Page 23 of Ours

My eyes didn’t blur over with tears. Instead I just laid there, and watched as Hudson frowned.

“You sure you ready?” he says, and I’m a little surprised by it. “Cause by your reaction today, I don’t think you are.” How was I expected to react! I went to yell at him, but he spoke before I could. “Waiting another few weeks, or months, it might give you a better state of mind.”

“Maddox wouldn’t want this.”

“He’d want you to be able to live with the decision though Gabriella. So give yourself more time.” His hand brushed the tears that had fallen down my cheeks away. “Another few weeks won’t hurt anyone or anything.”

“He’s gone Hudson.” I choked out, “And I need to accept that. I need to let him go.”

I wasn’t sure how the fuck I was going to do it. I didn’t know logically how I would turn off the machines to a man that I love with all my heart. So I decided in that moment, I would let Maddox go. Because that’s what he would have wanted me to do.

Four Weeks Later

I was fucking nervous as Lacie’s makeup was done. I was freaking out. My anxiety was through the roof. Can’t help but think that the bride is meant to be the anxious one, not me. Yet, here I was chain smoking. When I started thinking of ways to get out of it, I knew I needed help. Like I was thinking of passing out to get out of this wedding.

So I brought up Hudson’s number.

I need help. And I sent those words.

My phone buzzed in my hand immediate.What’s happened? You ok?I was writing back when another message popped up on my screen.Anxiety?I wanted to laugh at how well Hudson knew me, but couldn’t because I was freaking the fuck out.

Yes.I sent back.

Watching the speech bubbles pop up, as he wrote back. I knew he’d been drinking. I knew he would be with Ribs. He also had the pleasant experience of being responsible for all the men behaving today. So who was I expecting him to be the one to keep my sanity together? I was about to type back, don’t worry when his message appeared.

I’ll have eyes on ya darling, just lock the rest out and look back at me.

I stared at the screen, tears beginning to form. Because those words made me feel better. Then another message popped up.

I’ll be the dickhead at the end, standing next to the fool who is in love.Then there was eye rolling emojis. I cracked a smile. And wrote back.

I’ll be the one in black.The fact that we were having a conversation that normally the groom and bride had wasn’t lost on me.

“It’s showtime girls.” Lacie all but squealed, and then I locked my phone just as she gripped my hand. “I can’t thank you enough for everything Gabriella.” She said while giving me this sweet smile.

I smiled back. “Let’s get you married.” And she squealed walking towards her other bridesmaids.

Okay I can totally do this. I kept telling myself that, as I grabbed the bouquet. And handed it to Lacie. Then I told myself that still, as we walked through the common room heading for the chapel.

Okay. I can totally do this.

Then the flower girl went first. And I froze. Okay I can’t do this. I turned to Lacie, and helped with her dress, and then the bridesmaids started going down the aisle and then Lacie looked at me with a smile, nodding her head, shit it was my turn. The prospects held the doors open and I inhaled sharply, stepping into view. I looked up the aisle and my eyes landed on Hudson’s.

I saw his eyes widen slightly, as he looked at me, almost amazed. I slowly started to walk down the aisle his eyes then locked with mine, and I didn’t break eye contact with him.

He was dressed in clean jeans and dress shirt and cut over top. He had run the clippers over his hair, and I swear he had even changed his lip piercing. But it was iron grey eyes locked with mine that kept me going up the aisle.

The first time I locked eyes with them, ran through my mind. He was a prospect I was at the bar, and he asked me how I felt about coming over to his house that night. I choked on my soda. He thought I was older. He also learned by getting a backhand and a bark from my dad, that I was the president’s daughter.

Just as I made it to the end of the aisle, Hudson winked at me, and it’s as if he knew the only reason I wasn’t freaking out was because his eyes were locked with mine. So he didn’t break our eye contact. Hell he didn’t even look up the aisle as Lacie walked down it. It’s only when Lacie and Ribs hold hands that we both turned to look at the bride and groom.

My dad nails the service and Ribs even teared up. It was within twenty minutes, the bride and groom were announced and then walked down the aisle. I walked straight for Hudson, threading my arm through his.

“Ya fucking stunning sweetheart.” He says in my ear, as we walked down the aisle, and I looked back into his eyes. It’s the tint to his eyes mixed with his expression that makes me think, if he had a shot again with me, he wouldn’t fuck it up.

And that thought itself, made my breath catching.

HUDSON

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