I lean my head back and run a hand down my face.
“Yeah, it’s dumb, I know. But everyone’s posting all their holiday shit, and I—” I stare at his ceiling. The room is quiet, except for the low volume of the sports announcers on TV. “I don’t have any pictures.” A deep sigh escapes me. “It’s stupid, I know. I just…” I let out a tired groan. “We don’t have anynewpictures, you know? Just old ones from school and Vegas and Austen’s first wedding. No one bothered to take any in New York, and… I don’t know. Forget I said anything, okay? I’m not thinking clearly because I’m tired.”
I move to get up, but Hudson grabs my wrist and stops me.
“It’s okay,” he says, his voice soft. “You had a long flight.”
He awkwardly shifts himself as he reaches an arm around the back of the couch. Without thinking, I lean my head on his shoulder.
“It’s no excuse,” I mutter. I don’t know why I feel so melancholy all of a sudden. Well, maybe Ido, but it has nothing to do with pictures and everything to do with all my friends falling in love and building their futures together. It’s the starkreminder that it’s the holidays and I’m single. I look up at Hudson. His gaze holds mine, and he looks like he wants to say something, but thinks better of it. I notice he does that a lot. A lot more than he used to these days.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice soft.
Hudson’s eyes darken, and I feel his fingertips brush the edge of my shoulder.
It’s quiet for a moment, and I think he’s not going to say anything.
And then he leans in and kisses me. It’s not quick or apologetic. It’s slow and dare I say soft.
When he breaks away, he whispers, “Go to sleep, Trey.”
I close my eyes, unable to fight the tiredness creeping in again. I sleep like a damn baby on Hudson’s couch, cuddled against him. When I wake up, his arms are still around me, and he’s asleep. I need to get up and piss. But before I do, I can’t help but steal a moment. My fingers brush over his parted lips, feeling their softness, remembering how they feel against my own. I kiss his bottom lip gently, and he grumbles in his sleep, but he doesn’t stir.
My thumb grazes his jaw, feeling the faint hint of stubble coming in there. My fingers slide into his hair and he looks so damn peaceful, I wish I could freeze this moment forever.
And then I realize I can.
I slide my hand into my pocket, bringing out my phone, which is almost dead. I’ll have to charge it before we leave today.
As carefully and quietly as I can, I bring up my camera and snap a photo.
“It doesn’t have to mean anything,” I whisper, even though I know he can’t hear me. “It’s just a picture.”
Just another secret to keep.
Chapter Twenty
Hudson
I wake up antsy, not having slept well from a mix of being on the couch and knowing today is Thanksgiving and I have to spend the day with my mother and her new family.
But even though I’m feeling a little rough, I feel better than I normally do because Trey is here. He’ll be with me all day. I’ll have support. Comfort. Right at my side whenever I need it.
Maybe today won’t be so bad.
“Why are you staring at me?” I groan, not ready to open my eyes but feeling his on me.
“What? Who? Me? I’m not staring.”
I peek an eye open and he’s grinning.
“Uh huh.”
I get to my feet, stretching my arms over my head and cracking my back.
“I’m going to be sore for a month,” I say.
Trey laughs. “Yeah, same.”
