Chapter 25

Fisher

Dad sat at his desk,staring in horror at a picture of the massive casino resort in Swallow Beach displayed on his computer monitor. "You're sure these are the same guys?"

"Yeah. They're using a different business name here, but it's them."

"Christ."

"Everyone is gonna hate me, and I can't even blame them. I talked up these guys, this project. I helped smooth the way for them, and they're going to ruin our town."

My stomach rolled with nausea.

Ever since finding out the truth, I'd vacillated between anger and shame. I wanted to talk to Hudson about it. He'd made me feel so much better when I fought with my dad, and I was sure he'd know exactly what to say, exactly how to help, but I couldn't ask him—and somehow that made everything so much worse.

"Why are you talking like it's already happened?" Dad asked. "The Fisher I know wouldn't just sit down and accept this."

"I don't know what I can do. They told me the community meeting is just a formality."

"So ensure that it isn't," he said. "Son, you fought me for a voice in this business. You speak up about what you believe Swallow Cove needs every day. Don't let these assholes change that."

"But I fucked up."

"So find a way to fix it. You know the folks around here much better than they do. You paved the way for them? So unpave it."

The door chimed. "I'll get it."

"No, no." Dad patted my arm. "You stay back here and think on this problem. I'll get it."

He pushed up out of his chair with a groan and headed to the front of the store.

"Ugh, a bit early for you to show up here, isn't it?"

"Actually, it's a bit late." Hudson's voice. "I just hope it's not too late."

I jumped up from the chair and raced to the doorway, and there he was, standing in front of my father, larger than life, looking…well, kind of terrible, actually. His usually neat beard was scraggly, there were dark circles beneath his eyes, and his shoulders—his strong, broad shoulders—slumped.

"What nonsense are you talking?" my father asked.

"I'm here for Fisher," Hudson said.

My heart leapt into my throat. Did he mean what I thought he meant? Or was he just looking to end the interaction with my father?

Hudson lifted his gaze, and our eyes met. As if I were a fish on a line, I took one step into the storefront, then another and another, reeled in until we were only three feet apart.

"Why are you here?" I asked, amazed my voice sounded steady. Sounded strong. When inside I was quaking.

Dad looked between us. "Am I missing something?"

Hudson didn't answer him. He kept his gaze fixed on me.

"I've thought about everything you said after the booze cruise the other night."

"And?"

"You deserve everything you want, and you're right, you should get to decide what that is, not me. But I need you to know, it was never that I didn't trust your judgment. It was always that I didn't trust me."

I glanced at my dad, who was staring at us both as if we were speaking a language he didn't understand. But then, he probably didn't.

"So, did you come here to tell me you can't trust yourself, or…"

"No," he said, taking a big step toward me. He moved so quickly it startled my dad, but it only made my heart flutter with hope. "I'm here to give you everything you want, Fisher. If you meant what you said that night?"

He gave my dad a significant look.

Dad wasn't going to be happy, but he'd learn to deal with it. After the talks we'd had the past few days since our heart-to-heart over the business, I knew he could handle it.

"I meant every word," I said. "I don't want any more secrets."

"Then I love you, Fisher," he said in a rush, as if he'd been holding the words in with an effort. "I love you, and I want everyone to know it, and if your dad murders me for touching you, it'll be worth it, because you're beautiful and amazing and—"

I threw myself into his arms and kissed him, unable to wait another second.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" my father exclaimed.

I laughed into the kiss, joy bubbling up. If I had Hudson, I could handle my dad's ire. I could handle the disaster of a resort plan.

I could handle the whole dang town hating me—as long as this one man was on my side.

I broke the kiss. "I love you, Hudson Nash, but don't you ever keep me waiting like that again."

"I won't," he swore. "Never again."

"This isn't happening," my father said. "I've worked too hard. I've been a good man, a good father. I don't deserve this kind of punishment—"

"Dad, stop." I pulled out of Hudson's arms and faced him. "You've had this stupid grudge against Hudson for too long. It's not his fault that old man Hal reneged on your handshake agreement, and it's not his fault he had the money and the investors to buy the fleet of boats before you were ready. You have to let it go."

