Page 82 of Promise Me

“What!”

“Everything okay out here?” Daisy asks, and both Brooke and I nod.

Once she’s gone, Brooke nudges my foot with hers.

“You didn’t tell me?”

“It just happened. Right before the bar opened. I’m still processing it.”

“Oh, please process faster. What does this mean?”

“Nothing, apparently. He said he was sorry and then started making excuses for why it can’t happen again.”

“Ugh. Typical.”

“I know.”

“What did you say?”

“I was very clear that I want it to happen again.”

“Seriously? You?”

“What? I wouldn’t do that with a guy?”

“I mean, not to Hudson. You hate letting him have the upper hand.”

“I guess the old me would see it that way. The new me thinks I can’t get enough of him.”

Brooke squeals. “I love this for you.”

“I’d love it more if he would just … let himself relax a little. I mean, it’s not that I’m upset he won’t do whatever with me, but it’s like he thinks he can’t be happy or have what he wants. He’s so about following the rules and routine.”

“I bet you could help him relax.”

I let out a giggle and then toss a crumb at her. “It was a really good kiss. He propped me up on the counter and everything.”

“And stood between your legs?”

“Brooke, he grabbed my knees and spread my legs to make room. It. Was. Sexy.”

She squeals again.

“So now what?”

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

I should hate that I don’t know what comes next. But then another customer comes in, and Brooke glows as they tell her their order.

Knowing what I’m going to do with bakery has taken a huge weight off my shoulders.

The hall lightis still on by the time I return to the apartment later that night. After Brooke closed the bakery for the day, I went back to her place with her.

The more I thought about it, the more I obsessed over it, and the more I let myself grow a little embarrassed by what I said to Hudson.

Was I too blunt?

Did I sound desperate?

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