Page 28 of Returning to Everton

Hudson hears his phone go off, but doesn’t grab it until he pulls up at Quinn’s house. No texting and driving for this man. That shouldn’t make my heart melt, should it?

Hudson:I’m going to drive you crazy texting you at all hours of the day. That’s what. You got a problem with that?

I try to hide my smile as I text him back, while sitting right next to him.

Me:idk Hud depends what you have to say I suppose.

He laughs at me then. “Alright, I gotta get back to the bakery. You think you can carry all of this to the door?”

I sigh dramatically, “I suppose if Ihaveto.” I open my door, grab all my goodies, and wink at him. “Thanks, Hudson. For the ride, for the deliciousness, for not hating me... Just for everything,” I tell him before I close my door and walk up to the front door.

I turn around and see him sitting there waiting for me to go inside before he leaves. God, he’s so sweet. I wave at him with my hot cocoa hand and smile. I somehow manage to get the door open without spilling anything and walk inside.

11

Rowen

As soon as I close the door behind me, I’m bombarded by starving monsters. I feel like I was just thrown to the wolves. When all I did was walk in the house carrying food.

“What’d you get me? What’d you get me??” The smallest one asks first.

“Did you get any coffee cake??” The big one asks next.

“No! No coffee cake for you! Now back up and let me in the damn house, gosh!” I laugh as I push my way past them. “Breakfast is served in the kitchen, not the hallway.”

They both follow me to the kitchen where I set down my cup and the bags of food I got from Hudson. I inspect everything to see just what he gave me as I take each item out of the bags. The first bag is filled with huge cinnamon rolls. When I say huge, I mean these cinnamon rolls are bigger than my hand. As I'm admiring the massive rolls, I realize I didn’t even pay Hudson for all of this food. I take out my phone and text Hudson really quick.

Me:HUDSON! Why didnt you charge me for all of this food?!? You better ring it all up and tell me how much I owe you!

Hudson:Absolutely not! You’ve been gone 10 years Rowe. I’ve got a lot to make up for.

Me:What does that mean? You don’t have anything to make up for Hud I’m the one that left. If anything, I’m the one that owes you. Now tell me how much the giant cinnamon rolls are. I haven’t even gotten the muffins out yet. So don’t think I won’t text you back to complain about them too.

Hudson:Rowen it’s just breakfast. C'mon let me do this for you. Besides I like knowing you’re eating something I made.

Me:How am I supposed to stay mad at you when you keep being so sweet?

Hudson:you’re not. So don’t bother trying. Now I've got to go make replacements for all of the food you took from me so early this morning. Go feed your daughter a cinnamon roll before she decides to eat your arm instead. ; )

“Hey, are you gonna empty the rest of those bags? Because as good as those cinnamon rolls look, I wanna know what other goodies you got us,” Quinn chastises me. So, I put my phone down and resume emptying bags.

The next bag has all sorts of muffins. It seems Hudson took me seriously when I said I wanted one of each kind he had. Thank god, they’re labeled or I would have no idea what all these muffins are. There is banana nut, peanut butter banana, double chocolate chip, blueberry, caramel apple, lemon meringue, and s’mores monkey bread muffins. The last ones I pulled out have a note attached:

I think Violet will really enjoy these s’mores monkey bread muffins. They’re a big hit with the kids in town. I made sure to give you extra so you could actually try one too. Hope you like them. Don’t eat all of this at once, please.

Xoxo

Hudson

I swear he is just too sweet. He’s going to spoil me if he keeps this up. I don’t know why I’m surprised. Hudson used to always do little things like that to make me smile. I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed. It’s been a while since anyone other than Quinn or Violet cared if I smiled or not. It’s going to take a while to get used to that, but I have a feeling the guys won’t give me a choice.

I take a peek in the final bag and see my coffee cake. There’s another note:

I know Quinn is going to try to steal your precious. So I packed two. Hide yours somewhere she can’t get to it. You know she’s just as bad as you are when it comes to coffee cake. Text me later I want to see you again.

Xoxo

Hudson

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