"I'm sure that's natural when you run into your ex.You're feeling nostalgic about your relationship.You're remembering all the good things, forgetting the bad."
"I'm not sure there was anything bad."I couldn't remember a fight.And maybe that was the problem; we hadn't talked to each other about what would happen when she went to college, and I enlisted.We didn't have that conversation about expectations, and that was our fatal error.We assumed too much, or at least, I did.
"You can be friends, if that's what you're worried about.No one would think anything of it."He peeled back part of the drywall.
"I don't feel friendly toward her."I was using the picture of her bare toes in my spank bank.It wasn't the memory of her that had me tied up in knots; it was the ways she was different, more mature, her body fuller.
"That's interesting.”
"Is this just because we have history, or is it that I never should have broken things off?"
"You might have been too young then to deal with the dynamics of a long-term relationship."
I wasn't even sure why I was talking to Hudson about this.It wasn't like he had a girlfriend at the moment."I'm sure I'll get over it."
He raised a brow."What if you don't?"
I shrugged."It's not like I can act on it."
He gave me a look."Why can't you?"
"Because we work together.She's my ex.It didn't work out the first time."I was positive she wouldn't want to relive it.
"Hmmm."
"What's that supposed to mean?"I asked.
He grabbed my notebook, writing down the information I was supposed to be recording."It sounds like you're trying to talk yourself out of something.You don't want my advice."
I was confused as to how this conversation had begun.
He shoved the notebook in my stomach and headed to the next vacant room.
I hurried to follow him.
"Your head's just all mixed up."
I nodded."Well, yeah."
"You're so mixed up that you can't pay attention or respond to any questions."
I glared at him."It was a momentary distraction."
He inclined his head."Of course it was."
"I'm focused now."My phone buzzed.
Hudson looked over my shoulder."You have a picture for Natasha's contact?"
Before I could pull back, he snatched my phone from my grip."Her bare toes in a hot tub?"He smirked, holding it away from me."So naughty."
He held me back with his arm outstretched as he scrolled to her message."Do you want to come see my view tonight?View of what?Her naked in the hot tub?"
My heart was racing, and my cheeks heated.
He tossed me the phone, and I fumbled it, almost dropping it."It's not nice to mess with people."
He smiled wide."You've got yourself in a situation, and I'm going to sit back and enjoy it."
