“Fuck. That’s brutal.” Hudson scoots in closer and wraps his arms around me. “Come ‘ere, honey.”
I lean in and let him. He holds me close while I blubber all over his T-shirt. I’m sorry about it but not too sorry. I’ve needed this. Just a hug. So frigging much. Crying so hard, I’m shaking, I’m able to say what I felt that day. “I’m d-dead to her.”
“No.” His big, warm hand rubs up and down my back in a soothing manner. “She––Hell, I don’t know what she’s doing, but she’s not thinking straight.”
When I finally get a little control of myself, I remain in his arms. It’s so comforting even though my apartment is sauna-level hot right now. I know Hudson feels the same, literally, because sweat has seeped into the back of his T-shirt. “Sorry it’s so hot in here.”
“No worries.” His hand slides up and down my back. “No air-conditioning then?”
“Nope.” My tears have slowed to a crawl. Thank goodness.
“Mmhmm.”
He continues rubbing, and I can’t decide if I want to laugh or cry more at how damn sweet he is. One thing is certain. “I’ve missed you.” Needing to say more, I add, “Not to fix all of my problems, but I’ve missed seeing you, having pizza, that sort of thing.”
“Me too, Willa.”
I pull back a little, just enough to look at his handsome face. Our eyes meet. Without overthinking any of it, I lean in and let my lips touch his. He doesn’t do anything, not at first. It was just my lips touching his lips. I lean back, and our eyes meet again, until Hudson, with the most serious expression I’ve ever seen come over his face, asks, “You mean it?”
He read my kiss the way I hoped he would. As a confirmation.
“Yes.”
“Willa?”
“Yeah.”
“Not for one minute do I think you’re doing this because you’re going through bad shit right now. I believe that you’ve missed me.”
“I have.”
“And I’m not doing it so I can be Superman and fix all your problems. I’m here because not a day has passed that I haven’t hoped you’d call. Not one fucking day, honey.”
“Okay.”
“So, if we’re doing this., we’re doing it for real this time. We’ll figure out how to deal with my mother, and, well, I don’t know what to do about your mom. She needs help.”
I nod because I agree with him. My mom needs help, but I’m not sure if I want to bother worrying about it. What’s the point?
“I have an idea.”
I arch my brow and wait.
“Why don’t you pack a bag and come stay at my place for a bit?”
I’m not sure what to do with that question. “Why?”
“For one…” He pulls on the front of his T-shirt. “It’s at least a hundred degrees in here, and this heat wave isn’t going to end for a week or more.”
“And for another?”
“And I want you to see my home. You’ve never been there.”
“That’s sweet of you, Hudson, but I can’t leave Barney.”
“He can come too.”
Okay. That throws me for a loop. “You want me to bring Barney? To your house?”
