Page 27 of The Promises We Break

“Stop running.”

“I’m not.”

“Not physically.”

I open my mouth to reply, but nothing comes out because he’s right. I may be rooted here, but everything else is pushing him away.

I huff, then simply nod. Grabbing my hand, he leads me to the large, glass circular doors on a painfully slow automatic turnstile. Allowing me to step in first, he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer, as we use the same small triangular space and shuffle through the door.

His hard body feels like the softest comfort blanket, and a part of me feels relaxed for the first time since waking up next to him in that Vegas hotel.

The crisp air hits my cheeks as we walk through the courtyardof the building and across the street to the hotel. I love the smell here. The dampness and slight saltiness to the air fills my senses with another comfort I didn’t know I needed.

I quickly head into the hotel as Hudson goes to the parking lot to his car. I can’t say it doesn’t cross my mind to grab a quick Uber and take care of everything myself, but him calling me out on running, both mentally and physically, has me questioning myself.

As I roll my luggage to the sidewalk outside the hotel, I see Hudson in a truck that pulls up to the curb. He jumps out and grabs the luggage, placing it in the back, before opening my door for me. Holding my hand, he guides me to the open passenger door. I press my heel to the running board of his truck, pushing into it to hike my body up to the seat. He grants me that stupid contagious smile of his, then closes the door. I see him jogging quickly around the front of the truck, and I decide at this moment to just allow whatever this is to happen naturally between us.

Stop running.

He’s starting the truck when he turns to me. “Where’s your hotel?”

“It’s off of Pine Lake Way, I believe.” Reaching for my phone to get the address.

“Pine Lake?” he says with disgust. “No. You’re not staying in Pine Lake.”

My head whips his way, and his face matches his tone. “What?”

“No, no way in hell you are staying there,” he behests.

“It’s what I can afford right now. It’s already paid for,” I punch back.

“It’s dangerous.” His tone is softer but still demanding.

I just tilt my head at him, annoyed. So annoyed.

“Fine. You want to go to Pine Lake? Let’s go to Pine Lake.”

He puts the truck in drive and begins to drive without theuse of GPS, and it makes me wonder how he knows the area so well.

Somehow, he reads my mind and answers my silent question. “Jake’s lived here a long time. I used to come visit him a lot, and I spent some time here when my brother went to school here.”

“Your favorite brother, Grant?” I ask with a smile.

He looks at me, blinking a few times. “Yeah, him,” he replies quietly.

13

HUDSON

She remembered.

She remembered who my favorite brother was. She has an unopened pack of my favorite gum in her purse. The gum she insisted was inferior to all other gum.

And she’s fucking here. I can’t decipher the floating sensation in my stomach. The one that causes a natural quirk in my lips as I fight a smile.

Although, I’m not fighting half as hard as she is. She is beating her feelings down like the next upcoming UFC fighter battling for the top spot, fortifying herself with platinum steel, and I have every intention of breaking down those ridiculous, unnecessary walls.

We ease into the type of conversation we had on the plane, and it makes me feel exactly the same. Like she’s absolutely perfect. Everything between us is so easy and natural—when she’s not wrestling with her feelings and beating them to a pulp.

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