“No!” he calls out, causing me to whip around to look at him. “Sorry, I, uh… got you a vase.”
“You got me a… vase?”
“Yes, I assumed you didn’t have one, so I bought one.”
He shoves the bag at me.
I stare at it before taking it and smiling.
I fill it with water and add the flowers to it. I don’t think twice as I head over to him and reach one hand out and rest it on his shoulder, noting the way he relaxes when I do so.
“Thank you for the flowers, and for being thoughtful.”
He runs a hand over his face and grunts in frustration.
“Flowers need a vase,” he says, but the way he says it, I have the feeling he’s not actually talking about the flowers.
My lips turn up into a smirk as I take in the sight of him like this. Slightly flustered. It’s cute.
He’s too fucking cute right now, and I can’t help the smile forming on my face.
“It doesn’t matter what you put them in, you know. Doesn’t change the fact that they’re still…” He looks up at me.
“Perfect,” I say, my voice full of awe; and I know it isn’t entirely from the flowers or the vase. Hudson steps into my space. His hand settles on my hip and I feel his hesitation. I move closer and settle my free hand on his hip and squeeze him.
“They are perfect, just the way they are,” I tell him, needing him to understand.
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Hudson…” I wrap my arms around him and pull him close. He startles for a moment, but then I feel his arms wrap around my sweaty midsection and I relax. “You don’t need to be sorry,” I tell him.
“I don’t—” I break away and look down at his watery eyes. “I’m a shitty boyfriend.”
“No,” I tell him, grabbing his neck with one hand. He tries to look away, but I won’t let him. “I’ma shitty boyfriend.”
Hudson smirks, a faint laugh escaping his throat as his grip on my hip tightens and he pulls me closer without hesitation.
“Guess we have that in common,” he says, his voice tinged with humor.
“Guess so,” I say as he leans up, his lips inches from mine.
“Can we start over?” he asks carefully.
“Start over?”
My hands rove gently over his hips, settling against his back.
Hudson nods and then he lets out a breath.
“I would like to take you out on a date. Tonight.”
The smile that forms on my face is genuine.
“Tonight, huh? Hmmm, let me check my schedule,” I tease him as I lean down and kiss the spot beneath his ear. He shivers in my grasp and I chuckle.
“Let’s see… I may… have some availability in about an hour.”
“An hour?” He balks. “What the hell are you doing for the next hour?”
