Page 61 of Here's to Tomorrow

16

Rae

My body is still on fire from the point-two seconds I spent touching Hudson. I can feel him on me still, like his hands are all over me, touching me in the most intimate of places. I’m pulsating with excitement.

Which is utterly ridiculous considering all I did was brush up against his arm.

“Did he…” Maura starts from beside me.

“He did,” I manage around a loud gulp, trying to calm my rapid breaths.

I just witnessed my best friend, my cousin, my protector of all protectors other than my dad, give his approval to the guy I’m kind of going crazy over.

“Y’all are so gonna get married,” Benny says from my other side.

“Shut it, Ben.”

He holds his hands up in innocence. “Hey, I just call ’em like I see ’em.”

Maura makes a surprised noise. “I’ve never seen Perry be so…accepting so quickly. It’s…”

“It is.”

Benny’s warm hand falls on my shoulder as he says, “Good luck, kiddo. I think you’re gonna need it.”

Gee, thanks for all the help, bud.

“You’re welcome,” he calls over his shoulder.

“Let’s not think too much into all this,” I say to Maura with false bravado. Her brows furrow because she knows me better than to believe I’m not freaking out over this. Luckily, she ignores it…for now.

“So, where’s Tanner tonight? Isn’t he usually with the guys?” I ask, changing the subject.

I swear to all things holy, Maura melts at the mention of his name.

“He’s meeting up with a buddy that just got home from deployment. Guess he’s having some trouble adjusting and has some family around this area so Tanner’s visiting him.”

“That’s cool of him.” He scores some major good guy points in my book for that.

“Yeah, they were really good friends growing up and ended up joining different branches. Kind of neat if you ask me. Sucks the guy is having such a hard time after deployment. I can’t imagine.”

“Has Tanner ever been deployed?”

“He did a nine-month tour in Germany, but wasn’t in a combat zone or anything. I’d probably worry myself sick if that happened now. I feel terrible for Tucker, knowing his brother could be deployed at any time.”

I shrug. “That’s the military, Maura. Deployment happens. It’s not always a bad thing, though.”

“I know, I know, I just…can’t wrap my head around it. Brave. They are all brave—Tucker and his family included.”

“Word,” I tell her.

“All right, I need to go refill drinks, and I know you, so go take your minute out back to have your freak out. I’ll cover your tables for you if I need to.” She pats my arm and walks off.

I take my cue and head toward the kitchen, making my way out to the alley. Funny enough, it’s not even an alley. It’s just a small, enclosed space around back. It’s usually used as a smoke break area for Benny, Cookin’ Curt, and Clyde himself, but a few people on the wait staff use it too cool down when things become hectic on the floor.

I push through the door, letting it close behind me, and walk over to the tall brown fence on the opposite side. I lean my back against it and press my palms flat to the surface. Closing my eyes, I take a long, deep breath and simply stand there. I take a few seconds to just breathe, absorbing my surroundings. I get a chance to listen to the crickets, a sound I find soothing, because Clyde has this place locked down when it comes to sound leaking outside. Everything is contained inside when the doors are closed, giving us an illusion of peace out back.

It’s a weird feeling when you find someone who makes you suddenly feel all these crazy things at once. You’re excited, overjoyed, overwhelmed, and nervous as hell all in one.

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