Page 34 of One Night With You

“I thought you didn’t keep secrets between friends.”

I ducked my head so he couldn’t see me react, as those weren’t the only secrets I was keeping from Phoebe. I was going to see Kingston later today, for self-defense training yes, but to see Kingston. And I didn’t know exactly what I was going to say or how I was supposed to react around him. We had purposely not talked about what it all meant, and yet we had in a sense. Because we were going to see each other. And we wanted to.

And things were weird but nice. And maybe that was going to be enough.

Maybe it had to be enough.

“You’re getting all lost in your thoughts again. You doing okay, little sister?”

I leaned into him and sighed. Yes, I had gone through hell recently, but so had he, so I didn’t need to rehash all my problems with my big brother. He would want to carry my weight and the world’s on his shoulders, but I wasn’t going to let him.

Not today.

“I’m good. It’s good to see them out and playing.”

“Yeah. It is.” His voice was a little gruff, and I rested my head on his shoulder, as he watched his children laugh as if they didn’t have a care in the world, even though I knew it was the opposite.

But that wasn’t about now. Yes, the real world hurt, and yes, there was always going to be some part that always ached, but my niece and nephew were resilient, and I had to credit most of it to their father. My brother was a good man, and he’d fought through hell to stand where he was right now.

“You’re giving me that look,” he whispered.

“What do you mean?”

“The one where you’re rhapsodizing about how I am still here and breathing.”

I winced. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I do the same thing every time that I look over at you and picture you in the hospital. The hospital that it took me way too long to get to.”

“You didn’t live here at the time. It’s not your fault.”

“I beg to differ, little sister. I should have found a way to get here.”

I leaned into him a bit more. “You’re here now. What more do I need?”

“Maybe a life.”

“Hey. I was just thinking about how great you are, and now you’re all mean to me.”

Hudson moved to study my face and raised a single brow. I hated that he was so good at that look. Our dad had the same look and used it on both of us often. “Little sister, you need a life.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have a life,” I somewhat lied.

“You say that as if it’s the truth. But I don’t believe you.”

“Let me be, okay? I’m fine.”

“You know whatfinestands for.”

“That you just need to leave me alone and let me wallow?” I asked.

“Wallow in what?”

“Life and the lack of good coffee sometimes unless I go to my favorite cafe.”

Hudson smiled, though I knew he was placating me. “I really do like that cafe.”

I laughed, knowing it’s what he wanted and honestly, what I felt. “It helps that you work right next to it. I have to drive to it.”

---