Page 68 of With This Ring

“Be right there.” Brice jammed his thumb in the direction of the snack bar. “Duty calls. Have fun.”

“Thanks,” Hudson said. He left his shoes under the bench and skated to the rink, where he glided along to a song that sounded vaguely familiar.

Hudson moved swiftly past the slower skaters. He enjoyed the feeling skating provided him—burning off his conflicting feelings about his hometown and his future.

When he came around the curve, he saw Dakota skating with Layla, Shane, Kayleigh, Gigi, Gavin’s wife, and Anissa.

When Anissa saw him, her face lit up. “Mr. Hud! Mommy, Mr. Hud is here.”

“Hey there.” He smiled as the little girl skated over to him. “Are you having fun?”

“Uh-huh!”

Jeannie beamed as she joined them. “Good to see you, Hudson.”

He glanced around the rink while they skated together. “Where’s Gavin tonight?”

Jeannie pointed toward the parking lot. “He got called back to work. There was an issue with the plumber.”

“Let’s skate together, Mr. Hud.” Anissa held out her little hand.

“I’d love to.”

Hudson, Anissa, and Jeannie fell into line behind another couple,and Hud worked to keep from staring at Dakota. She looked fantastic in a snug pair of jeans and a red sweatshirt, with her thick dark hair in a ponytail.

While he skated he recalled a conversation he’d had with Gavin earlier in the day. When Gavin asked over lunch how things were going with Dakota, he’d relayed their discussion at the Airbnb last night, leaving out the personal details about Dakota’s business woes. Hudson also mentioned how their conversations usually seemed to end in a heated debate.

Gavin’s response had surprised him.“If you and Dakota can’t talk without getting into an argument,”he’d said,“then there’s still something between you. Maybe you need to take the first step and address it.”

Hudson shook his head, and when his gaze tangled with Dakota’s across the rink, she scowled before looking away.

He tried to imagine having an honest conversation with her, but how could he have a heart-to-heart with someone who refused to listen to him?

Chapter 15

“Layla’s friends want to have her bridal shower at my house,” Aunt Trudy said. “They’re going to decorate and make all of the food. I tried to convince them to have it catered, but they insist it will be fun to get together and cook.”

Hudson was driving her home from the grocery store the following Tuesday evening, and he nodded as he drove down Glenn Avenue.

“The shower is going to be so much fun,” his aunt continued. “You’ll have to stop by.”

Hudson gave her a side glance. “Aren’t bridal showers for the women?”

“No one said men can’t participate.”

He’d be sure to miss that.

“I’ve never seen Layla this happy. I think this marriage is going to be great for her. She’ll finally be out on her own, living her life.”

He shook his head. “After all the trouble she gave us when she was younger, you’re convinced she can handle this?”

“We won’t know until we let her try.”

Hudson parked his SUV in the driveway behind Shane’s old pickup. He hadn’t spoken to Shane since their conversation at his worksite, but Hudson wasn’t concerned. He’d shared his thoughts, and that was that.

“You go on inside, and I’ll carry the groceries,” Hudson told his aunt as he opened the liftgate.

She smiled. “Thank you. I’ll take one of the light ones.”