“Does she know that?”
Hudson nods, dragging a hand down his face. “We thought it would be easier to keep up the pretense of a relationship until the wedding was over and we could move on. We didn’t want to put more stress on Meredith’s plate.”
No matter how badly I want this to be real, I’m skeptical. I’ve seen first-hand how easily men can lie to get what they want, and I refuse to get caught up in another man’s mess.
“And so that’s why you still have photos of you together in your apartment? For Meredith’s benefit?”
“Katherine didn’t have enough money to get her own place so I told her she could take a few months, save up. She was waiting for this big sale at work, and then she started dragging her feet. I couldn’t kick her out but I couldn’t be there either,” he explains. “I took that job at Finn’s to put distance between us. Then, when I met you, I signed up for as many shifts as possible in the hope that you’d be there. I even started coming in on days I wasn’t scheduled. I told Lilah I’d give her all my tips so she wouldn’t tell me to go home.”
I stifle a chuckle, realizing why Lilah was so distraught to lose him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared,” he admits, shifting his weight, rubbing his hands against his neck nervously. “The situation isn’t exactly normal, and I thought you might not believe me, or be comfortable with it. So I thought I’d wait it out until Katherine moved out. You have to admit, it’s a bit crazy.”
“I’d say pretending to still be together is a little crazier, but I get your point.”
“I need you to know I was going to ask you out for real. I had it all planned. I was going to take you to dinner and share a bottle of wine, and tell you everything. But when you kissed me, all logic went out the window. I’m so sorry, Mira.”
The admission makes my skin tingle like the breaking of a spell, as I see him in a new light.
“It was stupid and—”
Before he can say another word, I grab the fabric of his shirt, bring his mouth to mine.
22 Hudson
How is this happening again?I think to myself, as I allow Mira’s tongue to slip into my mouth. Her lips are salt, and fire, and sweetness all wrapped in one as I thread my hand through her hair and pull her closer to me.
“Wait,” I say, resting my forehead against hers, trying to catch my breath.
“What?” Mira asks as her hand rests against my chest, my heart pounding underneath her fingers, mine atop hers.
“I think I just need a minute to process,” I say, taking her in. The usual heavy makeup she wears is gone, showcasing a dizzying array of freckles that dance along her nose and cheeks. I thought she was beautiful before, but seeing her like this—unfiltered and bare-faced—takes my breath away.
“I’m the one who just got info-dumped,” she replies, a smirk growing across her lips.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just can’t believe this.”
“That I forgave you or that we’re kissing?”
“Both,” I chuckle, insecurity washing over me. “I guess there was a part of me that worried when you snuck out of my apartmentthat you regretted coming home with me, or had a bad time, or weren’t that into me.”
“Hudson,” Mira says, tilting her chin so her lips are a whisper away from mine, “I’ve been into you since the first time we met.”
“I’m pretty sure I spilled PBR on you that night.”
“It was endearing,” she replies as she lingers in my arms, her hazel eyes staring at me with the same warmth and trust she had for me at Finn’s.
Now that there are no more secrets between us, I’m ready to give her all of me. But before I can, I glance down and catch the sight of the blood caked on the side of her leg.
“Fuck,” I breathe. “We need to get you bandaged.”
“It’s just a flesh wound,” she laughs. And even though I find her quotingMonty Pythonto me utterly endearing, I find it impossible to find humor in her being in pain.
“Come on, I have a first-aid kit in the Jeep.” Reaching for her hand, I’m overcome by the sensation of her fingers slipping into my hand as we walk across the parking lot together.
“I’ve hurt myself on the job a lot worse than this,” she assures me, as I help her into the front seat.
