Page 7 of Secret Hudson

“Two-one-five. Five-five-five. Seven-eight-three-two.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

He starts down the stairs and we follow him. Hudson takes us all the way to the door, then smiles shyly and hesitates before he takes my hand. “It was really great to meet you. Hope I get to see you again later.”

I nod, grinning and unable to stop or tone it down even remotely. “Definitely. Thanks again. For everything. Although, if you ever make Ava a coffee that strong again, I’m leaving her with you.”

He chuckles. “Got it.”

Ava throws her hands around his neck as if she’s known him forever, or at least longer than thirty minutes. “You’re going to love me, Hudson. Just wait and see.” She winks and gives him a quick peck on the cheek before she lets him go.

“I believe it, Ava.” And it actually sounds like he means it. Damn, if we didn't scare him off with all of our bickering and weird fucking behavior, he isn’t just cute as hell, he's a fucking miracle.

We find his Ford parked along the sidewalk just outside the shop and get in.

“You’re welcome, by the way.” She’s busy putting on her seatbelt in the most cheerful manner anyone possibly could do such a mundane task.

“What am I thanking you for?” I put the key in the ignition and start it up.

“Um, hello?! I just scored you his number and a first date!” Then she leans back into the seat and rolls down her window, enjoying the breeze and giggling to herself. “Not like I couldn’t have arranged for a car without Blaise finding out about it.”

Shit. She's right. Fucking crazy, but right.

HUDSON

Trying to focus on work after Royce leaves is pretty fucking impossible. All I can think about is how long it’ll be before I hear from Ava. And that’s only because it means I’m one step closer to seeing Royce again.

Royce Lemmi. The whole thing still hasn’t completely sunk in. Talk about your entire life changing in the blink of an eye. Of course, it hasn’t actually changed yet. But the potential for change has definitely been unleashed. For all I know, I’m on the brink of a massive career shift for the better and, if I allow my fantasy to run wild with this, possibly on the verge of dating Royce fucking Lemmi – Finding Nolan’s bass player extraordinaire and the hottest man in rock and roll today.

But that’s fantasy. Or at least, that’s what I try to tell myself. Then, the more I think about him standing here in my apartment,remembering the way he smiled at me, flirted even, the less imaginary the whole thing feels and suddenly, I can’t help but believe myself when I start to think that I actually have a chance with him.

CHAPTER FOUR

ROYCE

“Where the fuck have you two been?”

Leave it to Blaise to give such a warm and heartfelt welcome the moment we come walking in through the door.

“Getting fucking coffee,” I say, matching his tone, if only to mock him. Ava is already snaking her arms up around his neck and smothering him in a kiss as if she’s attempting to erase his memory via his tongue. It actually seems to work. By the time she pulls away again, he has that dopey ass grin only Ava can give. Of course,she’ssmirking.

“Did you guys leave us any breakfast?” I walk further into the suite toward the kitchen. The place is bare. Not a single dirty dish in sight.

“What breakfast? We haven’t eaten yet.” Angel strolls over from his room on the other side of the living area.

Ava sighs. “Seriously. You boys would starve to death without me. Some days I wonder how you manage to get dressed without my help.”

I almost laugh out loud, remembering the early days when Avadidlay out clothes for the guys before each show. Obviously, I’ve always been exempt from that, which is why I’m amused while the others are probably busy trying to block the memory from their minds.

“What’s up with you?” Angel eyes me curiously.

“Just enjoying the morning show as always.” I nod toward Ava, who’s already on the phone with room service ordering up a buffet that could feed a small country and will likely end up being carted off in to-go boxes for the road crew to finish off later.

Angel shakes his head. “Nah, that’s not it. You’ve got something else happening there. What is it? You guys do something extra stupid while you were out on your little secret coffee mission?”

Ava hangs up the phone and jumps in to answer. “Royce met a boy.” She wiggles her eyebrows in a totally ridiculous way. “And he was h-o-t! Seriously. Like, worthy of a ‘humina humina humina’ kinda hot.”

Angel grins. “No shit. Where’d you meet this dude?”

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