Page 179 of The Best of Us

I really hadn’t changedthatmuch, I supposed. Still a work in progress, but one Juliette loved and supported. She was even okay with my “side gigs.”

At the sound of a notification on my phone, I looked down to see a message from Hudson, pulling me back to the present and the fact I was still at my office instead of getting my ass home to my wife for a quiet minute alone.

Hudson: You’ll never guess who I ran into today.

Me: Don’t tell me if I don’t want to know.

Hudson: LOL

Hudson: Ryder Lawson. Remember him? Delta Force. Now works for Delta Shield Security. Oh, and ya know, friends with Carter.

Me: Of course he is. At this point, who isn’t?

Hudson: Aren’t you two best friends now?

Our paths had crossed at my wedding in June when he’d shockingly accepted my wife’s invitation, attending with his wife and son. But I wasn’t sure if I’d consider us in friend territory yet.

Hudson: Kidding, kidding. Not allowed to replace me.

Me: I swear, man, you’re becoming softer than I am.

Hudson: I see you want to spar when I get home. We can settle who’s tougher in the ring …

Hudson: Still owe ya some mat time for not telling me about Aruba in the first place. You told Alessandro? Really?

Me: Never gonna let me live that down, are you?

Hudson: Hell no.

Me: Asshole.

Hudson: See. You’re the soft one, not me, man. Speak for yourself.

Me: Yeah, yeah, yeah … Just tell me something else. Something I actually need to hear.

Hudson: I have a feeling Ryder might need an assist soon. Trigger finger itchy?

Me: HFY. Count me in if he calls.

Hudson: Are you learning to text from your son?

Shit, he had a point. I was.

Hudson: Anyway, how are things there?

Me: Your wife is keeping mine busy with the shopping and baby shower planning.

In fact, I hadn’t had sex in two days. Not the norm for us. Juliette had been exhausted every night. So much so, she passed out before we could make love.

Hudson: Sorry about that.

Me: All good. It’s worth it since you’re giving me another nephew.

Izzy had found out she was pregnant four weeks after we all returned from the Italy-Ireland-Scotland trip. Another miracle.

Hudson: I’ll be back tomorrow. I want to see Alessandro and the family before they head out.

Right, about that. The emails can wait.If I left now, maybe I could make love to my wife before everyone arrived.

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