Chapter 1
The media lights burn bright with every flash.
“Hudson, over here!” someone yells
Flash.
“What do you say about your mother and ex-girlfriend, Sara, trying to write a tell-all book of your life?”
Flash.
“How are you coming back from your injured knee?”
Flash.
“Heard they were scrapping you!”
Flash.
Hudson jumps up from a deep restless sleep in a panic. Covered in sweat and trying to catch his breath. It’s been this way for months as his anxiety is a bitch to play with.
He’s been in Colorado for a few years now and baseball has been a ride for sure.
Growing up his mom thought reputation was everything. Photoshoots, fake smiles, “Happy family”, everyone knows us. The only problem with that is when the dominoes fall, they fall hard and fast. Her decisions caused their family to break up, which actually was the best thing. He gained a brother, Gunnar, and a sister, Allie. His mom did some horrible stuff and treated his dad and stepmom with disdain. She still resents them to this day even when she was the one who caused the demise.
Baseball is what kept him sane. Baseball is what bonded him and his older brother, Gunnar. Even when he went off to college, he would make it back as much as he could to watch Hudson play. He was the reason that he tried out for the catcher and found that he was actually really good at it.
Hudson first met Sara, his ex-girlfriend/fiance, during preseason training the first year. He was the new and up-and-coming athlete whose past definitely follows him. That meant a lot of press. Having a mom who burned down her own house and fakes a pregnancy to keep her then-boyfriend, definitely made headlines. Sara loved the attention and the money that came with it all. Hudson would wine and dine her, giving her a lavish proposal she wanted and a big fancy house. Thought he was living the dream until he got hurt.
The Player rounded third and plowed straight for him. His body wasn’t in the correct stance and when they collided, there goes his knee. He had to have reconstruction surgery for his knee and though the surgery went perfectly, there was a 50/50 chance baseball was out of the picture. That being said per Sara he couldn’t provide for her as she wanted.
It was true, he had to be smarter about his money and how it was spent. She first understood the 50/50 diagnosis. Then it was, so and so is a better fit for her. That was after she accused Hudson of having an affair with Ollie, his assistant. Hudson had hoped that Sara wasn’t really like that, but sadly he was wrong. She was all face value and even Gunnar warned him after they met.
So the moment she wanted to leave him for a higher-priced target, Hudson packed his essentials, put the house on the market, and moved to this small loft apartment. It was actually a better fit for him. Because of Sara’s childish behavior, Hudson didn’t tell her that he moved out or that he put the house on the market. She came home to find the sign in the front and the locks had been changed. Hudson left a note on the front door to call and schedule a time to get her stuff through his lawyer. Dick move? Maybe but he was pissed.
It’s been about six months since everything happened and they are finally finalizing everything for the sale. Hudson is trying to get himself back on track. Ollie comes every other morning to get things started for him schedule-wise when he isn’t playing, training, or recuperating. He is looking at press or outreach programs. That was something his family did. They always did things for others when they could and didn’t make it a public thing. Ollie has been able to set up a lot of volunteer opportunities for him without the press finding out.
Hudson walks into his kitchen to find Ollie and her dog, Topper, hanging out. Topper is with her as much as he can be. Ollie spent a lot of time training him, so he is all about HER command. He’s actually a pretty cool german shepherd. Past few years Ollie has been his best friend and he thinks that he is hers. She doesn’t talk much and keeps a wicked poker face, but when she does talk, you had better listen. Her blue eyes hold such wisdom as an older person, you’d never imagine she is the same age as Hudson. If things were different, maybe there would be a chance for them, but she has never shown any interest in him.
“Hey slugger,” She says, not even looking up from her computer.
“Hey,” Hudson says with a raspy voice.
“Bad dreams again?”
“Yeah,” he nods. “Thinking of talking to a therapist.”
She nods her head, “Probably should cut down on drinking and hooking up with random kitties.”
“I have needs,” Hudson says with a fake offensive tone.
’Yeah, and it’s gross. I’m the one letting them down.”
Hudson mocks her with her responses to the girls: “You good?... Ok, no you can’t have his number... No, don’t seek him out, if he is interested he would’ve called.”
“What?” she says, confused. “It’s simple and to the point. It is what they need. Hope causes stalkers and we have had to endure that too much.”
“You are harsh.”
“I have my reasons,” she looks back at the computer. “Protein smoothie is in the fridge, just shake it. Breakfast is on the stove. Sit and let’s review your schedule for the week,”
Hudson sits next to her and pulls up my schedule. When she said we will review, it means that he has to tell her what to scrap and what to confirm.
“Go for the photoshoot, easy money. ESPN Interview. Cancel news interview, they are just going to ask about mom and Sara,” Hudson lists off and Ollie nods her head. “Confirm physical therapist for my knee and refill my pain meds.”
“Still giving you some pain?” She looks down at his knee.
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” She nods her head, “Say it,” Ollie still staring at Hudson. Hudson is getting fed up with her silent treatment stare. “WHAT!”
She points to the list and Hudson sees it. The sale of the home, the one he thought he’d be starting a family in, is closing this week.
“Confirm the hell out of that.”
Ollie quietly and steadily taps away on her computer confirming and canceling what needs to be done.
“You are my best friend you know, besides my family.”
“That’s sad, we don’t even talk.”
“Yeah, but you don’t talk to anyone but me and in the three years you’ve never given me a reason not to trust you,”
“I don’t trust people,” Ollie says quietly.
“Do you trust me?” Hudson asks.
“To a point.”
“Ouch! Brutal!”
“Don’t be dramatic, it doesn’t sit well with you,” Hudson laughs at her. There are times he wonders what she is thinking about but really this past year she has been a godsend of a friend. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow at the Nike photoshoot,”
“Where are you going?” Hudson watches her as she walks around him.
“Office,” Ollie responds without looking up.
“Hey, didn’t’ you have a date last night?”
“Yes.”
“And?” Hudson pushes. Always trying to pull teeth with this girl.
“Awful, he talked about science stuff.”
“Oh, Ollie! Where do you find these people?” Hudson laughs hard.
“My friend Cassie. She won’t leave me alone about finding a boyfriend. Or at least someone with husband material,”
“Seriously?” Hudson looks at her surprised.
“Yeah, ever since the divorce, she’s been on a warpath,”
“It’s been 3 years!”
“Yeah, you’d think she could take a hint,” Ollie looks away.
“Do you want to find someone?”
“No, no one can give me what I want. Why waste the energy on the impossible?”
“What is it you want?” Hudson suddenly becomes interested. She’s a good person and her ex was a massive douche bag.
“And that’s enough personal stuff. You know way too much anyway.”
“Okay, okay,” He throws his hands up in defeat. “Listen, my brother’s friend Josh and his wife Isla are going to be in town scouting locations for a new kids center.”
“When?”
“Next month, the 12th, and I think it’s just a few days.”
“Ok, I’ll block out that time for you,” she starts to type in her phone, “Anything else?”
“No, I think that’s it.”
“Ok, Bye,” She waves heading to the door.
“You really hate small talk,” Hudson still tried to annoy her.
“Small talk is overrated. Bye,” She gets to the door and Topper is on her heels.
She may seem harsh but she really has the biggest heart. He knows that she plays it close to the chest. He saw how she was just before the divorce and then how she was after. Her ex, Thomas, seemed like a total tool bag. She never told Hudson all that went on, just that he found love with someone else.
Maybe Hudson needs to help her find someone?
