Page 31 of Hudson

His brow furrows as he thinks. “Fine, but not too much. Go slow and be careful when you grip the wheel.”

I nod. I like how he doesn’t tell me what to do. I can tell he would prefer I didn’t use it, but he’s letting me decide.

“Mom? I’m ready,” he calls out, and we hear a scuffling noise. We both turn to look toward the living room, seeing our mothers right near the door, clambering to get back, clearly eavesdropping on our entire conversation.

I roll my eyes, and my cheeks ignite with heat. The Whispers rumor mill is no doubt now in overdrive.

16

HUDSON

Idressed a little more casually tonight. Jeans and a shirt, a look I know that I’ll probably adopt full-time soon, the suits of the city not really fitting in too well around Whispers. The more time I spend here, the more I feel like the boy who left all those years ago. The slight accent is back, I’m driving a truck, and my smile is permanent. My life finally feels like it’s clicking back into place.

“Popcorn, as requested,” I tell Lacy as I grab the large box from the candy bar, along with a soda each, passing one to her.

“Mmmmm… that freshly popped smell,” she hums, her eyes closed as she takes a deep breath. I noticed she does that a lot. She appreciates the little things. She doesn’t need the latest designer bags or clothes; she’s not materialistic. She enjoys every moment for what it is. It’s probably why people naturally gravitate to her. She also savors her food. The cherry and cherry stem, the sundae, the cookies, and now the popcorn.The soup.That heatedexchange the other night is one of the most intense things I’ve experienced with a woman fully clothed.

“I’m beginning to think you might be a bit of a foodie?” I tease as we start walking to the cinema. I’m already imagining the restaurants that I could take her to back in LA or even New York, maybe Paris. She would love them.

“Give me sweets under the stars, and I’ll be a happy girl,” she says, smiling, and I laugh. I feel good. This feels good. Being with her is easy, light, fun. Casual, not pressured, she looks amazing, and it feels right. Better than any other date has ever been.

“I can’t remember the last time I was here at this cinema,” I say, looking around the art deco inspired, aging decor. I came here a bit as a kid, but I preferred the outdoors. I look at the old fortune teller machine in the corner, remembering bringing my first date here back when I was a teenager and paying for a fortune.

“Me neither, although I would have thought it would be busier than this,” she says with a little shrug, and I grin.

“What was the last movie you watched?” I ask her quickly.

“Hmmm… I can’t remember. That’s how long it has been.” She laughs at herself. My grin widens. I love seeing her laugh, and as we walk together, I catch my reflection in the glass wall. I can’t help but notice how happy and relaxed I am around this woman.

“Here, let me,” I say, grabbing the door to the cinema and holding it open as we walk through.

“Clearly,Beetlejuiceis not very popular…” she murmurs, looking around.

“It’s very popular. It’s a classic,” I tell her, walking down the aisle to find a seat.

“But no one else is here.” She looks at me like I am crazy.

“I know. I booked the whole place just for us tonight.”

Her steps stop short as complete shock overtakes her face.

“Huh?” she says, wide-eyed and her mouth agape, and I grin harder. She’s so fucking cute.

“Well…” I say, stepping toward her, smiling. The feeling that she is going to bolt at a moment's notice is something I feel constantly with her. It keeps me on my toes. I don’t usually have to work hard for female attention. It has always come easy, both before and after my late wife. So she makes me think a little more and work a little harder, and I like that. I even had to be smart about how I asked her out. I tried to catch her off guard so she didn’t make an excuse. I know she’s busy, and I know she has a lot on her plate, but she needs to see that she can take a break sometimes, and if she is willing to do that with me, then I’m a very fucking happy man.

“I think we both know what this town is like. If others were here, then they wouldn’t be watching the movie.” I know full well that people would come and just look at us, watching our every move before telling their friends and family and making Lacy and me hot town gossip for weeks. Although my mother tells me people are already starting to talk.

“But… I mean… I was going to pay you for my ticket… half the popcorn.” As she fumbles over her words, I can feel her start to panic as her shoulders tighten. I frown, because there is no way in hell she is paying for anything.

“My treat tonight.” I grab her elbow gently and keep her walking so she doesn’t have time to think about it. I’m starting to learn that Lacy hates being indebted to someone, either financially or emotionally. The look on her face when my mom cleaned her kitchen for five minutes earlier in the week was almost comical. I rented this place for the entire night so we could relax. It wasn’t a lot of money, so I also made a ten-thousand-dollar donation to the local drama and theater club too. They had to bring the film in especially for me because it’s so old.

“But I owe you for the cookies, for helping me with my hand, for the soup…” she trails off, a slight blush now coating her cheeks as she thinks about that night. I can see her internal struggle. She has paid her way her entire life, and she’s uncomfortable with it being any other way.

“We are not keeping score, Lacy. I asked you out. I pay. I’m also going to pay for a lot more things. This is the first of many for you and me, and just so you know in advance, I’m old school. I pay for the dates, and I will damn well get you anything you want on those dates,” I tell her, hoping that she knows exactly how this is going to go. Brow furrowed, she searches my eyes and takes a breath.

“Thank you. It’s probably one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me,” she says, softening. I don’t like that statement because a woman like Lacy should have the world. She gives so much to everyone else; I’m surprised no one else has swept her off her feet before now.

“One of?” I’m intrigued, keen to know what rates on her list.

---