Page 11 of Hudson

“You’re free to join me… I mean, if you’re not busy…” She sounds hesitant, but I’m not going to miss this opportunity. I want to get to know her more. I want to spend time with her.

“No, not busy. We would love to,” I tell her, and her eyes sparkle, taking me back to those few flirty nights we shared at the bar many months ago. I’m not sure if it’s the way the sunlight hits her face or if it’s the fact that she’s happy to spend time with us. But seeing her smile makes my heart feel like it’s bouncing in my chest.

“Yippee!” Harvey yells from where he stands between us before grabbing Lacy’s hand, and the three of us walk into the diner, Harvey pulling us both along, our afternoon now sorted.

7

LACY

As I step into the diner, I feel my cheeks heat. Everyone’s eyes are on us, and as usual on a Saturday afternoon, it’s a full house. Hudson looks perfect, and I can barely string two words together with fear that my thudding heart will sound louder than my voice and give me away. I’m glad that my small-town manners came out of my mouth before I could really think about this situation. I’m happy for them to join me, but sitting and sharing afternoon tea with Hudson is going to be difficult, given that I still think about the way he held me that night and what it felt like to have his hands on my body.

“Why, hello…?” Rochelle coos, looking between us all. I try to pull in air and falter at the now all-too-familiar masculine scent that runs up my nose, making me swallow quickly.

My mother has visitors every Saturday afternoon. In fact, I left her with Hudson’s mom, who was making themboth a coffee to have with some cookies she baked earlier. Our Saturday routine is consistent; she has a steady roll of visitors, and I get out to have a break, the weekly treat of a sundae at the diner something I have been doing since I was a teen.

“Hey, Rochelle,” I say quickly, my breathing not yet regulated as a few nerves still tap dance on my lungs. I wasn’t planning on having guests with me today. I usually prefer the alone time, but with Harvey looking at me with his wide smile, and Hudson’s sexy-as-sin grin making my cheeks heat under his gaze, my mouth moved before my brain caught up.

I look around and see the usual suspects. Bob from the hardware store is sitting up at the counter, and next to him, Peter, who drives our taxis. Nikki, the new young girl in town, is behind the counter, pouring them a fresh cup of coffee. I smile at her. She keeps to herself, so I know she doesn’t have a lot of friends yet, but she’s always nice to chat with.

Over at one of the booths, I see some girls I went to high school with, the ones who never left for college but instead wound up young and pregnant and with a chip on their shoulder larger than the size of the distillery. I see them watching us, my eyes settling on Jolene, the leader of the pack, who always takes issue with me, ever since I beat her at a science project in eighth grade.

And then, as we got older, a boy she liked didn’t like her back and liked me instead. I think that was the catalyst for her ill feelings toward me. She made the last few years of high school hell. It was hell at home and hell atschool, so there was no escape for me at that time. Now that we are both adults, you would think that the chip on her shoulder would dissipate, but unfortunately, they haven’t grown up, and I grew up too quickly. Almost a perfect bullying storm. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, wondering how someone can hold a grudge for as long as she has.

Now nothing about the way she’s staring is covert as her eyes bore into mine before they flick to Hudson and then back to me again. Throughout the week, I can forget all about her and her friends, the constant bullying in school still scaring me today. But every Saturday, I see them here. It’s almost like they come here just to pick on me for their entertainment.

Near the window, our town lawyer, Jerry, is having a late lunch with his wife, Bernadette, the two of them, along with everyone else, eyeing us carefully. I can’t escape their stares because I stand here with a little hand clenching my own, keeping me grounded.

“We’re here with Lacy!” Harvey says, loud and proud, and Rochelle looks down at him and beams. It’s hard not to; he’s a cute kid and fun to be around. I hear Jolene snort from where she sits.

“Well, little Lacy has a little friend,” she murmurs, just loud enough for me to hear, but I ignore her. She says these little quips to get under my skin, and I try to let them roll off me without penetrating, but I would be lying if I said that I was successful in that endeavor every time.

“Take a seat, and I’ll be right with you,” Rochelle tellsus, and Harvey continues to pull both me and Hudson along to a booth. As I walk past Rochelle, she wiggles her eyebrows and gives me a wink, and I internally groan. I know the gossip mill will be in overdrive with this tidbit for the next week. Yet another thing I just don’t need or have time for.

“After you,” Hudson says, his voice smooth and deep, running down my body like a warm liquid as we come to the booth. He and Harvey stand, waiting for me to sit first, like two peas in a pod. I’m not used to this kind of chivalry. It’s nice. Makes me feel special. I look at them and it isn’t until now that I notice they are dressed similarly. Tan slacks, navy sweaters. Harvey is almost like Hudson’s mini me.

“So, your parents must be ecstatic to have you both home,” I say as I sit, thinking about how excited his mom, Susan, has been.

“Ecstatic is an understatement. It’s almost like they have a new lease on life,” Hudson says, laughing, and I smile. He’s so handsome when he smiles, and it’s contagious.

“Your mom has been talking about Harvey nonstop since you were here last,” I tell him, hearing Susan’s voice in my head, her constant chatter with Mom in the living room always floating down to me in my room whenever she comes over.

“I had no idea our parents were such close friends before moving back,” Hudson says, and I nod.

“Our moms went to school together. Known each other all their lives. I guess we may have crossed pathswhen we were kids, but I don’t remember you much from that time,” I say honestly.

“I was probably already away at college when you were little,” he says, swallowing, and the topic of our age difference rears its head. He doesn’t exactly look old. He’s in shape. Broad shoulders, a thick head of hair. He may be graying slightly on the sides, but he looks strong, dependable, safe.

“Probably. So Harvey, how is school?” I ask, trying to move the conversation on as Harvey slides around on the slippery vinyl booth seat next to his father.

“I love it!” he says with so much enthusiasm, a smile comes to my face immediately.

“Really? That’s great. Who’s your teacher?” I ask, but of course, like everything else around this town, I already know. I don’t miss the way Hudson is watching him, pride and deep love etched onto his face.

“Miss Annabelle,” he says before perusing the menu.

“Is she good?” Hudson asks me, clearly wanting the local intel, his eyes intense.

“Yeah. I mean, she has been in town for most of her life, I think. She does the goat milk soap business with Victoria, and her son, Kevin, helps out Tanner and Victoria at…” My throat restricts, and I need to swallow again before I can talk. “…at Marie’s Place.”

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