Dad scowled. "Why should I?"

"For me!" I reached for Hudson's hand and gripped it. "Because I love him."

"You're young. You're bound to make a few mistakes."

"Not about this. Hudson is the one, Dad. He makes me happy. Don't you want that for me?"

Dad fidgeted, looking all kinds of uncomfortable.

"Boone," Hudson said, an edge to his voice. "I know you're not going to leave your son hanging."

Dad threw up his hands. "Well, all right! Of course I want you to be happy, Fisher." He shuddered. "But I can't just snap my fingers and like the fact that you chose Hudson Nash out of all the men who come through Swallow Cove. I mean, Christ, even if I liked the guy, he's old enough to be your dad—"

"Still younger than you," Hudson said.

"That's not saying much," my dad shot back.

"I don't really care about the age gap," I said. "Hudson is the right guy for me, and I need you to accept that."

Dad looked pained. "It's going to take a while to wrap my head around that."

I nodded. "That's fair."

"How long has this been going on?" my dad asked, waving a finger between us.

I glanced at Hudson. He nodded.

"We've been seeing each other for weeks now," I said. "But I wanted to be with him for a really long time before that."

"Ah, shit, there's no hope you'll change your mind, is there?"

I smiled huge, too happy to be bothered by my father's attitude. "Nope. None at all."

Dad looked to Hudson. "And you? You better be just as serious about my son."

"I love him with my whole heart," Hudson said without missing a beat.

"Then get out of my sight, both of you."

My heart missed a beat. "What?"

"Take the rest of the day off. Go spend some quality time together." He paused. "Preferably where I don't have to see you."

I released Hudson to hug my dad. "Thank you. I know this isn't easy for you."

"You've got no idea," he said dryly, gazing balefully in Hudson's direction. "But I've seen how disheartened you've been lately. If he makes you happy, then I'll find a way to deal with it."

"You really are a great dad."

He gave me a squeeze and a push. "And you're an okay son. Now, get out of here and go make up."

Hudson extended a hand to my father. "Thanks, Boone."

My father grasped his hand. "Don't fuck it up, Hudson."

As we left the store together, it felt surreal. Hudson had come for me. Hudson had proclaimed his love out loud and in front of my father.

"Holy shit, that just happened," I said with a laugh.

"It did." Hudson pulled me to a stop and looked at me, eyes full of love.

I'd sensed his love before, seen it in his actions, felt it in his touch. But now that he wasn't trying to deny it? It beamed out of him like sunlight, bathing me in sweet warmth.

"This probably won't be the last time I fuck up, Fisher," he said. "I'll try not to, but it's bound to happen. I just need you to know that through it all, I'll love you."

"That's good enough for me," I said. "It always was."

He cupped my face and brought his mouth to mine in the sweetest kiss I'd ever had with him yet. Then pressed his forehead to mine. "Want to get out of here?"

"Yeah," I said softly. "But don't you have to work?"

He pulled out his phone. "Lucky for me, I'm the boss, and I am taking a very overdue personal day. Think Sawyer will hate me if I ask him to pull another extra shift?"

I grinned. "Tell him I'll owe him one."

"Done." Hudson's fingers tapped out a message. "Now, let's go back to my place and I'll introduce you to the joy of makeup sex."

"Ooh, another first," I joked. "I can't wait."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Of course, it'll also be I love you sex," he said. "That's the first I really can't wait to give you."

"Pretty sure we've had it before, even if we weren't saying the words."

He squeezed me to his side. "But now we don't have to hide it."

My heart skipped as I met his eyes, a sense of anticipation unfurling low in my gut. "No, I guess we don't."

"Let's hurry," he suggested.

"Great idea."

We broke into a run, laughing as we tore across the marina. It didn't feel like we were simply running toward his boat, toward the water, toward his bed.

We were running toward our future.

Together.