Jonas chuckled. “Yeah, I got you. You need anything, Doc?”
“Yeah, more ranch please.”
“Coming right up.” It wasn’t until after he left that I felt Hudson’s eyes on me again. He was quiet though, probably looking for something to say. I assumed he settled on nothing, but before that belief settled, he was talking again.
“You gonna at least give me some conversation since I invited myself to your dinner or keep staring at everything but me? I swear I ain’t that ugly, Greene with an e.”
I looked away from my phone at Hudson before nodding. “I mean, I guess since you did invite yourself to this seat and my sister did just kind of ditch me for your cousin. What does conversation look like?”
“Shit, I don’t know. You let me get to know you and you get to know me.”
“You don’t do small talk at all, huh?”
“Nope, I feel like it’s for motherfuckers with nothing to say and all the time in the world to waste.”
I nodded. “Spoken like a true city nigga. But I’m inclined to agree.”
He laughed. “What made you wanna be a veterinarian?”
I shrugged but answered. “My mama was a vet assistant, my father is a veterinarian, and the list probably goes on and on. Truth is, I’ve spent my whole life around animals and I love them. Felt like I’d be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t.”
He nodded. “An animal lover. I kinda see that on you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yeah, I do. You got that whole you don’t like people thing going on. Coming here was probably your sister’s idea, right? Now she don’ left you and you’re ready to get up outta here and commence to a lil calm boring ass evening void of people with your dog who is at home waiting on you. Probably a beagle or some shit like that. What show were you intending on watching?”
I nearly choked on my drink from the way he had read into me that easily. Too bad some of what he said was wrong. “You were almost right, but you have a couple things wrong. One, I had every intention of my calm evening, but no I don’t own a dog, especially not a beagle. They have more health problems than people, from epilepsy to back problems and even obesity. You couldn’t have at least assumed I owned a German Shepherd or something? And maybe I was gonna spend my calm evening watchingThe Golden Bachelor.And yes, it’s a really good show.” I smiled when I finished my statement.
He studied my features before a throaty chuckle escaped his lips. “Yo, I said all of that and you only heard the part about the dog and the show?”
“Pretty much. Everything else was right on the money.”
He nodded, looking up as one of the waitresses slid his food in front of him. “Why void of people though?”
“Because people have the tendency to let you down.” My words were heavy and dark, but I meant them. “But enough about me and reading into my life. What about you? What brought you to Millers Pointe this holiday season, Hudson?”
For the first time since he sat down, he seemed a bit stumped. “To keep it a buck with you, I don’t know. Well, I do, but then again…” He paused and looked around before those intense eyes were on me again. It was like he was questioning himself or choosing his words wisely. Then something clicked and he was speaking again. “You ever just felt like something in your life was missing? Like you set out to do everything you had in your dreams, but something just wasn’t there?”
I just looked at him, trying to gauge his question while he looked at me to understand his vagueness.
“You’re looking for fulfillment, but don’t know where to start?” I finally replied and the recognition in his eyes couldn’t be missed.
“Exactly.”
“Then do some soul searching. Find out who you are and what drives you, then you’ll find your fulfillment.” I said that like it was easy, when I knew firsthand it was nowhere near. If it was, then I wouldn’t be sitting here wondering if I’d ever find fulfillment.
He nodded. “Easier said than done, huh?”
“Much, but I guess we tell ourselves at some point we’ll encounter that thing that sets our souls on fire. So, you came to Millers Pointe looking for something?”
“That and to spend the holidays with my family. It’s been a while since I’ve been back here. Kinda missed it.”
I nodded. “There’s nothing like a Millers Pointe Christmas, is there?”
“Nah it’s not, I remember them from when I was a kid. The festivities here are unmatched by anywhere else in the world.”
“So, you travel a lot? Something about the energy around here is unattainable anywhere else in the world.”
