Page 39 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

“And at Brooklyn’s yesterday he was there, neither of us expected to see each other. So I kinda ignored him at first because I didn’t know what to say. I chatted to Easton and his cute friend, Takoda, instead. And then he acted weird and said I flirted with Takoda.”

“Oh.My.God.”

“I know. Asshat and a half. Then he said,‘Well it won’t be happening again’and when I asked why, he was all like, ‘You know why.’”

“Ugh, I’m sorry, babes. I guess it’s because of Gray, right?”

“I guess so. I think it’s safe to say we’re back to slinging stupid comments to and fro. All’s well where that’s concerned.”

“I still can’t believe you guys kissed!”

“Trust me, it was hot. But then he turns around and says, ‘Gray’s not going to find out, ever.’Like we did something really wrong and dirty or something. It annoyed me. He always treats me like a baby.”

“Well, they go way back. Maybe he’s worried about ruining the friendship between them if things didn’t work out with you two.”

“I know, but he didn’t have to say it like that.”

“GB, you’ve been skating around this for a long time. When are you going to finally admit that you like him?” She pours a cup of sweet tea and hands it to me. I think I may have even told him that I was a virgin, inadvertently. He probably thinks that’s pathetic.

“Like him?” I balk. “He drives me crazy half of the time, and he’s always so moody. Maybe that’s why he and Gray get along so well.”

“Callan can drive me crazy too when he’s stressed and taking a day off from being a sweetheart. They all have their quirks.”

“Well, he’s nothing but a pain in the ass to me.”

“Okay, if you say so. But I think you’re both nuts about each other, but neither of you want to admit it.”

I shoot her a glare. “I think your baby brain has you in some little love bubble. I definitely don’t like himlike that.” Also not entirely true, but I’m still embarrassed about kissing him and him basically rejecting me.

Celeste laughs. “Whatever you say, honey-bunny.”

I sigh and rest back in the seat, looking over the beautiful landscape of the farm behind us. It’s so damned peaceful here. “And then there’s Florida in two weeks.”

“Well, it could be a good time to gage things without the nosy bodies of Stoney Creek watching on,” she says. “Sounds like the perfect opportunity to me.”

“He vowed to look out for me and made it out like I need a frickin’ babysitter. The nerve of this man, and Gray!”

Celeste laughs more heartily this time and I glance at her. “Not you, too,” I moan.

“Like you always say, GB, trouble just seems to find you.”

“I’ll wear my shungite necklace that weekend under my clothes.”

We both laugh.

“We know Hudson has been through a lot the last few years, but he hasn’t had any serious relationships since he moved back to the cotton farm,” she goes on.

“Your point being?”

“Maybe he’s waiting, too. He might not know it, but maybe he’s done with that whole casual scene?”

“The Dolly Simpson scene,” I grumble. Nope, I just can’t and won’t ever get past that.

Celeste waves that off. “Come on, she was flashing her sandwich in front of him for ages. And it was the one time, can you blame the guy?”

I huff because I’m realizing more and more that I want it to be me. Why was it ok for him to hook up with Dolly and God knows who else, but push me away that night? “Yes, I can blame the guy, especially Hudson. You’d think he’d be kind of past all of that casual scene at his age.”

“And more into the Georgia-Blue scene?”

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