“You okay?”
Hudson doesn’t look at me directly. More or less, he glances at the sign in the window.
“Yeah, fine. Starving. Long flight.”
The guys chat and laugh together, and I swear it feels like we’re right back in college. Like no time has passed at all. But something about the look on Hudson’s face, the tone of his voice, makes me frown.
Jordan nods as he heads for the door and Alex follows, leading the rest of us. I hold the door from Alex, letting Andre and Paul file in next, Hudson tailing everyone.
He glances at me. “Thanks,” he says carefully.
“No problem,” I say as I follow after him.
I slowly amble next to him as the guys point in different directions to all the kiosks. I note the tension in Hudson’s shoulders. I’m sure he’s just exhausted from scrambling to get here, probably a little tired since he was stuck in traffic.
I nudge him with my elbow.
“Check it out,” I say, pointing to a kiosk that has red neon signs that sayHot Honey Chicken & Waffles.“They’ve got your favorite.”
Hudson looks back at me in disbelief.
“Huh?”
I shrug. “Chicken and waffles. You do still like that, right?”
I don’t know why I feel so weird or concerned with what Hudson wants to eat, when I should be looking for something for myself, but I shove that aside because something tells me I should.
“Oh, uh. Yeah. I guess.”
I offer him a smile. “Cool, let’s head there. You know, so you don’t die of starvation.”
Hudson’s lips turn up into a faint smile.
“Yeah, right. What about you? If I recall correctly, and I’m sure I do, you donotlike chicken and waffles.”
“Yep. Not my thing.” Hudson frowns. “I mean, they areprobablygreat, don’t get me wrong.” I feel like a fucking asshole because I swear he looks like I just told him Santa Claus isn’t real. “I just prefer something a little…” I look around at the kiosks, hoping there is something I can eat. “Perfect,” I say, nodding to the sushi bar. “They have sushi burritos.”
Hudson looks at me like I’ve grown two heads.
“Sushi… burrito? That’s—”
“It’s a culinary masterpiece, is what it is,” I say with a grin.
Hudson shakes his head.
“More like a culinary nightmare,” he adds. “Raw fish is gross and potentially dangerous.”
“Have you ever had it?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Nope.” He shakes his head. “Yuck. No thanks. Enjoy your worms.”
I laugh as I get my wallet out, and we move up in the line.
“Don’t knock it til you try it.” I wink and his entire face goes slack, just as it’s time for us to move up again.
I motion for him to move, but he’s frozen like a computer screen. Completely checked out.
“One combo number six, please,” I say, pulling my card out and stepping forward. That jolts him from his momentary shutdown.
