“Kenna, wait!” he yelled, his voice filtering in through the open windows, and that just made her cry harder. Made her push her foot firmer on the gas pedal.
She had no idea where she was going. She just knew she had to get as far away from Hudson Miller as she could.
Mac’s tearshadn’t abated by the time she pulled off to the side of a back road twenty minutes later. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried this hard—hell, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried, period. But when your lifelong best friend smashed all your plans and broke your heart in one fell swoop, all bets were off.
She threw the truck into park and rested her forehead on the steering wheel. Her heart ached. Actually physically ached. She’d had everything she’d ever wanted within her reach, and—just like that—it was snatched away.
That thought made the anger inside her boil once again, and she bolted upright and snatched her bag from the passenger’s seat. She riffled through the contents in search of her phone. When she found it, she held it up, glancing at the bars in the top corner. Two. She only hoped it was enough to get through. She needed to vent, needed to yell at someone. Needed to have someone tell herwhy.
The phone rang three times before her sister picked up. “Hello?”
“Will…”
“Mac? Hey. Wait, what’s wrong? Why do you sound all—”
“He’s leavin’,” she croaked, her throat raspy from crying.
“What? Who’s leavin’?”
Mac swallowed, her eyes burning. “Hudson.”
“Wait…I’m confused. He left you at the cabin? That doesn’t sound like him. I’m sure he’ll—”
“No!” she yelled. “He’sleavin’, Will. Me. Havenbrook. State. All of it.”
“Leavin’?” Will asked, her voice ringing with confusion. “To do what?”
Mac wished she’d driven the two hours to Starkville so she could have this conversation in person. She needed to be in Will’s grounding presence. Rest her head on her sister’s shoulder as Will assured her everything would be all right. Because right now, Mac couldn’t see how.
The words sat bitter on Mac’s tongue—words she never thought she’d utter. She cleared her throat, ignoring the tears pooling again in her eyes. “He’s enlisting.”
Willow’s sharp inhale carried through the phone as clearly as if she were sitting next to Mac. She knew as well as everyone else in town exactly why Hudson hadn’t enlisted in the first place. Mac wasn’t sure there was a soul old enough in Havenbrook who didn’t remember the day the Millers had been notified of Jack’s death. It’d changed so much for their family. Had changed nearly everything.
Although it’d never been able to change who Hudson truly was.
“And he didn’t tell you?” Will asked. Her voice was calm and clear, no outrage to be found. No shock, no indignation. Just gentleness.
“Why aren’t you surprised by this?”
Will was silent for a couple moments. Finally, she said, “I think the better question is, why are you?”
Mac’s spine straightened, her shoulders going rigid. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Whywouldn’tI be surprised? We had plans, Will. He was supposed to come with me. And today—” She cut herself off, something in her not wanting to tell her sister exactly what had gone down in the boat. Not yet. She had no idea how to reconcile the pure elation she’d felt at finally having Hudson with the devastation that sat heavily in the pit of her stomach.
Will gave a bitter laugh. “Believe me, I know all about broken plans.”
Mac squeezed her eyes shut, wincing at the harsh tone of her sister’s voice. Of course, she’d know exactly what Mac was feeling. Will had gone through it not long ago. Except, at least, Hudson had given Mac the courtesy of a goodbye—something she couldn’t say for Will’s no-good, bailing ex-boyfriend.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
“What I mean,” Will interrupted, “is that you know Hudson better than anyone else.” She paused. “Is this really out of the realm of something he’d do?”
A flip-book of memories opened in Mac’s mind, a collection of the times they’d spent together in the years they’d been friends. They’d both been adventurous, even from a young age. It’d been what had linked them together in the first place. Hiking, climbing trees, cliff diving. They’d done everything that was legal—and a few things that weren’t—just to see if they could. Because something called to both of them, that thrill they got each time—when they’d climbed to the top of the tallest tree, those moments of free fall off a cliff, or flying through fields on a four-wheeler.
But it was so much more than just his adventurous side. He’d carried the weight of the world on his shoulders for as long as she’d known him, needing to make sure his loved ones were safe and happy. Taking the Man of the House moniker to whole new levels. He held himself up to ridiculous standards, especially the one perched atop as the most important—to be the hero his daddy had been.
Of course he was enlisting. Of course he was going off to fight for his country. It was all he’d known, all he’d dreamed of. It was in his blood. His daddy losing his life had never been a deterrent for Hudson—he’d always seen it as part of the sacrifice.
And if there was one thing she knew about him, it was that he’d sacrifice everything if it meant those he loved would have better lives because of it. He was born to do exactly this, and she’d been a fool to think he’d have been satisfied doing anything else.
