He pressed a soft kiss to Kenna’s lips before pulling back. “Thanks for doin’ this with me.”
She shot him a smirk. “Yeah, well, the bet said I had to.”
“Ah, I see. The bet’s the only thing that got you out here, huh?”
Kenna sat quiet for long moments, the only sounds the crackling of the fire and the distant calls of a coyote.
She ducked her head and lifted her eyes to meet his. “Maybe not theonlything.”
It wasn’t exactly a declaration, but it felt like they were finally getting somewhere. Maybe his sister had been right, and all Kenna needed was to get away from it all. To be reminded of what they’d had at one time.
“I’m glad Will got your shifts covered,” he said. “I didn’t even ask about the town hall stuff, but I assume no one’s settin’ up meetings with the actin’ mayor on a Saturday.”
She snorted. “No one’s settin’ up meetings with me, period. I’m basically a toddler, you know. Too young to know how to do anything. Besides that, I’m agirl.” She rolled her eyes. “They’d ‘feel more comfortable waitin’ till Richard’s back,’” she mocked, affecting a deep, stiff tone. “Antiquated, misogynistic bastards.”
Hudson blew out a breath, shaking his head. “That’s complete bullshit. And I’d like to say I’m surprised by that, but, well…it’s Havenbrook.”
Which was to say it wasn’t exactly a beacon of progressiveness, and some of the men running the town had been doing so since before either he or Kenna had been born. It was no doubt challenging for them to have someone they’d once seen in diapers suddenly in charge of the town. Didn’t make it right or fair, though, but many things weren’t when you were dealing with the delicate egos of small men.
“Yeah, me neither.” She rested her hand on the dog’s head, stroking softly. “Doesn’t make me like it any better. I’m supposed to be helpin’ with things, but I feel like I’m just gettin’ in the way more than anything. It feels like no one takes me seriously. And my mark as the black sheep of the family doesn’t help matters.”
“Black sheep? Why the hell would they think that?”
“I know, right? I figured Nat had me beat in that department, but apparently droppin’ out of college and comin’ back home with my tail between my legs is worse than leavin’ and never comin’ back at all.”
He hummed, trying to reconcile the Kenna he knew with this version of her that she—and the town, apparently—saw. “Well, you know what I say in situations like that.”
“What’s that?”
“Fuck ’em.”
She huffed out a laugh, the fire reflecting in her eyes as she looked at him, something like surprise written in their depths. “That’s it?”
“What more is there? No use wastin’ your time worryin’ about what people who don’t matter think of you.”
“No…” She shook her head. “I mean you’re not gonna say anything about the whole droppin’ out of college thing?”
He furrowed his brow, reaching up to scratch his jaw. “What would I say about it? I dropped out too, remember?”
“But you…” She gestured with her hands as if to encompass everything around them. “You went on to serve our country.”
“Yeah, and you went on to become a role model for hundreds of kids who desperately needed one.” He slipped his arm around her waist and tugged her toward him, tucking her into his side. “Sounds like we both did okay.”
She made a hum of acquiescence, but otherwise didn’t say a word.
“Do youwantto tell me why you left?” He glanced down at her, the firelight painting shadows on her face.
She pressed her lips together, her shoulder brushing against his chest in a shrug. “Didn’t really feel like me, I guess.”
He could understand that. After all, it’d been the same reason he’d left, too. He’d tried for a year to make it work, but he hadn’t been able to escape the fire under his skin urging him for something else. According to his momma, Kenna had lasted for two.
“How about now?” he asked, his cheek resting on the crown of her head, his lips just brushing her forehead. “Do you feel like you now?”
She stilled under him, so quiet he wondered if she was holding her breath. Then a log popped in the fire, causing her to startle at his side.
Quietly, she said, “I’m not sure. But I think I might be getting there.”
Mac layin her sleeping bag, hands tucked between her thighs as she tried to muffle the sound of her chattering teeth. The cold front the weather app had cautioned about earlier in the day had settled in with a vengeance, and she’d give anything for a hot shower right about now. Even bundled in layers and with a hat covering her head, she felt like a popsicle. She wouldn’t be surprised if her lips were blue.
