Page 13 of Crash and Burn

“This is it. It’s a duplex. There’s a guy who lives upstairs.” He went to get out and I panicked a little. “What are you doing?”

“I’m opening your door.”

“Hudson, it’s fine. I can let myself out. Thank you for the ride.”

I went up the two little steps in front of my apartment door and he said, “Amelia. I uh….”

I stopped and turned around. “Yeah?”

“I don’t want you to get the wrong idea or anything, but I’m wondering if you would come with me to something tomorrow?”

“Me? Why would you need me to come to something?” He stared at his feet. “Hudson. What is it?”

“I um…shit this is going to sound selfish, and I don’t want you to think I am using you, but I need help with a barbeque I have to attend tomorrow at my best friend’s house.”

I laughed. “Help? Why do you need help if it’s your best friend’s house?”

He rolled his eyes and let out a grunt. “Fuck’s sake. I hate even asking. My best friends’ wife is trying to introduce me to a girl, and I’m not interested.”

I laugh. “Oooh…. so, you need a distraction?”

“Yeah, I guess something like that. I just don’t want this girl to think I’m available.”

“It’s ok Hudson. I understand. Boy, do I understand.”

“Really? You’re not mad that I asked?”

I giggled. “No. I’m not mad at all. I can play the role of whatever you need tomorrow.”

“I need a friend. I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t. But I need a friend.”

“I’ve literally known you for two days. You seriously don’t have any other friends that you can ask that you might trust more than me and be more comfortable with?”

“Honestly? I wish I could explain it, but you bring about an ease…. You’re easy to talk to. I know. You wouldn’t think that with how I’ve behaved for the past two days, but the easiness freaks me out. The last person I was comfortable wi…” He looked down again.

“The last person you were comfortable with?” I ask.

He went silent again. “Ok, Hudson. It’s fine. I’ll go with you tomorrow. You’re lucky, actually. I haven’t had a weekend off in several weeks. What time will you be here tomorrow?”

Hudson looked up at me, relieved. “I’ll be by a little before one o’clock. Thank you! You have no idea how much….”

I hold my hand up. “It’s fine. Really. Happy to help. I will see you tomorrow. Please drive home safe.”

“I’ll wait for you to get inside.”

I paused…and smiled. Kevin had never waited for me to get inside. It wasn’t like it was a date, but I was impressed by him. I told myself,this isn’t anything. This is a friend…and barely.I unlocked my door and stepped inside. After I closed the door behind me, I locked it and peeked out the window. He was still watching, so I flicked my outside light on. The light from his car radio lit him enough for me to see him wave goodnight. Then he took off. I turned around leaning my back against my front door and sighed along with a small laugh. I said to myself, “Well, tomorrow should be interesting,” while wondering what to expect. Realizing I should’ve asked more questions, I went to my room to change my clothes and climb in bed. My thoughts returned to the changing of the seasons, and I hoped to dream of something new as I drifted to sleep.

Chapter 6

Hudson

Staring at myself in the mirror, I ran my hands down my face, wondering what I was thinking when I asked Amelia to go to the barbeque with me. I didn’t want her to get the wrong idea and think I was selfish, but the idea of Lex trying to “introduce” me to anyone, was just too much. Amelia and I had only spoken to each other maybe three times over the course of two days. It definitely wasn’t long enough to justify asking for her help.Shit. I’m just going to cancel, I thought, then started talking to myself in the mirror. “I’ll just tell her… For fuck’s sake, I don’t even have her number. Brilliant, jackass. I’ll go to her apartment and just tell her that I’m sorry and this whole thing was a dumb idea.”

*

Pulling up to Amelia’s, I felt myself starting to sweat. I was early—thirty minutes early. I got out and rubbed my sweaty hands on my jeans, trying to dry them. Lightly, I knocked on her door, because I didn’t want to scare her again after the shit I put her through the night before. She opened the door, looking a little shocked. “Hudson! What time is it? Am I late, or are you early?”

She was dressed casually, but even then, she was stunning. The faint scent of vanilla musk and roses she was wearing had my full attention. I shook my head, fumbled my words,then chased them with rapid fire mumbling. “Um...I’m early. Listen, Amelia...I uh… I made a mistake. I think this whole thing is going to backfire and it’s probably just a bad idea. We barely know each other, and I shouldn’t have asked you for such a big favor. I…”

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