Page 110 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

“I wouldn’t worry about them, well, your mom, anyway.” Eden’s eyes flick to mine. “Something tells me she will be okay with it. She loves Hudson.”

“Yeah, as Gray’s best friend. Not as my…whateverwe are.”

“Lovers!” Trudy coos.

The others laugh too and I tell them to pipe down. We may be at my place with no one to overhear us, but that’s not the point.

Celeste pops another cheese ball into her mouth. “He really is a stud when you think about it, he’s got thirteen years on you, so that’s kinda hot, too. You’re just rackin’ up all those green flags, girl.”

“What’s kinda hot?” Autumn joins us, apologizing for running late. Of course, now I feel terrible she’s going to know before my own twin brother.

Before I can open my mouth, Trudy says, “Georgia and Hudson have been doin’ the nasty since Florida and they got caught by Brook and now Hudson’s over at the Bassett’s about to meet God.”

Autumn stops dead in her tracks. “What the heck?” She turns to me. “You’ve been boning Hudson?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “More importantly, we’re in love.”

She gasps, her hands up to her mouth as she lets it sink in. “Since when?”

“Florida,” Celeste, Eden and Trudy chime at the same time.

“And you’re a couple now?”

I nod. “Yes, well, that’s if he survives my family.”

She slides onto the couch next to me. “You got back from Florida weeks ago.” Her face lights up. “Wait, I knew there was something different about you!”

“He popped her cherry,” Trudy puts in.

I slap my forehead. “Thanks, Trudes! Real eloquent.”

She shrugs. “Well, he did.”

“I knew Hudson seemed a bit less broody than normal,” Autumn says, still looking slightly bewildered. “And now we know why.”

“Please just assure me it’s gonna be okay,” I whine. “I don’t want him coming home with black eyes and a broken nose.”

“Aww, she said home.” Celeste gives me a cuddle and I try hard not to laugh.

“Oh, stop it. You know what I meant.”

“When are y’all moving in together?” Trudy prods. “Your place or his?”

“His!” We all chime at the same time, then we all fall about laughing.

“Sneaking around is so exhausting,” I say, wiping my eyes when we’re done. “We’re not doing anything we’re ashamed of, and as much as Hudson respects my brothers and my dad, we’re in love, and we want to be together.”

Autumn gives me a hug. “I’m happy for you, GB.”

“Us too.” Trudy grabs more pop from the fridge. “I just really hope they don’t fuck up his face.”

I roll my eyes. “Will you stop saying that? You’re making me nervous.”

She pouts and I can’t stay mad at her for long. I really just want this to be over. But we’re the ones who chose to do this and sneak around. We have to face up to it.

If my family doesn’t like it, then I don’t know what I’ll do. They’re everything to me. Suddenly, it all hits me at once. What if they reject Hudson? What if they make me choose?

I swallow back tears, then I feel Eden squeeze my hand. “It’s okay, Georgia-Blue, we’ve got your back, and I know Brook and Beau will have Hudson’s, you’ll see.”

---