What Love Looks Like

“No, it’s not,” Lucas says. “You said we were going to find them since Abby didn’t go to camp.”

I glare daggers at Hudson, who doesn’t appear even a little bit embarrassed over his son calling him out.

“True,” he says, dropping an arm around my shoulders. “We have an exciting day planned and we all agreed it wouldn’t be the same without you two.”

Presley and Lucas both nod in agreement.

“Hudson,” I grind out. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“No time,” he says. “Now, who’s ready for a fun-filled day?”

All three kids cheer in unison excitedly, and I know, unless I want an extremely unhappy child, I’m going to have to go along with this.

Twenty minutes later, we’re standing with golf clubs and balls in our hands at the first hole of a mini golf course. Lucas offers to go first, hitting the ball with brute force and sending it flying down the straightaway with perfect precision.

“Have you ever played golf before?” I ask, seriously impressed. I don’t know much about the sport, but in one hit, he almost made it into the hole. It usually takes me like fifteen times.

“Yep,” he says with pride in his voice. “Since I was three.”

“Really?” I laugh, imagining Abby at three years old playing an old man’s sport. “I thought kids played soccer.”

Hudson shakes his head. “I tried that, but it wasn’t happening. Took him golfing with me one day and he loved it, so I signed him up for lessons.”

“I do gymnastics,” Presley says. “Watch this!” She drops her club on the ground and jumps into a cartwheel. When she lands, she raises her arms and says, “Ta da!”

“Wow!” Abby breathes. “I want to do that too!”

“I can show you,” Presley says, taking her and forgetting about the golf game.

The girls go to the side, doing cartwheels and giggling when they clash into each other while Lucas, Hudson, and I continue the golf game. The girls occasionally join in, but for the most part they play around, doing cartwheels and somersaults on the soft turf. When we finish, Lucas is declared the winner, and the girls give him a fake crown.

“Can we go to the pool?” Presley asks as we walk to the car.

“Yeah!” Abby agrees. “But no splash pad.” She side-eyes me, making me roll my eyes.

“Sure,” Hudson agrees easily. “But how about we go eat first? They’re doing a movie night in the pool, so we can go to that after dinner.”

“Yay!” The kids cheer, on cloud nine.

“I spoke to Joanie,” Hudson says, pulling me into his side. “She’s going to watch the kids tomorrow during the day and at night. I want to take you out.”

“Hudson,” I groan.

“Please,” he says, stopping and looking at me. “I heard you, I get it, but tomorrow is our last day together before you leave. Let me spend it with you. The kids will have fun together at camp, and Joanie will take them bowling in the afternoon.”

“There’s a bowling alley at the hotel?”

“No, but there’s one in my suite next to the theater.” He shrugs, and I laugh at how different our lives and worlds are. I was just excited my room had a spa tub.

“Please,” he says again, his blue eyes pleading.

“Okay,” I give in. “But I need to go to my room tonight so I can start packing and get things ready. We leave at seven to catch our flight.”

“We’re going on this boat?” I point at the monstrosity that’s nothing like the last one we went on. This one is like the Daddy boat, and the other one was the baby.

“It’s technically a yacht, but yeah.”

“Can you drive this thing?”

Hudson laughs. “Probably, but I’m not going to. There’s a driver, so I can spend my time with you instead of having to focus on driving.”

We board the yacht, and Hudson shows me around. It has two levels and is more like a small apartment than a boat—the thing even has a bedroom with a king-sized bed!

Once we’re situated, the boat leaves the marina, and Hudson guides me to the huge lounge area in the front. I take off my cover-up, and Hudson applies sunscreen to my back. Then I return the favor, rubbing the lotion all over his muscular back and shoulders. After we’re both covered, we lie on the fluffy, comfortable cushions.

My eyes close, relishing in the quiet and calm of the water lapping around us. I should probably feel guilty for being on this gorgeous yacht while Abby is at camp, but she couldn’t wait to go this morning, and she loves spending time with Presley and Lucas. I can’t even imagine how devastated she’s going to be tomorrow night when we have to say goodbye. She doesn’t make friends easily, and she let them into her heart so effortlessly. My heart constricts behind my rib cage. The truth is, she isn’t the only one who’s going to miss them. I’ve grown to care about both of them during our short time together.