Page 112 of Abyss

I am. I have been.

After weeks of waiting, I resolved this afternoon tobroach the subject of our future myself. I just can’t wait any longer for a conversation we desperately need to have.

I suck in a breath and glance down at our hands. “Yeah, I suppose I am a little.”

Hudson’s mouth pulls downward, his eyes searching my face for more clues. “About what?”

I swallow, feeling like I’m about to step on thin ice, wondering if it’ll support me or crack under my feet. “I wanted to know what you wanted—”

Knock, knock!

Both Hudson and I turn toward the door, and I swiftly rise from my chair. “That must be our food. I’ll get it.”

I don’t know if I’m disappointed or relieved by the interruption, but the short walk to the door gives me a chance to steady my nerves.

My bare feet tap the wooden floors lightly as I mentally prepare for the upcoming conversation with Hudson. Except, when I open the door, there’s no delivery person standing on the other side.

It’s Madison.

My heart skitters to a stop as I gape at her, my breath catching in a soft whisper. “Madison?”

The smile fades from Madison’s face when her gaze travels down my scant clothing and bare legs, her eyes enlarging as she processes what or who she’s looking at.

“Kavi?” Both astonishment and betrayal battle over her features as she tries to compose herself. “Wh-what are you doing at my dad’s house?”

At this point, I’m positive my face is drained of any color aside from the telltale hue of guilt and embarrassment. I’m . . . speechless.

Madison and Brie weren’t supposed to be back from their honeymoon until the end of next week, around the time I was planning to leave Hudson’s apartment.

“You weren’t supposed to be back until next week,” I say hesitantly, though judging by her expression, I’m pretty sure it sounded more accusatory than I’d intended.

“Kav, what’s going—” Hudson’s voice behind me has my hackles rising. Without even looking at him, I know he’s stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of his daughter on the other side of this door, grappling with how to address this strange meeting. “Maddy? What are you doing back so early?”

Madison’s eyes bounce between us. In some alternate reality, Hudson and I could have passed this off as a work meeting, but given my attire—or lack thereof—there’s no way she would buy it. “Brie’s mom was admitted to the hospital for a minor heart issue—”

Both Hudson and I ask similar questions at once about whether she’s okay.

Madison waves her hand. “She’s fine. She felt pain in her back and arm and thought it was a heart attack. They kept her overnight, but she’s okay. After hearing about it, Brie just couldn’t enjoy the rest of our vacation. She wanted to see her mom, so we left. I thought I’d surprise you.” She cuts a glance at her dad before she chuckles, though the usual lightness in her eyes is missing. “But, clearly, it’s the other way around. Care to tell me what’s going on between you two?”

I swing the door open further, inviting her in. My gaze shifts nervously from her to Hudson as I tuck my hair behind my ear. “We were going to tell you when you got ba—”

“It’s not what it looks like.”

To my astonishment, Hudson cuts through my sentence and my head snaps in his direction while my brain rushes to process his words.

It’s not what it looks like? What does he mean, it’s not what it looks like?

It’s fuckingexactlywhat it looks like! That we’ve been sleeping together!

Madison’s blue eyes assess her dad before coming back to me, a hint of pain skittering across her features. “I’m pretty sure this looks exactly as it is. But can you just tell me one thing?” Her gaze stays fixed on me, her jaw tense. “How long has it been going on? Since before or after my wedding?”

I take in a ragged breath, standing in front of her in the foyer on wobbly legs. “Since before.”

“Wow.” She shakes her head in disappointment, huffing out a half-hearted laugh. I know how much she wanted her father to find someone, but for that person to be her friend? I’m not sure she was ever prepared for that. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

“Maddy, why don’t you come in?” Hudson still looks shell-shocked, running a hand through his hair. “Let’s talk about this inside.”

I clear my throat as heat finds my cheeks. “I’m, uh . . .” I struggle for words. “I’m just going to put on some clothes.”

---