Page 6 of Best Kept Secret

Jared didn’t sound jealous, just matter-of-fact.

Hudson didn’t respond, choosing to focus on his daughter instead. Jared took the hint and left him to his thoughts.

So much in his life had changed so quickly. He was still trying to wrap his head around being a dad, and the last thing on his mind was chasing women. He noticed some formula dribbling out the side of Annie’s mouth, and he felt around in the diaper bag for a burp cloth. A burp cloth! Who’d have thought that he, Hudson Burke, would be wielding a burp cloth! Not him, that was for sure.

Annie suddenly let go of the nipple, and he dabbed her mouth and face with the cloth. Then he placed it over his shoulder, hoisted her up, and gently patted her back. It didn’t take long for her to expel a huge belch.

“Dude,” Jared called from the back of the apartment.

“It wasn’t me. It was Annie!”

“Sure. Blame your bad manners on your daughter!”

He laughed while he continued to pat her back. She let out a second burp that almost rivaled the first.

“That’s my girl!” he said proudly.

My girl. It had a nice ring to it.

Three

Later that week, Kelsey invited her best friend, Stacy, to go out for dinner and shopping. They went to the Rochester Village outdoor mall, where they sat outside and enjoyed lasagna and a glass of wine while shoppers strolled up and down the sidewalks.

“How’s everything going with Nick?” Kelsey asked in between bites.

“Great. He asked me to go on vacation with him this summer.”

“Where to?”

“Florida.”

“In the summer? Oh wait. His parents live there, right?”

Stacy smiled and nodded.

“Ohmigod! He wants you to meet his parents!”

Stacy laughed. “It’s not that big a deal.”

“Are you kidding me? It’s a huge deal.”

“Okay, now you’re scaring me.”

“Sorry, but it kind of is. When was the last time a guy asked you to meet his parents?”

“Besides the blind date I had with a guy who still lived with his parents?”

Kelsey tipped her head back and burst out laughing.

“Sorry,” Stacy said to the people at the next table. The couple just chuckled and went back to eating.

“When are you going to Florida?” Kelsey asked, plucking another breadstick from the basket in the center of the table.

“We haven’t decided yet, but probably around July Fourth.”

“I’m happy for you.” `

“I’m happy too,” Stacy said, beaming. “Now, what’s new with you and Hudson?”