Page 85 of A Pen Pal for Christmas

“You and Tommy,” she continued, her voice softer now. “The way you both showed up for me—I finally get that I’m not alone. That I don’t have to face things like this on my own. I know you’ve both been trying to tell me that, but I get it now. And that… that means everything.”

I hesitated, then reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You scared me tonight,” I admitted. “When we realized you were gone… I don’t think I’ve ever felt fear like that. Not even in combat. Not even at Wolf Pack Park.”

I’d added that last part because I’d needed another one of her smiles, and I was rewarded with a small one before she rolled her eyes.

“Jokes aside, I mean it,” I went on. “I’ve been through a lot of dark stuff in my life. But nothing—not one thing—has ever terrified me the way the thought of losing you did.”

She stared at me, her dark eyes wide and unguarded, and it was like she was seeing me—really seeing me—for the first time.

“I love you,” I said, meaning it now more than ever.

“I love you, too,” she whispered just before she surged forward, her hands sliding up to cup my face as her lips met mine.

The kiss was soft at first—tentative, almost—but it didn’t stay that way. It deepened quickly, her fingers tangling in my hair as I pulled her closer. Grateful for the release, I poured every word, thought, or emotion that’d gutted me throughout the night into our kiss, and I felt her doing the same. I felt it down to my bones.

CHAPTER 27

Hudson

I wokeup to the feel of Sofia’s hair brushing against my chin, her steady breaths warm against my neck. For a moment, I just stayed still, holding her, letting the quiet morning settle around us.

Christmas morning.

It didn’t feel like it should, not after the night we’d had. But having her here, in my arms, safe and whole—that was more than enough.

She stirred, her fingers flexing slightly against my chest before her eyes fluttered open. When her gaze met mine, soft and warm in the pale morning light streaming through the curtains, something in my chest cracked wide open.

“Morning,” I murmured, brushing her hair away from her face.

“Morning,” she whispered, her voice still heavy with sleep. She shifted, sitting up slightly as she stretched. “What time is it?”

“Not sure. Early.” I didn’t move, not wanting to let go of the moment just yet. “Merry Christmas.”

“You, too.”

I picked up one of her hands and kissed her palm, mindful of the bandages on her wrists as well as the scratches from when she’d fallen. “How are you feeling?”

She glanced at me, her lips curving into a small smile. “Better than I expected. Sore, tired… but okay.”

I let out a slow breath, relief washing over me. “Good.”

For a while, we just stayed there, wrapped up in each other, neither of us in a hurry to move. But then Sofia tilted her head, her expression shifting into something thoughtful. “I want to go to the house,” she said softly.

My stomach tightened. “Sofia…”

She shook her head, sitting up fully now. “I know what you’re going to say, but hear me out.”

I propped myself up on one elbow, watching her. “I’m listening.”

“I meant what I said last night about how we define that place,” she said. “I want it to be what you intended it to be, and I don’t want to wait to make that happen.”

I sat up, running a hand through my hair as I tried to find the right response. “We don’t have to rush this. You’ve been through?—”

“I know,” she said, cutting me off with a hand on my chest. “Hudson, if I don’t do this now, if we don’t do this together, then Rex wins. And I can’t let that happen. I won’t.”

I stared at her, my heart swelling with something too big to name. She really was amazing. Brave, stubborn, so ridiculously strong.

“You really want to go?” I asked, my voice softer now.

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