Page 112 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

“Just hold on now?—”

“Hudson, what are you telling me?” I already feel the chill coming off him.

I brace myself. “Me and Georgia…”

“What the fuck?” He shoves me backward. I saw it coming so I don’t move too far.

“Just let me finish.”

“You mean my little sister? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“Ourlittle sister.” Brooklyn stands between us. “And hear him out for a second before you resort to violence.”

Gray points at Brooklyn. “You knew?”

Realizing he’s put his foot in it, he shoves Gray back. “I found out by accident, and Hudson was always gonna come and tell you, right, H?”

“Oh, that’s decent of you,” Gray practically bellows. “You waited untiloursister was out of town before you took her to bed and probably promised her the world. Do you really expect me to really believe that? Tell me this is some kind of joke.”

“It’s not a joke, but it also didn’t happen like that.”

The punch to the face hits me hard, and I let it happen. It fucking hurts because Gray is strong, but before he swings again, Brook is shoving him away. The pain hits me and I forget about Gray’s right hook for a second. He’s about the same strength as me, but when he’s mad, he’s like a wounded bull.

“It’s okay, Brook.” I wave him away. “I deserve it. I deserve all I get.”

“We trusted you!”

“It isn’t like that.”

“No? So exactlyhowis it, Nash?”

Brooklyn looks between us. “Now he’s Nash?”

“Shut up!” we both bellow at Brook.

He waves his hands in the air. “No hitting the referee.”

“You wanna keep throwing shots? Go right ahead, but it won’t change how I feel about her. Nothing will. I’m sorry that this is how it went down, I never planned any of it.”

“How youfeelabout her? So one dirty weekend away without any of her family around isn’t enough for you?”

“If you really think that, then you honestly don’t know me at all and maybe you never did.”

“Fuck you. I don’t like being lied to. You said you were there to protect her, and instead you crawl into bed with her?”

Now isn’t the time to confess that yes, that’s exactly what happened in the beginning. My jaw is still aching from the first punch. “Nothing happened before Florida. We’ve had aconnection these last few years, and I had no idea that this was how things were gonna go. I didn’t plan any of this, and neither did she. Plus, you’re not her father, Gray. She’s twenty-five years old and she has a mind of her own.”

Gray shoves Brook and comes at me again, I duck and punch him in the gut as he barrels into me and we crash into the bar stools, knocking them sideways.

“What the hell?” Gabe calls from across the room.

Fantastic timing. Now I’ve got three more of them to lay into me. Still, it’s what has to be done.

We’re wrestling like a couple of idiots when Bob and Gabe pull us apart. Beau follows behind, his eyes agog as we’re finally separated.

“You’re acting like a dick,” I sling at Gray. “And for the record, you punch like a little girl.”

“Really? Well, if that’s the case, why don’t you tell Dad and my brothers which girl you’ve been seeing in secret since Florida? I’m sure they’ll be interested to know.”

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