Page 88 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

“See you next March, then,” I call.

He laughs and gives me a wave. “Later.”

“Later, Huds.” I straighten myself out as I watch him jump back in the truck, start her up and drive away. I know I have to pull it together because we both agreed that things have to stay under wraps, and he’s already proving he’s fine with it. Completely and utterly fine. He’s not affected one iota. Virginity gone, check.

And I can’t say I didn’t know it was going to be this hard because I damn well did know. I always knew it.

As the back end of his truck disappears out of sight, I rub the sides of my arms with my hands, already feeling the loss of him.

And I’m not liking it one bit.

??

I meet Celeste at the Stone’s Throw Cafe later in the afternoon. I abandoned my unpacking and decided to take a shower and head into town instead.

I need a lemon bar, plus caffeine, and fast. The Stone’s Throw has been in the main street since before I was born. Aunt May — who isn’t really my aunt — runs it with her daughter, Caroline. I see them at the counter as I enter, restocking the cake fridge. They have so many homemade delights here that you’re spoiled. May’s husband, Mike, is usually around helping.

“Heavens to bits if it isn’t little Georgia-Blue Bassett!”

She’s been calling me that since I was knee high, I’m used to it, but for some reason, it reawakens a memory of Florida when Hudson told me his mom called me the exact same thing.

I don’t need to be reminded of him already. I’m supposed to be forgetting all about that, even though I know that’s fruitless, keeping busy is key.

“Hi!” I beam, a little over enthusiastic in my tone. Aunt May and Uncle Mike were supposed to have retired but they’re always at the cafe helping their daughter, who’s a single mom, and took over the cafe as her own. Her kids help out after school and on the weekends.

“Don’t you just look a pretty picture.” Aunt May smiles over her glasses.

“How was Florida?” Caroline asks as she busies herself with refilling the white chocolate chip muffins in the cabinet.

“It was amazing.”Thank God they can’t read minds. “The weather was perfect and the wedding was divine.”

“That’s wonderful, you look great with a little sun,” Caroline says over her shoulder before heading out back.

“Thank you.” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.Breathe.

“You really do, Georgia-Blue. I don’t know what you’ve done to yourself, young lady, but you’re shining like a comet shooting across the night sky.”

I gulp at her words, my eyes rounding.

Oh Lord, if only they knew what I’d been up to, rolling around with Hudson Nash, losing my virginity.

I laugh, albeit a little nervously. “Oh, a little sun tanning will do that to you. It’s great to have a break.”

“I keep telling Mike I need a vacation, I could do with a little sun myself.” I follow Aunt May from behind the counter as she ushers me to a seat by the window. “You just beat the rush, honey. Are you meeting someone?”

“Celeste,” I say, sliding into my seat, just as Celeste walks in the door and waves over to us.

“Here she comes, isn’t she just a treasure.” Aunt May clucks her tongue as we watch her float in.

Aunt May is the kindest lady, and always has a way of making you feel good. She’s also super perceptive, so I need to keep my flushing and supposed ‘glowiness’ on the down low.

She’s right about Celeste though: she is a picture in her sweet little yellow maternity dress with sunflowers all over it. “She sure is,” I say as Aunt May goes to grab the menus and gives Celeste a smile and a little cuddle on the way by and asks her how she and the baby are doing.

When Aunt May is out of sight, Celeste immediately stops at the table and stares down at me, her jaw literally hanging on the floor. I glance up at her, afraid there’s something on my face, but Aunt May would have told me if I’d smudged my makeup or drawn on myself without knowing.

“What?” I glance up at her as I slide back out of the booth to greet her.

She gives me a hug like I haven’t seen her in weeks and steps back to look at me. “Something’s different.” She assesses me head to toe.

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