“Hopefully.”She gave a small shrug.“If we can hire at least two of them, I think, all in all, the restaurant will be in good shape.”
“Thanks to you.”
She let out a self-deprecating snort.“Hardly.I just made some suggestions.Goodie’s been kicking ass all on her own.But it’s been fun.”She shrugged, taking a bite of toast.“Your day?”
“I’ll hit the gym first.Then I want to get out to where we saw that water gathering by the utility shed and see if I can unclog it.I suppose I also need to call Davis back before he has a coronary.”
Her expression turned wary as she regarded me.“The album is incredible—of course he’s excited about it.Why are you dodging him, babe?”
She might not have started as a country fan, but Lucy had thrown herself into exploring my music.There was no better feeling than seeing her gorgeous eyes light up with appreciation as she shared her latest favorite track.
“Because an album release means a tour.”I reached for her hand.We hadn’t talked about it—not in so many words—but to me, the reason was obvious.
“And?”She raised a brow.
“Touring would mean leaving, and I can’t imagine being away from you.You moved here not that long ago—you already uprooted your life once.You won’t want to do that again.”
Her brows shot up, disbelief flashing across her face.“Says who?You?Because you certainly haven’t askedme.”
I hadn’t seen Lucy angry very often, so the fury blazing in her eyes sent a jolt of unease through me.She slid off her stool and dumped her plate into the sink so roughly that I was surprised it didn’t break.
“You still don’t get it, Hudson.”Her eyes flashed with anger.“You’re making all these assumptions—running through every scenario, and not once have you asked me whatImight want.Not once have you tried to talk this out withme.Do you think I’m not capable?Do you think I’m fragile?What the hell?”She threw up her hands in frustration.“You’re not protecting me by boxing me out.Thathurtsme, Hudson.”
The plea in her voice nearly broke my fucking heart.
“I thought we were building a lifetogether—not one where you made decisions on your own and then tell me what’s happening.This is such bullshit.”
“Baby—”
“No.”She held up a hand, her cheeks flushed with agitation.“I left DC because everyone in my life made decisions for me.I was in a cage of their making until I broke free.And when you do shit like this, all I see are bars—even if you have the best intentions.I’m not living my life like that.Not ever again.”
She grabbed her keys and purse and headed for the door.
“Lucy, wait a goddamned second,” I growled.“We agreed you wouldn’t run away.”
“Yeah, well, we also agreed you’d talk things through with me.I guess we both lied.”She strode through the door, slamming it behind her.
In the silence that followed, as I debated chasing her versus letting her cool off, I felt like I’d been through a tornado and spit back out.
One thing was clear: I needed reinforcements.I could only think of one person who could truly help me.
“Ooh-hoo, you stepped in it, didn’t you, honey?”Goodie slid a cup of coffee across the counter after I’d shared the details of my argument with Lucy.
I’d caught her in a rare moment at home before she headed to the restaurant, where Lucy would be meeting her later.
“Obviously.”I wrapped my hands around the mug.“The thing is, I really heard her the first time we discussed this.I don’t want to keep anything from her, and the last thing I want is for her to think I don’t have confidence in her.It’s the absolute opposite.I think she can do anything.”
Goodie lifted a brow.“How long have you known you might have to tour?”
“It’s the reality of finishing an album.”I stared into my coffee.
She snorted softly.“Yeah, reality foryou.That’s not a reality she’s used to.And if you’d talked to her about it, she could’ve been part of that journey with you.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way.
Her gaze softened.“You know what I think?I think you love my niece, and I doubt you’ve told her that.”She shot me a pointed look.“I think the part of you that’s a small-town boy—who struggled with fame—wants to keep her tucked away here, close to the Green River local you’ve always been.And it’s not because you’re not proud of her—I know you are.Who wouldn’t be?”
She smiled fondly.“It’s because you want to protect her from the lessons you’ve learned about fame.You want to shield her from the bigger world when, honey, what you don’t realize is that protection can be a different flavor of control.”
