Page 43 of Promise Me

He’s protective like my brother was, but this is different. Instead of keeping me locked up, he wants me to do what I want, just not alone.

I can compromise with that.

“Don’t you want to sleep?”

His left shoulder lifts as he walks into his room, opens a dresser drawer, and takes out a shirt. He pulls it over his head and nods.

His every movement captivates me.

“I’m off today and tomorrow. I can sleep later.”

“You’re off all day?”

“Yeah, it’s Saturday.”

I suck in a breath.

Saturday.

In my head, today is Mom’s funeral.

“Are you okay?” he asks, stepping toward me and bending at his knees a little to meet me at eye level. “Sadie?”

“Yes.” I pull myself together. “Let’s get coffees and then go work out.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I repeat. “I just need to change and get my shoes from the gym. When do they open?”

His eyes start at my bare legs, slowly gliding up my body. They pause briefly at my boy shorts and then again at my tank top. It’s as if he hasn’t noticed my outfit until this moment.

It’s June in Wyoming, and it’s warm out. I can’t sleep withlayers, and I also didn’t expect him to come in here before I put my day clothes on.

“Right. Shit. Sorry, I shouldn’t have just barged in here, and they open at five.”

He quickly moves to the door.

“It’s your apartment, Hudson. You don’t need to apologize.”

He only nods, and then he walks out.

I quickly pull on some leggings and swap my tank top for a T-shirt. I brush out my hair and step into the bathroom, which has two doors: one to the bedroom and one to the living room. I wash my face, add some mascara, and brush my teeth.

When I step into the living room, Hudson is sitting on the couch, looking at his phone.

“Ready,” I say.

He stands and walks to the door.

“I thought we were having coffee?” I ask.

“We are, but I don't have any here.”

“What? How do you not have coffee here?”

“There is a shop right downstairs that makes way better coffee than I do.”

I fold my arms and smile. “Are you complimenting me?”

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