Page 114 of Roughing It

“Cat got your tongue? Truth hit too close, didn’t it?” Another phlegmy laugh makes my skin crawl. “Get what you can from her now, because she’ll be gone. Tell her to give me what I want, and she’ll never hear from me again.”

“I’m blocking this number. You need to stop messaging. Leave Blakely alone.” With that, I end the call.

“Hudson? Who are you talking to?”

Shit. I pride myself on a lot of things, and being an honestman is one of them. I’m not lying to her. So I answer truthfully and wait for her wrath. “Brandee.”

She sits up; her full lips turn down into an angry frown. “What the hell?”

“She kept calling, and I… I shouldn’t have answered.”

“No, you shouldn’t have.” She nibbles on her thumbnail. “What did she say?”

“That what’s going on between you two is private, and if you pay her off, she’ll disappear.”

“What else?”

My chest tightens and I repeat her mother’s ugly words. “That you’re going to leave me behind.” I meet her gaze, and the sadness I see doesn’t give our future away. Is she sad because she’s leaving, or is it because she wants to stay? “I told her not to call again and blocked her number.”

“Hudson.”

I sink to my knees before her. “I overstepped.”

“Yes. You did.”

Burying my face against her stomach, I say, “I just want to keep you safe. To take care of you.” The words tumble from my lips. Their admission sounds a lot likeI want to love you.

She lifts my chin, mimicking a move I’ve done to her so many times. Her fingers card through my hair, soothing me in a way I don’t deserve. Any lingering frustration melts off Blakely’s face. With a sigh, she leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “I’m not letting this steal any more time or energy. I want you to promise the same.”

“You’re not mad?”

“I’m not thrilled, but,” she shrugs and rests her forehead on mine, “it came from a good place. From now on, leave me to fight my battles, Bear. Until I ask for help.”

“I’d expect nothing less from you, Spitfire.” After a moment, I ask, “So, what’s your plan?”

Hersoft breath fans over my skin. “I’m not sure. Blocking her is probably the right thing to do, for sure on the phone, but like I said, that takes away my ability to defend myself.”

Rising to my feet, I pull her into a hug. “You don’t have to decide right now. Whatever you do, I’m here.”

With a smile, Blakely takes my hand, leading us to our bed. I marvel at the sight of our entwined fingers. Hers, slender, delicate. Mine, rough and wide. So different, but so right.

DAY TWENTY-THREE

“Come on, Princess, keep up.”

“Don’t call me Princess!”

Chuckling, I keep my steady pace up the narrow, rocky terrain.

“Ugh, how can you be sweet one minute and an asshole the next?”

“I’m always delightful. Now hurry.”

From behind me, she yells, “We aren’t all goats!”

I bark out a loud laugh. She makes me better with everything she does, including the things that drive me up the wall. I thought I was in love with Paige, but she doesn’t hold a goddamn candle to what I feel for Blakely. Everything with her is so muchmore.More exciting. More frustrating. More satisfying. More real.

And it’s fucking clear. I never loved anyone before. Not really.

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