping back so that we can stand next to each other. “It was the first time I’d pulled off a hat trick. I came close dozens of times, but I just never could get that third goal in a game. That day was wild.”

When he was here the other week, he seemed timid to be here, but today is different. The air around him is lighter, brighter.

“In all the years you played, how many hat tricks have you pulled off?”

“Eleven,” he answers without missing a beat. “I scored my last one just a few seconds before everything ... changed.”

Slowly, he turns to look at me.

“Thank you, Sadie.”

“For what?”

“For forcing me to walk in here the other week. For coming today. For reminding me that my life didn’t end with my career; it simply just changed. ”

I swallow the lump in my throat and nod.

I will not cry.

I will not cry.

I will not cry.

“You’re welcome.”

I don’t want to risk sounding too cliché, but while I stand here wishing he’d let me kiss him again, I swear he’s wishing that he could let me. I swear he’s standing here thinking about how much his life has changed and that, for once, it’s not bad. That he can finally see that happiness is still out there.

He breaks the trance first, his hand touching the small of my back as he guides me to the doors.

“Also, I had no idea you had a fondness for hockey. You were very enthusiastic in there.”

I huff out a weird noise. “It was easy to do while watching you. I liked it.”

“Oh, was it now?”

“Mm-hmm.”

He opens my door, and I climb into his truck. I reach for the handle so that I can close it, but he stops me.

“I guess that’s just one more thing we have in common.” He reaches into the truck, his hand cupping the side of my face. “I like watching you too.”

I bite my lip. Although my body is internally doing the happy dance because I love everything he just said, the urge to crack a stalker joke is strong.

He must sense my thoughts because he laughs, backs up, and closes the door.

I think it’s time to face reality.

I’m crazy about Hudson Asher, and there is no going back.

“We should stop to get burgers before we go home,” I say as we pull into Lovers a little before six in the evening.

Even as I say it, it hits me how, despite our past and despite the feelings that are sitting as a steady ember between us, Hudson and I have created this life together in the past few weeks. I didn’t know what to expect that day I showed up at his door and asked for his help, but it wasn’t this. It wasn’t waking up excited to see the way he’s sprawled on the couch with a blanket half draped over his lower body, or cooking dinner in the evenings knowing he will be there and I’m not eating alone, or picking out water drink flavors at the store based on what he would like—and it sure wasn’t driving home from an afternoon of watching him coach a group of high school kids and planning what we are going to grab for dinner and spend a night in, just the two of us.

I grin, but then look out the passenger window of his truck and try to hide my smile with my fingers.

I’m almost embarrassed at how giddy this man makes me feel. I mean, I’ve been excited to be in relationships before, but none of them have ever felt like this. I’m always on edge, in a good way, waiting for the next thing to happen. I can’t wait to see him when we are apart, and when we are together, I’m always thinking of ways to make that time last longer. Which is absolutely silly, considering we’re currently living together. And we aren’t even actually dating. We’re two people who have kissed a couple of times and who have done some extra sexy things in his apartment.

Fuck, it was hot.

“I actually had another idea for dinner,” Hudson’s smooth voice fills the truck.

I twist to face him and let my hand drop to my lap.

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well”—he clears his throat—“I knew today was going to be … a day. I also knew that I wouldn't have even put a day like this in my path if it hadn't been for you, so I wanted a way to say thank you.”

“O-kay.” I glance out the front window as he pulls into his normal spot behind the bar. “A burger would have been fine. I don’t need anything crazy.”

“Ohhhh,” he draws out the word, “but you deserve so much more than a burger.” He nods to the building. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

I’m opening the door and jumping out before he can reach my side. There’s no hiding the smile on my face.

I’m not usually a surprise kind of person, but with Hudson, I can’t wait to see what he has planned for me.

Oh god, what if he kisses me again? Or what if he plans to do more?

Did I shave today? Shit. I knew we were going to the rink when I got ready this morning, so I didn’t really plan on wearing anything but layers.

The warmth of his fingers as he laces them through mine is like a beacon to the pit of my stomach. I’ve been around him dozens of times, but right now feels ten times more thrilling.

Just when I think he’s going to open the door for the stairs that lead to his apartment, he opens the door to the bar’s kitchen.

Eating at the bar? That’s his surprise?

I really need to teach this man how it’s done.

I’ll have time.

The first thing I notice when we get inside is that there are zero people in the kitchen.

“Where is everyone?” I ask.

“I’m not sure.”

I glance up at the door that leads to the bar and notice that the little glass square that gives you a view of the room is dark.

“Are you closed? ”

“I’m not sure.”

