Until You Loved Me (Silver Springs #3)(64)

She turned on the water. “When I asked if they’d repaired your knee, you didn’t really answer me. You said you came back for the last two games of the season. That’s not entirely the same thing.”

He shrugged. “It gets sore and starts to ache now and then. I have to ice it after most games, but I’m fortunate that it hasn’t impeded my ability to cut or run.”

She turned off the water and looked up at him. “How do people who care about you watch you play?”

She was so serious, he wasn’t sure how to interpret the question. “What do you mean?”

“It’s such a dangerous game. Aren’t they afraid you’ll get hurt?”

“Oh, yeah. My agent. The owner of the team. My teammates. The coach. Any Devils fan. They’re probably all afraid I’ll get injured and won’t be able to play.”

She seemed to think about that for a moment. “I’d rather you didn’t take the risk to begin with,” she said and went back to washing up.

He leaned against the counter. “You don’t want me to play.”

“No.”

He’d never had a woman tell him that. Most of the women he’d dated liked who he was in the world—and wanted him to maintain his status. “It’s my job, Ellie. What else would I do?”

She cast him an assessing look. “You’re smart. You don’t have to play football. You could do anything.”

She didn’t understand. He hadn’t been all that good in school, couldn’t have taken the path she did. He’d been too busy rebelling. It was football that had changed everything, made him matter in life. “I love what I do,” he said.

“Then I’m glad it’s worked out for you, but...I don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch.”





17

Hudson wouldn’t take his gift with him when he left. Whenever Ellie tried to give it back, he’d simply toss it over her head into the room somewhere. After retrieving it and trying to force it into his hands three different times, she gave up. “I won’t accept it,” she insisted. “I can’t accept it.”

“That’s bullshit,” he said. “You can accept it if you want.”

“How much did it cost?” she asked. “If it was less than $100, I’ll make an exception, but that’s a nice brand.”

“I’m not telling you how much it cost. It’s not polite to even ask.”

“You shouldn’t have done it!”

“Why? I got something I thought you’d like to make up for everything you’re going through. Why not leave it at that?”

“I told you why.”

“Fine. If you don’t like it, throw it away.”

“Maybe I will,” she said in an effort to overcome his attempt to strong-arm her. But he left without it anyway, and after he was gone she couldn’t help finding that sack and digging inside.

She felt guilty when she realized he’d gotten her a card, too. She hadn’t even thought to check. The least she could’ve done was accept that part of his gift.

She sat on the edge of the couch as she tore open the flap.

The card had a beautiful peacock on the front. There was no preprinted message, but Hudson had written a few lines.

Ellie,

I look forward to the adventure that awaits us. Somehow, we’ll get through even the hard times and be the best parents we can be.

If this had to happen, I’m glad it happened with you.

Sincerely,





Hudson

She smiled at the last line of his note. That was a nice thing to say.

As she put the card aside, she told herself to leave the gift alone. She’d be giving in if she looked. But her resistance lasted only a few minutes. Unable to quell her curiosity, she removed the tissue paper, opened a small box that held another box—this one made of smooth, polished wood—and opened it to find a gold necklace with a pendant representing a mother holding a child in her arms.

“Wow,” she murmured as she lifted it out. He was right. She loved it.

She tried to make herself put it back in the box. But then she decided to try it on—and couldn’t bring herself to take it off. He’d purchased this for the mother of his child. Surely she could accept one present. This wasn’t something he could give to anyone else, after all, and if he couldn’t take it back...

After wrestling with her principles for another hour, she finally picked up her phone and called his number.

“You win,” she said when he answered.

“I win what?”

“I opened the necklace.”

She heard him chuckle. “And? Do you like it?”

“It’s beyond gorgeous. But you’d better not ever buy me anything else. This is all I’m going to accept.”

“Fine. I’ll respect your wishes. Just relax and enjoy it, okay? Your life is going to change a lot. You deserve something pretty—like you.”

She told herself not to take the compliment too seriously. “It was very thoughtful of you. So was the card.”

“Everything’s going to be okay, Ellie,” he said. “Thanks for trusting me enough to move to California.”

“We’re both taking a leap of faith. I realize that.” After telling him good-night, Ellie disconnected. She was nervous—about everything—but she couldn’t come up with a better plan.