Page 28 of Secret Hudson

“Yes, I’m seeing someone. No, it’s none of your fucking business. Handle your own shitty marriage before you come sticking your nose into my love life.” Well, so much for not saying anything.

“What the hell do you know about my marriage?” She’s climbing down from her barstool and stalking over on her six-inch heels. Shoes she clearly can’t walk in. No big shocker considering she probably doesn’t wear anything outside of Crocs every day at the hospital she works at.

“Just forget I said anything, alright? Let’s just both agree that when it comes to our relationships, we stay out of each other’s business.” I don’t wait for her to answer. Nor do I continue my conversation with Angel. I have more pressingmatters to deal with. Namely finding a date on short notice that won’t have any expectations beyond strolling down the red carpet and making me look like a pussy loving heterosexual.

Given the limited privacy around this place, I opt for Derek’s usual go-to. The balcony. Since Sammy’s here in person, I figure he won’t be needing it.

I scroll through the contact list in my phone, but most of the names popping up are completely useless. Either I haven’t spoken to them in years or, they’re on the wrong continent. This is of course, after I rule out all the ones who are the wrong sex.

Then, I land in the F’s and hit on my own personal jackpot.

I swipe call before I can think about it too much and realize how fucking stupid of a move I’m about to make.

“This shit better be important.” Francis is still half asleep.

“It’s Royce.”

“Yeah, I know. I have fucking caller I.D. Why do you think I answered?” I can hear her moving around in her bed, the shuffling of blankets and pillows rustling loudly in my ear.

“If I didn’t know you were always this pleasant, I’d guess you weren’t a morning person,” I tease.

“Oh Royce, how you jest. Do you actually have a fucking point or are you just calling to make sure I get as little fucking sleep as possible? I mean, Ava was already on top of that what with the list of shit she had me do on my red eye flight out here, but fuck, why not keep the good times rolling? I only have to finalize all the most important details of your EMA appearance this evening.” Her massive skills of sarcasm are but a minor part of why Francis fits into our fucked-up family so nicely.

“Speaking of the EMAs. Want to be my date tonight?”

“Sure. Why the fuck not?” And that’s the other. She lives by the same code we all do. If a friend needs you, you say yes, no questions asked.

“Now get some sleep for fuck’s sake. I don’t want to go strolling down the red carpet with something that wandered off the set of The Walking Dead.”

She laughs. “Yeah, okay. Later, asshole.” And Francis hangs up before I can return the insult.

I slide the phone back into my pocket and turn around to face the door. One obstacle cleared and one more to go. Somehow, I’ll have to explain to Hudson why I’m taking Francis as my date. Especially considering he will be there as well.

I start to head inside to face him when I begin to fictionalize the entire situation. And by fictionalize, I mean I lie to myself. Bold faced lies. Terrible lies only the most gullible person on earth would believe. Well, that’s me. And I know that. Which is precisely why I tell myself these lies.

Starting with the one where I convince myself Hudson doesn’t really need to know that Francis is going to be my date. He’s going as the band photographer, who’s to say that she won’t be included as part of the band’s management team? I buy it. I also don’t bat an eye when I go on to tell myself that really, Hudson won’t be upset even if he does find out, since we’ve already agreed not to go public about our relationship and I clearly can’t be the only one there without a date. So really, I’m doing the right thing by taking Francis. A friend. A fill in. A completely innocent arrangement which couldn’t possible hurt anyone.

Anyone except myself and the one person I would walk over shards of glass for if it kept him from feeling any pain. Just, you know, not in public.

As soon as I step back inside, I find myself in the middle of a new shitstorm altogether, so talking myself out of my pathetic new plan to have a secret date right in front of Hudson is no longer an issue. Breaking up a catfight between Sammy and Ava is suddenly bumped up to the top slot on my to-do list.

“What the fuck is going on?” I come back into the suite to find Blaise with both arms wrapped around Ava’s waist as she lunges herself toward Sammy, who isn’t being restrained by anyone. Unfortunately.

“This lunatic just accused me of hitting on her husband.” Ava swings out with her right fist, barely missing Sammy’s face.

“Please. I saw the way you were looking at him when the two of you walked in here.” She tips her head toward Derek, lasers shooting from her bulging eyeballs. “Tell me, does Blaise know you’re fucking his girlfriend?”

Ava screams out loud and Blaise has to use his entire body weight to anchor her in place. “Would you do something? Fuck! This is insane!”

But Derek just stands there, pitifully frozen in place and looking slightly guilty. Although, I suspect it has less to do with Sammy’s accusations and more with the fact that secretly he’s probably rooting for Ava to beat the shit out of her.

“Sammy,” I cut in between them, “don’t you think we’d all know if Derek and Ava were fucking?”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that you all know. Probably having a good laugh at my expense every time it happens. I mean, why else would everyone have been so shocked to see me here thismorning?” Now she’s getting in my face too, which incidentally only pisses Ava off more.

Before she can launch another attack, Blaise manages to spin her around and start her moving away from Sammy and toward their room. They’re halfway there when Angel and Hudson come in through the main door.

“It’s about damn time you two showed up again. How the hell long does it take to shoot a fucking picture?” Blaise doesn’t wait for an answer from either one of them before he lifts Ava into their room and slams the door shut behind him.

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