Page 111 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

I smile, trying not to show how worried I really am. “I know.” I wish I sounded more believable.

“When is Hudson telling them?” Autumn asks.

I roll my wrist to check my watch. “Uh, right about now.”

Her eyes go round again. “Well, I’m sure we’ll hear about it soon enough.”

Funny, that’s exactly the thing I’m worried about.

29

Hudson

I’ve known this family for most of my life, and here I am with my heart racing and my palms sweating, unsure of what they’ll say. I told my dad everything, and he insisted I do the right thing and tell the family. They’re not going to appreciate hearing it second hand from someone else in town. I wouldn’t disrespect any of the Bassetts that way. I respect Georgia’s father, her mom, Gray and her brothers too much for that.

I have to man up.

When Gray passes me a beer, I don’t even lift it to my lips. I never thought I’d be having this conversation.

He frowns. “You good, bud? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Just got a lot on my mind.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Come to think of it, you’ve been acting weird since you got back from Florida. All that sun gone to your head?” He snickers, taking a long pull and I try not to wince.

“I’ve just been busy.” It’s not a lie, but I’m not coming clean. I’m taking the chicken’s way out, as usual. “Cotton farming doesn’t end at five o’clock.”

He ignores me. “So, you called us all here for some emergency meeting? Thought you’d set the goddamn farm on fire or something.”

“Nope, nothin’ like that.”I’ve just been sleeping with your sister for the last month and a half and we’re in love and you’re going to fucking kill me…

“So, what is it?”

I palm the back of my neck. “I really wanna wait till the others get here.”

“I’m here,” Brooklyn says, giving me a smile. “And we all know I make everything better.”

I’ve gotta hand it to him, he gives nothing away. Knowing full well what we’ve been up to, he’s kept to his word and not said shit to anyone. Well, aside from Eden. I’ve no doubt she knows everything. Pillow talk is a known thing around here. I just wonder how much Georgia has told her friends. Gray rolls his eyes, then gives Brook a second glance. “You know what’s up with Huds?”

Brooklyn shrugs. “I’m sure whatever it is, we’ll find out soon enough.”

“It’s a woman, isn’t it?” A slow grin spreads across Gray’s face. He punches me in the chest lightly. “You dog, who is it? And please don’t say Dolly Simpson. I heard she’s in a relationship now anyways, not that I’ve got anything against thegirl, but if I have to hear one more story about fake tanning lotion, it’ll be the end of me.”

I swallow hard, my eyes meeting Brooklyn’s. “I, uh…”

“It is, isn’t it? You’ve met someone? Was it here or in Florida?” Now he’s racking his brain to think about which single female just strolled into Stoney Creek. I want to die.

“Here and Florida.” The words come out before I can stop them.

Gray scratches his chin. “Huh?”

“Listen, Gray, I came here to tell you something’, and now we’re here, I think I should tell you first before your dad and the rest of your brothers arrive.”

“Hudson, you're starting to scare me. What the fuck is going on?”

I rest my beer on the counter. “I just want you to know that up until Florida, nothin’ happened between us. I’ve always respected her. I never set out for anything to go down — it justhappened.”

His frown deepens, then it’s like it dawns on him. “No, you didn’t.”

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