Page 65 of Here's to Tomorrow

“So terrified,” I retort in a falsely snappy tone. He has no idea how close to right he is. “You’re not even close.”

“Then what is it? Do you have some embarrassing secret you’re hiding?” The smirk is in full force now.

“No,” I say a little too quickly, my hand flying to the doorknob in case he tries to open it. His eyes track my movements.

Hudson inches in closely, holding my stare. He places his hand on top of the one I have on the doorknob and I can feel his breath on my face. His eyes are churning their usual green-blue color, captivating me more than ever before. “You have me all kinds of curious now, Rae.” His voice is quiet, sexy, and dangerous to my nervous system. “You gonna show me what’s in the room?”

Before I know what’s happening, the door is opening and I’m tumbling backward into my room. Hudson swiftly catches me with an arm around my waist, righting me before I can hit the ground.

“You’re always falling for me,” he whispers.

I gulp and nod, rendered speechless.

Then I hear it, the one thing Iknewwas coming: Hudson is laughing. I can feel his entire body shaking against mine. I’m bury my face against his chest, so embarrassed that I can’t even fully appreciate how good it feels to have him this close to me. He wraps his other arm around me, holding me to him but continuing to laugh.

“Stop it,” I growl. He laughs harder.

“It’s just…I didn’t expect this. I thought it would be something like dirty clothes or maybe stuffed animals to the max. But this? This is just too good. Someone’s obsessed,” Hudson teases.

I manage to snake my way out of his hold and step away, crossing my arms over my chest. “You are so rude.”

“Come on, Rae. It’s creepy, but cute as hell. Youlovethe Winchesters, likelovethem, and Cass. It’s adorable.”

I drop my face in my hands, groaning loudly. I don’t want to look around my room right now. Yes, it’s covered in nothing butSupernaturalstuff. Posters galore, a couple throws, and even those tiny little bobble-head things. It’s embarrassing as hell but—hello—it’sSupernatural. It’s okay to love it a little more than a lot.

I hear Hudson shuffle his way to me. He tugs on my wrists, trying to pry my hands from the face. He succeeds, but I refuse to look at him. “Come on, silly girl. I’ll leave you alone now. I won’t speak another word of your Winchester fever.”

Hudson pulls me out of the room, my face still red, and leads me back into the living room. Now we’re standing in front of the couch, just looking at one another.

“So, now that things are awkward, care for a drink? I have beer—heavy on the root. No Dr. Pepper, sorry,” I ask, trying to get the attention off me.

“Am I that transparent?”

I shrug, walking into the kitchen. “I’m a waitress. I notice stuff like that.”

“Bet I can guess your drink of choice,” he calls from the living room.

“Doubt it!”

“Mountain Dew.” I walk back out holding his drink in one hand and mine behind my back so he can’t see.

“That’s it? That’s your big guess?”

He takes his soda and sits on the couch, shaking his head. “Not just any Mountain Dew, but Mountain Dew Code Red from the bottle only. No fountain or can soda for you.”

What the hell…?

I pull the bottle of Code Red from behind my back and slowly sit down next to him, leaving enough room between us so that we’re not touching, but easily could be.

“How in the hell did you know that? Are you inside my brain?”

He laughs. “You had a bottle in your purse the day your car broke down and again last night at my apartment. Then when I offered you a drink, you turned down soda in favor of apple juice. Not many grown-ups do that.”

Hudson watching and paying attention to all things me? Catching on to little things like that? Total turn-on.

“I’m impressed. Not many people know that about me. Haley doesn’t even remember half the time.”

“Haley?”

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