He stood from the rocker, holding up his empty bottle in question.
“I’ll take it.”I reached a hand out, marveling at his muscular form as he stood above me.
“I’ll text you, and in the meantime, don’t go hauling any more furniture on your own.Call me first,” he ordered, and though his mouth quirked at the corners, I could tell he was serious.
“No plans to.”I shook my head.
“Sleep well, Lucy.”He pinned me with those blue eyes while licking that delicious bottom lip of his.The lust and excitement constantly coursing through me while in his presence was something I’d never experienced.
“You too,” I managed, watching as he turned and jogged through the rain.With one final wave, he hopped in his truck and disappeared into the night.
Chapter 5
“Lulu?You back there?”my aunt called a few days later as I stood in the back of her shed, bewildered by the years of stuff she’d accumulated.I’d offered to help her sort through it.
Stuff, not junk, I chanted mentally.
“Yeah, take a left at Fur Coat Lane and a right on Chipped Dishes Avenue,” I called back.
“Smart-ass.”She chuckled as she appeared in my line of sight, dressed in jeans and a flannel, clearly ready to get dusty, and rightfully so.I’d already sneezed more than a handful of times.
“You sure you want to spend your Saturday going through old junk with an old woman?”She cocked her head to the side.
I rolled my eyes.“You’re not old, and it’s not junk.Well, notallof it,” I amended, making her laugh.“And I have the time.I’ve gotten a lot done the last few days.”
And I had.I’d spent the last few days getting my internet set up and was now able to get back to work, already completing the editing on the manuscripts my boss had sent over.I’d run a few times with Katie and visited with Greta at the bakery, enjoying my new friends.
I felt surprisingly settled, but Green River was just that kind of place, or at least it was for me.
My phone pinged with a text, and I reached into my back pocket to look at it.As always, Hudson’s name on my screen had my heart pounding.We’d texted a few times recently, keeping things light.I still didn’t quite know what to make of him, or my reaction to him.
Hudson:Headed into town, can I pick you up a coffee?
Lucy:I’m actually at my aunt’s.Current predicament:
I sent him a picture of the shed piled high.
Hudson:Seems like a run to the dump will be in order.
Lucy:Several.
Hudson:Well, good thing I’m free then.See you in a few.
“What!”I exclaimed out loud, staring at my screen.
“What’s going on?”My aunt peered over the boxes in the back corner.
“Hudson, he said he’s coming over to help,” I exclaimed in a panic.“I didn’t even invite him, and I look like this.”I pointed to my hair piled in a haphazard bun on the top of my head.
“You look gorgeous,” she assured me.“And if that man is willing to dig through my old things just to spend time with you, I’m all for it.”
“I like him,” I blurted, admitting it for the first time.“I mean, I think I do—what I know so far anyway.But I just moved here, and I just broke up with Josh.It’s too fast,” I rambled.
“When something’s right, there’s no speed limit.And, honey, Josh was an asshole,” she stated, making me snort at her trademark blunt demeanor.“He treated you like shit, and you walking away was the best thing you’ve ever done.You don’t need to waste time grieving a relationship you shouldn’t have been in in the first place.”
Her words hit me right over the head, an avenging sledgehammer releasing me of guilt I hadn’t been aware I was carrying.“You’re right.”I didn’t owe Josh anything.Not my time and certainly not remorse.
“Of course I’m right.”She waved a hand.“Just enjoy life, Lulu, in whatever form it comes in.”
