She found her favorite cereal and poured a bowl as she flipped through her phone. Remembering her plans, she scrolled to Hudson’s phone number in her contacts and tapped the button to unblock it. She then navigated to her messages and pulled up the thread that had started on Saturday morning.
He’d really laid himself out for her. Her eyebrows shot into her hairline as she read that his father was a senator. She’d had no idea. Apparently, he came from a wealthy family, as well. If she’d learned anything from her friendship with Davis it was that a well-connected family often put a ton of pressure on their children, making them feel unworthy. Davis had told her how he was expected to go into the family business whether he liked it or not, and the consequences if he didn’t were to have his finances cut off and for his parents to stop speaking to him. As much as they bothered him, he still loved them and didn't want to be cut off from them. Reagan read further from Hudson about how his father had appeared on his doorstep the weekend she was supposed to come over. He was angry and reminded about how much his father’s approval was determined by what he did with his life and every move he made. His father thought teaching wasn’t an acceptable occupation for someone in their family, and that constantly weighed on Hudson.
She found herself feeling sorry for him, and that could be dangerous. She understood why he wouldn't tell her these things the first time they were together; after all, she basically ambushed him and begged him to fuck her. That was supposed to be the only time they ever saw each other. The second time they were together, though.Thatwas his chance. Instead of kicking her out of his office and calling her a tart, he should have explained things. He could have given her some kind of explanation, anything at all.
There were more messages about how he missed her and wanted to work toward a relationship with her. He wanted to continue being careful until the end of the school year because there was still the risk of termination for him if they were caught together. She sighed and got up with her bowl, rinsing it out and putting it in the dishwasher. She sat on the couch with her phone in her hand, trying to decide what to do. No wonder he’d been annoyed with her the day before. He poured his heart out in those messages and she’d never responded. She wondered if she should reply to his texts or call him.
She couldn't choose so she decided to watch some TV and try to distract herself from all of it for a while. She tried to immerse herself in something mindless, but it just didn't work. She could only think of Hudson and the look he’d given her when he said he tried getting ahold of her and she hadn't answered. He’d looked disappointed; hurt, even. She didn't want to hurt him, despite all the things he could have done differently. She wasn't perfect, either, that was for sure. She’d broken into his office after he'd told her to leave him alone. She’d pursued him when he’d made it clear he didn't want that. Sure, he’d enjoyed it in the long run and he’d decided he wanted to be with her after all, but that was only because she pushed.
With a deep sigh, Reagan muted the TV and picked up her phone. She stared at Hudson’s contact information as she tried to decide what to do. She didn't have a picture of him to go with the phone number, but she could see his face in her mind. He had a certain expression he adopted when he was focused that was serious and completely sexy. She frowned as it occurred to her that she had never asked how old he was. She pulled up the text conversation and typed in a simple question. She had to start somewhere.
Reagan stared at an inane commercial as she waited for his reply. With the sound off, it was harder not to want to look at her phone and will it to chime, but she focused on the ad for toilet paper instead. When his response came through a few minutes later, her forehead wrinkled as her eyebrows went up. His birthday was twelve days after hers, but he was eleven years older than her.Eleven. Biting her lip, she typed in a response.
She wasn't entirely surprised when her phone rang. Laughing, she answered it immediately.
“Are you trying to kill me?” Oh,God, his voice was warm and smooth in her ear.
“Just a bit surprised, I suppose. I didn't realize you’re almost thirty.”
“Well, you can call mesirall you want.”
She was getting turned on just by listening to him. “I might just do that.”
“So you’re not appalled that I’m so old? If I remember correctly, you said you didn't care about my age as long as I wasn't in my thirties.”
Reagan unfolded her legs and shifted on the couch. “I might have cared if you were anyone else, but it’s too late for me to mind, now.”
She heard his exhale and shivered. He seemed to have that effect on her. “I’ve been thinking about you. I’m glad you decided to text me.”
“I read all the messages you sent me. I didn't know there was so much animosity between you and your father.”
“Ah, well, he’s mostly concerned with himself and how Mother and I reflect on him.”
“That’s too bad. I don’t know what I would have done if I wasn’t close to my parents. They were killed in an accident when I was twelve, though.”
“Oh. Were you raised in foster care?” She heard the concern in his voice over the line and it softened her heart even more.
“No, my older brother took care of me. He was seventeen at the time, but he refused to let me go into the system.”
“Wow. I’m older than your brother.” He paused. “He’s going to hate me if he ever meets me.”
“Do you want to meet him?” Reagan tried to picture it, but she couldn't.
“Not any damn time soon. Can you imagine it?Hello, I’m the old man banging your sister in my office, even though she’s my student.” He snorted. “He’d kill me, and rightly so.”
“That’s entirely likely.” Out of instinct, Reagan glanced at the clock. She had enough time to talk freely without worrying about Grant.
“I wish you’d been there yesterday.”
She frowned, then whispered, “In your office?”
He groaned. “Yes, and also no. We have to stop meeting in my office, but I wanted to see you out of the classroom.”
“We both know what would have happened.” Reagan turned and stretched her legs out on the couch. “You would have fucked me on that desk again. I would have enjoyed it, of course, but I would have been disappointed when it was over and we went our separate ways. You have a tendency to make me feel like you don't really want me.”
“I promise, I want you. That’s the problem, Reagan. I want you so much that it hurts, but I’m not supposed to have you.”
“You always sound like you’re talking yourself out of a relationship with me.”
