Page 21 of The Wedding Fake

They looked like they might keep talking, and Tina remained glowering next to me, waiting to continue, so I interjected. “Hud,” I said, drawing Hudson’s gaze, which was warm and sexy, “could you and Grant go talk up front so Tina can finish my fitting?”

“Course babe. You want your coffee or should I hold on to it?”

Tina didn’t give me a chance to answer. “Take it up front. I don’t usually allow drinks in here, but I’ll let you keep it,” she said. I grinned, finding it funny that even grumpy Tina couldn’t bring herself to truly scold Hudson.

Ten minutes later, I was dressed and walking up to join my sisters along with Grant and Hudson. I was surprised Grant had stuck around, but there he was. Hudson held out my coffee as I got close, and as soon as I took it he used his free arm to pull me closer, setting a kiss on my cheek. I liked pretend-dating Hudson entirely too much already.

“We’ve gotten a chance to meet Hudson, Claire,” Grant said.

“Good,” I said, “I’m glad he’s getting a chance to get to know everyone. Weddings are always so terrible when you don’t know anyone.” I turned my gaze on Nora. “Nora, is there anything else you need help with today, because I was thinking of showing Hudson around town.”

Nora shook her head. “No,” she answered absently. “I’m meeting up with Ethan soon anyway.”

“Mom’s making dinner for everyone later,” Tessa reminded us.

I nodded. “I know. We’ll be there. I’ll see you tonight.” I looked back at Grant. “It was good to see you. I’m sure we’ll see lots of you later this week.”

He chuckled. “Actually, I’ll be at dinner tonight. Your mom invited me.”

“Of course she did,” I answered too brightly, and Hudson gave my waist a squeeze. “We’ll see you tonight, then,” I said, letting Hudson lead me out after he said his goodbyes.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered once we were out of earshot of everyone. This was a level I hadn’t expected from my mother, but clearly what Tess said was right. I sighed deeply, nodding Hudson toward a cupcake shop. “You okay if we share one?” I asked. “Then I can fill you in on all the things I learned about my crazy, crazy mother.”

A few minutes later, we were sitting side-by-side on a park bench, an oversized cupcake sitting between us. “You called me ‘Hud,’” he said, his voice low and gravelly as he sliced off his first bite and held the cupcake box out to me.

I felt my neck warm with the same pesky flush that always gave me away to him. “I’m sorry. Did you hate it? We didn’t talk about nicknames at all.”

Hudson took a slow bite, and I watched his lips drag down the fork. “On the contrary, I liked it immensely,” he said finally, and I felt a rush of heat. “Did you hate me calling you ‘babe?’”

I licked my lips and scooped out my own bite, using the moment to inhale slowly and try to keep myself from blushing any more than I already had. When I looked back up at Hudson I was pretty sure my face wasn’t giving away how very much I’d enjoyed it. “No. I like it. It’s not too heavy handed.” I took my bite, knowing his eyes were on my mouth the whole time. “Speaking of heavy handed,” I continued once I’d swallowed, “I asked Tessa about my mom.” I took a big gulp of coffee, nervously, then looked back at Hudson, who took a bite of cupcake as he waited. “My mom’s not usually rude like she was with you today.”

“I told you before, it’s no big deal.”

I frowned. “It’s a big deal to me. You’re here as my date—fake or otherwise—and she doesn’t have the right to be rude to you.”

A twitch of his eyebrow let me know he only partially agreed with me, but he didn’t protest further. “What did Tessa have to say?” he asked, scooping up another bite.

I frowned, poking the cupcake with my fork but not taking more. “Apparently my mother’s really got her heart set on me and Grant getting together. She thinks I’m her best shot at grandkids.”

Hudson’s eyes widened. “Are you looking to have kids right away?” he asked. It was a real-date question, not a fake-date question, and I chewed my lip.

“No. If I find someone I want to be with—and that’s not Grant—then maybe I could see getting pregnant somewhere around thirty, but that’s still years off. It’s entirely possible that any of my sisters has a kid before that.”

Hudson held the next bite out for me, but I shook my head. “Why is your mom fixating on you, then?” he asked, slipping the fork between his lips again. I watched as his tongue darted out to catch a crumb, considering the question.

I was pretty sure I knew the answer, but it wasn’t date talk—real or fake—so I settled for the abridged answer. “I’m the one she thinks is most likely to settle down and get married quickly.”

His face scrunched in adorable confusion. “What about Nora? She’s literally getting married in a week.”

I chuckled. “Nora doesn’t want kids. After the wedding, she and Ethan are headed out to live in a van and drive around the country.”

“Dreadful,” he muttered, and the single word made me release a big belly laugh. It felt good to laugh.

“I agree, but maybe, if you’re with someone you love, it could be okay.”

Clearly skeptical, Hudson’s nose was curled adorably. “Perhaps,” he agreed, slowly. “I did enjoy the trip up here more than usual.”

I looked down, digging into the cupcake again, trying to remind myself that I could not fall for Hudson North.

---