I stop and jerk him back to stop with me. This is his bar. There is no way he doesn't know what’s happening.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

Instead of answering, he just chuckles.

“Trust me on this.”

That’s all he says. One simple sentence that speaks volumes. I know he’s up to something and he knows I know, but instead of arguing, he just wants me to trust him.

The crazy thing is, I trust him with my entire heart.

I nod. “Okay.”

It happens again. That moment where we just stand staring at each other. A perfect kiss moment. Our day has been full of them.

What the hell is this man waiting for?

Of course, he’s the one to break the spell once again. He turns to push the door open, dropping my hand and stepping back for me to go first.

Instead of pausing to demand he tell me why he won’t just kiss me when I know he wants to, I let his hand settle on the small of my back as we step through the door.

“Hudson?” I whisper after we step into darkness. There is a little light from the front windows, but someone has pulled all the shades to create a blackout on the inside.

“Surprise!” various voices cheer as the lights flicker on. The entire room comes into view filled with my friends, family, and a few other Lovers locals.

Brooke claps and jumps as she grins at me, and my dad holds up a glass I assume has some kind of ale inside.

“Happy birthday,” Hudson leans down to whisper in my ear. “I know it’s not till next weekend, but I had an opening that meant you were gone most of the day, so I took it.” The warmth of his breath skirts around my neck and sends goosebumps all over my body. The sensation of him being so close hits me right between the legs, and although I am over the moon with joy right now, I would kill to turn around and pull this man back through that empty kitchen and up to his apartment, where we can be alone.

“It’s about time you two got here,” Linc says, sauntering toward us with two beers. He hands one to Hudson and one to me. “Don’t overdo it.”

I roll my eyes but don’t have a chance to argue before Hudson playfully shoves his shoulder.

“Back off the birthday girl, all right. It’s her night to do whatever she pleases.”

“Yeah, but?—”

“No,” Hudson says in return for my brother’s pathetic rejection. “It’s. Her. Night.”

Technically, my birthday isn’t until next week, but I’ll take this.

Linc narrows his gaze at the man behind me, but I love having someone in my corner for once. Hudson has been there since my accident, and it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon.

“Oh my gosh, can we tell her what’s happening now?” Brooke asks, interrupting whatever my brother is trying to convey to Hudson with just a look.

“Yes, please. I swear I’ve been looking forward to this moment since Hudson brought it up last week, and the fact he moved it up a week is even better,” Betty says.

Last week?

I glance back to gauge his reaction to her comment, but he’s talking to his brothers. They seem to be teasing him about something. It must not be anything serious though, because they’re all laughing .

Still, he planned this before he knew what today was going to be like. He planned it before he kissed me ... before last night.

Brooke grabs my hand, stealing me from my thoughts, and pulls me to the back right corner of the room.

I spy white balloons and two gold ones that read twenty-eight. There is a unicorn pi?ata hanging just behind them.

“On your twenty-eighth birthday,” Brooke starts, “you thought it would be hilarious to get a pi?ata and fill it with candy like when we were kids. Of course, we only picked Reese’s and Kit Kats, but still. In this corner for the next hour, we will celebrate you turning twenty-eight.”

“And when that hour is up,” Betty chimes in, “we will move to that front corner.”

I glance to where she points to see big gold numbers that read twenty-nine. “We had a wing eating contest that year.” Linc laughs. “You won, but I’m ready for a rematch.”

I laugh, trying to keep the tears on lockdown.

“And after that hour,” my dad says and locks his arm with mine. He turns me to face where Hudson is standing next to the gold number balloons that read thirty. They are held down by a balloon weight that sits on the little white and gold table between the reading chairs I added a few weeks ago.

My dad lets me go as Hudson approaches.

“When you are done with those birthdays, we will celebrate this one.”

I bite my lip and then cross my arms, eyeing him curiously.

“You planned all this?”

He nods. “Thirty is a big year, but so were the last three years, so it’s only right that you get to celebrate them.”

I can't believe he did all this.

“I don’t see my twenty-seventh birthday,” I tease.

He rubs the back of his neck and moves past me for the bar. “Your dad and brother said you refused to celebrate that year since it was soon after your mom passed, so …” He reaches for something behind the bar.

Suddenly, a gold two and a gold seven balloon appear.

“So, I wasn’t sure where to put these.”

I take a quick glance around the room. No one is really paying attention to us, so I take this moment to throw my arms around him and hug him as tightly as I possibly can.

He hugs me back, and after everything that has happened in my life, I’ve never felt more at home than right now.

I haven’t just formed a crush on Hudson Asher.

I’m well on my way to falling in love with him.