“It’s not like I fucking jumped on her. Geez…” Hudson bristled, then bobbed his chin at River. “What is he, your daddy?”
“I told you to watch your mouth. Heavenly is my sister’s bestie.”
“Yeah?” He scanned the office again, then turned back to her. “If you don’t work here, how do you know Cooper?”
“Seth and I are…friends.”
The words felt inadequate, almost like a betrayal of everything they meant to each other, but it was the safest option until she knew what Seth wanted to tell Hudson.
“Yeah, the naked kind.” Hudson gave her another once-over. “Lucky him.”
“Can it.” River saved her from sputtering a reply, then turned to her. “Beck was already on his way over. He’ll be here in a minute.”
Thank goodness. Heavenly sighed in relief.
“I don’t know who Beck is, but I didn’t come here for a party.” Hudson leapt to his feet. “Tell me when you expect Cooper. I’ll come back then.”
Since Seth wasn’t going to magically walk through the door, she needed to keep Hudson talking until Beck arrived and they figured out what to do. “Wait! Beck might have more information.”
Hudson hesitated, then slouched back onto the sofa. “If he doesn’t, I’m out.”
The awkward silence descended again. The ticking of the wall clock was audible in the hush. Heavenly glanced at the device. Almost five. Now what?
Her thoughts pinged like a metronome, back and forth, as she tried to sort through this surreal situation.
Eyes narrowed, River eased into his desk chair, still sizing up Hudson, who fidgeted on the sofa.
The sound of bounding footsteps on the stairs had everyone turning. Beck rushed into the room and skidded to a stop. He took one look at Hudson and his eyes flared wide, the same shock still ringing through Heavenly written all over his face.
“That’s my cue.” River stood and approached Beck, sending him a sympathetic grimace. “I’m going to…grab a sandwich. I’ll be back.”
Beck nodded, never taking his eyes off Hudson. “Yeah.”
A second later, the door slid shut again. They were alone—with a secret big enough to tear Seth from their lives.
Shaking, Heavenly stood and approached him. “Beck, this is Hudson.”
“Is Cooper with you or not?” The teenager glowered at Beck.
Beck’s mouth opened, then closed. For a moment, his stare flicked between Hudson’s face and her own. “Let’s talk about this.”
The kid huffed and got to his feet. “Fuck that. I’m out. Tell me when the hell he’ll be back.”
Heavenly watched Beck processing the same thoughts still racing through her head. Did they dare tell Hudson that Seth wouldn’t be back until tomorrow? He’d disappear to God knew where. She didn’t want to lie, not when the teen possessed Seth’s stubborn streak. And he’d probably see right through them. But since he was carrying luggage, he was probably far from home. Did he have anywhere to sleep tonight?
“Here’s the deal: Seth is visiting family. He’ll be back soon.” Beck slowly approached Hudson with careful, non-threatening movements. “How do you know him?”
“How do you?”
“We’re friends.”
“Like her, huh? The naked kind.” Hudson sneered. “So he’ll fuck anything with a pulse.”
Beck’s jaw clenched. “Watch your mouth. You talk like that in front of your mom?”
Hudson snorted. “All the time, and Blondie there is not my mom.”
Heavenly tried to jump in and diffuse the situation. “Why are you looking for Seth?”
