Page 61 of Lords of Misrule
Her cheeks blush, and I kiss her on each one.
“I’m teasing you.”
“What worries you about Hudson?”
“He could be a lot of things for you that I can never be. Functional. Sane. Rich.”
“You are perfect the way you are. Plus you could be rich. We could all be rich if the paintings get sold and we invest the money right.”
“Yeah. Theoretically.”
“But when have I ever given you the impression that being rich matters to me?”
“Right now it might not. But when you want to settle down, that’s going to matter. When you don’t want to be fencing paintings and duping rich kids out of their money and getting justice against asshole professors? Then you’re going to want someone who can blend back into normalcy. That’ll never be me and Rowan.”
“That’s part of the appeal.” She grins at me.
“Now… but later… you’ll want more.”
“I’ve wanted you for what feels like forever, Finn. I have you, and I still want more. Time isn’t going to change that. At least not for me. I’m also not going to suddenly crave normalcy. All of this… it’s changed me. I am who I am now because of it, and I don’t want to go back. I want to get my brother back this week and then I want to be here with you guys for as long as I can.”
“And when does that end?”
“I don’t know. I hope it never does.” She leans her head against my shoulder, and I wrap my arms around her. “I don’t want to do anything to hurt you.”
“Hudson won’t hurt me for the same reason Rowan doesn’t hurt me. What we have doesn’t change because you have something with them too. But be careful with Hudson. Even if you don’t want to go back to normalcy, he might someday. I don’t want to see you get hurt if that happens.”
“I won’t get hurt. I know that’s possible. I saw his life back home for myself, and I know it’s different than anything we can offer him here. I imagine eventually he’ll want it again. The wife and the high-paying job… But for now, he’s part of this. One of us.”
She’s not wrong. I feel for Hudson as much as anyone here. That he gave it all up to be here to play hockey. That the hockey thing didn’t work out, so instead, he’s running the streets with us. Him falling for her.
I brush her hair out of her face, and she smiles up at me. Her fingers wrapping around my forearm as we stare at each other for a long moment. She leans forward and kisses me. It’s soft but short, and she breaks it a moment later, starting to pull away.
“I should let you get back to work.”
“Just let me get like one more hour done and then I’m yours the rest of the night?”
“Okay.” She smiles at me again, kissing me on the cheek and then taking off out of the room.
Thirty-One
Charlotte
I knock on Hudson’s door, and he calls for me to come in. He smiles at me and sets his video game controller aside, patting the spot next to him on his bed.
“Finish having uncomfortable conversations?”
“Something like that.”
“And?”
“I talked to them both, and they’re okay with it. I don’t think they love the idea, but they’re also not fighting me on it either. They want us to be happy.”
Hudson gives me some side-eye.
“I doubt that’s how Rowan phrased it.”
“No. Rowan and I fucked, and he told me to do whatever I’ve got to do, but he doesn’t think you can handle watching him fuck me.”
