Until You Loved Me (Silver Springs #3)(97)

Perhaps that was a bit extreme, but Julia should at least have gotten the year right.

Or maybe not. Everyone was different.

Ellie hurried back to the dining room as soon as Hudson kissed her goodbye. She was surprised by how many people she came across in that file—not only the people who lived in the neighborhood but all their extended family and friends and the hired help. Out of all the possibilities, why did Hudson’s father have to be Cort Matisson?

With a sigh, Ellie returned to the statement given by the pizza deliveryman—a Stan Hinkle. He said he heard a faint cry and went to investigate. That was how he’d discovered Hudson. But Ellie wasn’t sure how he could’ve heard a baby cry from two houses down. Perhaps two houses didn’t sound like much in a regular neighborhood, but in Bel Air the houses were pretty far apart.

She called up Google Earth to take a look.

It was quite a distance, all right.

Unable to resist, Ellie called Hudson. “Do you stay in touch with the pizza deliveryman who found you?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. He was only twenty-four at the time. Turned me over to the state and that was it.”

“But he saved your life. You’d think he’d show some interest, even if it’s just a Christmas card once a year.”

“Never heard from him, but that isn’t so unusual. Maybe he was afraid he’d feel obligated to do more for me than he wanted. Not many people took an interest—until I proved I could play football.”

Once again, her eyes skimmed over Hinkle’s interview. “Has he contacted you since you became famous?”

“No. I’ll admit I’ve wondered why he hasn’t at least hit me up for tickets. I’d certainly give him some. Why?”

“Just curious,” she said. But if the DNA test Hudson had taken didn’t match Cort’s, she was going to do a little more research on Hinkle.

Ellie’s phone beeped to signal that she had an incoming call. She thought it might be her parents. Her mother was having a more difficult time forgiving her for not telling them about the pregnancy than her father. Ellie was still working on calming her down and making that okay, so she wanted to answer if it was her mother. Her parents were cutting their trip short, but only by a few months, so at least she’d succeeded in not ruining their entire year.

Caller ID indicated it was Amy, and Ellie wanted to talk to her. “Okay. Enjoy dinner with Bruiser.”

“I miss you already,” he said.

Surprised, she hesitated. He’d been so busy rejecting almost everyone that he’d starved himself of love. He needed her—needed someone. But she couldn’t possibly know if he’d ever love her as much as she was coming to love him. “I’ll drive to LA after my doctor’s appointment. Maybe it’ll be easier for you if we wait for the results of the DNA test at your house there. More distractions,” she added.

“No. I’ll come back to Silver Springs. LA was great when I was younger. But now that we’re having a baby, Silver Springs feels more like home.”

Fear that Hudson wouldn’t be able to commit to their relationship as it progressed made Ellie wonder if, at some point, she’d regret letting go enough to reach for him. She’d once thought he was unattainable. Now that he was so responsive, she wanted to believe she’d been wrong about that, but only time would tell. “Then I’ll be here waiting for you.”

When they disconnected, Amy had hung up, but Ellie called her back.

“How’s the pregnancy going?” Amy asked. “You haven’t sent me your weekly pic.”

“I’m getting bigger every day.” Ellie stood sideways to get a new selfie that included her stomach and texted the photo to Amy.

“Nice,” Amy said when it arrived. “I can finally see a baby bump. A little one, mind you...”

Ellie thought of the way Hudson touched her belly, so possessively and lovingly. “It’s not small anymore, but thanks for trying to make me feel good.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Amy said. “How’s the famous athlete?”

He’d been better. Ellie wished she could discuss what they were going through, but she knew Hudson wouldn’t appreciate it if she did. He was so private to begin with—and, understandably, he didn’t want anyone to know about Cort Matisson. “He’s doing well.” She toyed with the ends of her hair. “Just told me he missed me, and he hasn’t been gone an hour.”

“Whoa. That says a lot.”

Since he wasn’t all that vocal, Ellie wanted to believe it did. But was she deluding herself? “I’m scared, Amy.”

“Of what?”

“Of how strongly I feel about him.”

There was a slight pause. “Sounds like you’ve fallen for him.”

“I’m not sleeping alone anymore, I can tell you that.”

“You’re not?”

“No. He asked me to move all my stuff into his room this morning. I can’t stop myself from loving him, not when he’s always touching me, kissing me or making me laugh. I can’t get enough of Hudson King, and that makes me feel so darn vulnerable.”

“Don’t freak out,” Amy said. “Everything’s going to be okay. You’re just emotional because of the pregnancy hormones.”