Page 94 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

“I guess as I’ve gotten older, I see things a different way than I used to when I was on the circuit.” Well, it’s the truth.

“Well, I can get the details,” Brook says. “We’ve only got a few weeks to get him to a refuge. The unfortunate thing for him is that people don’t like bulls much.”

“Ain’t that the truth.”

“You’re a better man than me.” Callan pats me on the back. “I wouldn’t be going anywhere near him.”

I cock a brow. “Well, sometimes you gotta do the thing that scares you the most. And leaving was the best thing I ever did.”

They all look at me and I clear my throat. I never talk like this, ever. They all know that I’m referring to being able to spend time with my mom, even if I don’t mean to sound so sappy.

Gray keeps his eyes on me as our game starts. “You sure you’re okay, bud?”

“Maybe one too many knocks to the head,” Gabe jibes.

“I’m fine.” I knock back another swig of beer and catch Beau’s slow smile across from me. Something makes me think it’s not about all this Bucko talk. It’s like he knows something.

There’s no way she would have told her twin brother, right? I mean, they’re close, but not close enough that she’d confess this.

But why’s he looking at me like he’s holding the biggest secret to the universe?

Maybe it’s a twin thing? I don’t know how these things work.

The night passes quickly and we have a good time. I still can’t get the thought of Bucko out of my mind and where he’ll end up. It bothers me that he’s in this predicament.

“I meant what I said,” Gray says when we’re calling it a night. “About Georgia.”

I arch an eyebrow. “What about her?”

“Appreciate you keeping an eye on her.” He gives me a hearty thump on the back which I’m fairly certain I don’t deserve.

“It’s nothing,” I say. “Anytime.”

Fuck.Anytime?What the hell is wrong with me?

“You’re volunteering willingly now?” He shakes his head with a chuckle. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing.”I tainted your little sister all damn weekend and she begged me for it, and you’re here acting like I’m a saint.

I’m so going to Hell.

“You know, you’re way more relaxed after going away for a few days,” he says. “Maybe you should do it more often.”

I laugh. If only.

The only problem in that statement being the only place I want to go is wherever Georgia-Blue is.

25

Hudson

I can’t help myself when I get home after poker; I have to shoot her a message and see how she is. She’s been pretty quiet since we got back and I haven’t seen her on the discord chat either. That’s not like her. I lean on the island bench, unable to relax.

Me

Hey GB, you good?

I wait a minute. Then two. It’s the longest few minutes of my life. But then my text shows she’s read it, and the gray bubble appears as she replies.

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