Page 71 of Hudson

“I see the new doctor is here with you again. So itmust be true,” she says, and the girls next to her giggle, making me frown.

“What’s true?” I have no idea what she thinks she knows, but Hudson and I spending time together is topical. There isn’t much else to chat about around Whispers at the moment, so we are an easy target.

“Oh nothing, just people talk is all.” She’s dangling the carrot in front of me, waiting for me to snatch it. I should ignore her and walk away. That is what I usually do. But I can’t.

“What are they saying?” I bite out, and her smile widens at my clear frustration.

“Rumor is, there’s some fancy doctor coming from the city to see your mom,” she says, and I nod. She’s probably the one spreading the rumor, given she has access to my medical files.

“What of it?” I ask, my frown only deepening because I can tell there’s something more.

“It isn’t news that you can’t afford something like that…”

Her posse sniggers, and I take a breath as my spine stiffens.

“Just spit it out already.” I’m getting sick of her games. We were not friendly in school, and we aren’t friendly now.

“You’re sleeping with the new doctor to get upgraded medical care. At least, that’s what people are saying. You’re paying for your mom’s care with sex,” she says, sitting back and smiling wide, her eyes glistening wickedly as my heart almost splits in two.

“What?” I can barely speak with how my chest tightens.I can’t get enough air in my lungs, and my feet are frozen solid to the ground. I’m unable to move.

“I mean, I never really picked you for a sexual favors kind of girl, Lacy; you were always so frigid at school.” Jolene smirks, and her friends laugh louder. I feel like I’m climbing a mountain, unable to ever reach the top. This is what it was like in school, with these barbs thrown at me almost daily.

I expected gossip. I expected small-town chitchat. But I didn’t expect outright lies. I feel like my body is crumbling underneath me as I look around the diner.Is this what everyone thinks? Is this what they’re all saying about me?

“What’s up, Lacy? Cat got your tongue?” Jolene teases again, relishing my clear distress. Palms sweaty, my heart races, my mouth going dry.

My eyes flick to the back of the diner, and I see Harvey and Hudson both waiting for me. Hudson frowns, his eyes flicking from me to the booth of women and back again, clearly aware that something isn’t right. My spine straightens, and I take in a breath. I know the truth, as does he, and at seeing him, newfound confidence runs through my shoulders and pulls them back to hold my head high. I clear my throat and look back at Jolene.

“It’s all getting a bit old, isn’t it, Jolene?” I ask with narrowed eyes. How the hell does she work at the hospital with this kind of attitude?

“What is?” She smirks, like she has the upper hand.

“This pick-on-Lacy attitude you’ve got. Seriously, you’ve been doing it since fifth grade. I think it’s time you move on, get a new hobby. This infatuation you have withme is getting kinda embarrassing for you.” I look her up and down. Her face turns red, not used to me talking back, and I walk away without another word, not giving her a chance to respond. My knees feel wobbly, but for the first time in a long time, I don’t care anymore. I don’t care what she thinks or what she says. It’s almost like a heavy weight has lifted.

“Hey, you two,” I say with a smile, walking up to the booth where Hudson and Harvey sit. My hands are a little jittery, and I’m thankful that I have a bag to hold.

“Hey, baby,” Hudson murmurs, standing. “Everything alright?” His hand automatically cups my waist, pulling me to him as his lips meet my temple. I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and melt a little into his hold. Smelling his cologne and feeling his secure touch, my body starts to calm. As I look around, everyone in the diner is looking at us. Rochelle eyes me from behind the counter with a smile on her face, and Bob from the hardware store grins over his coffee mug. Everyone looks happy to see me happy, and for once, I appreciate it.

“Don’t worry about all the eyes… They’re going to talk no matter what we do or don’t do,” he whispers in my ear, his thumb brushing across my back.

“I know,” I grumble like a sulking teenager, and he laughs.

“Brat,” he says, pinching my skin at my waist playfully, and I laugh, feeling light for the first time in a long while. I realize it’s him. He’s given me confidence to face this. All the counseling I’ve done, all the talks with Mom or Victoria, they’ve all been great, but it’s Hudson who’s been able to break down a wall I didn’t think was possible.His time, his words, his attention and affection have instilled a new confidence in me that I knew I always had, but had buried, too busy and too exhausted to bring out before. I was already smitten, and I realize I’m falling hard for this man.

“Hey, Lacy!” Harvey says loudly, his excitement clear, jolting me from my thoughts.

“Hi, Harvey.” I give him a bright smile as I slide into the booth opposite them.

“What’s that?” Harvey spots the bag in my hands, sitting up a little, as the red logo of Tony’s Toy World on it gives it away.

“Oh, something I just picked up. Want to see?” I ask, hoping I have done the right thing. My eyes flick to Hudson, who looks confused. Perhaps I should have asked him first. I have never been in this situation before to know if I am overstepping. I bite my bottom lip, not so confident in my choices this morning.

“Been shopping?” Hudson asks, his eyebrows high, and I take a breath.

“It’s something I thought perhaps we could do together,” I say, looking at them both as I put the bag on the table and slide out the box.

“It’s the model airplane I wanted!” Harvey yells, jumping up immediately and grabbing the box in his hands. Everyone in the diner looks our way again. I knew he would be excited, but shit, I should have expected this enthusiastic of a reaction. I smile back at them, ignoring Jolene and her posse and focusing on the people who matter.

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