Page 7 of Here's to Tomorrow

“Are you going to argue with that, Hudson?”

The smile breaks through. “No ma’am.”

I laugh and ease back into the middle of the lane. “Smart guy.”

* * *

Hudson

Rae is snarky as hell, and I fucking love it. It’s like she doesn’t care about—or just doesn’t catch—the words that come out of her mouth. It’s adorable. I’m sure it would be a turn-off for most, but not for me. I find it…refreshing. She’s like a little stick of dynamite or some shit—small, but feisty.

I think my favorite thing about her by far is the confidence she exudes. I could tell right away she wasn’t someone who needed to be constantly reassured or coddled. She seems independent and to have a good hold on who she is, which isn’t typical for someone her age. It makes her seem older, more put-together, and if I’m being honest, with where I am in life—single father and all that—her confidence is like a beacon to me.

Rae is driving me wild in the best way possible.

We drive another mile away from Jacked Up and I’m starting to wonder if she’s truly going to keep driving to Boston or turn around at some point.

Since I didn’t tell anyone about this impromptu test drive, I pull out my phone and shoot Tucker a quick text.

Me: Went for a test drive. If I’m not back in 30, call the cops.

Tucker: Dibs on your office furniture!

Me: Thanks for having my back, Tuck. I knew I could count on you.

Tucker: Always.

I shake my head and slide my phone back into my pocket. I look over at Rae, who seems to be concentrating on the road.

“Are you really taking me to your MawMaw’s? Or do you plan on finding some woods to dump my body in?”

She jumps at my question, like she was lost in thought or something, but recovers quickly. “Honestly? The woods would probably be better. My MawMaw is kind of nuts.”

“Yeah? How so?”

“We’re talking collecting those creepy-ass porcelain dolls, and by collecting, I mean having two entire rooms dedicated to them. It’s weird.”

“Yikes. Woods it is.”

She looks down at the dash and winces then flicks her blinker on again. She pulls off into a gas station and parks at a pump.

“Do you mind?” Rae asks turning toward me. “I didn’t realize how low on gas I was and the little light just popped up. I don’t want to risk driving you back and then running out of gas. I’ve done enough hiking this week.”

“No, no at all. Do you mind if I run inside? I’m thirsty.” I’m not, I just want to drag this out as long as possible because I’m enjoying being around her.

“Nope, but you have three minutes or I’m out of here,” she teases.

“You need anything?” I call out as I walk toward the building.

“I’m fine!”Yes you are.

And there I go being the perv I said I wasn’t.Even if it doesn’t feel like it, this is supposed to be a professional test drive we’re taking, not acheck-out-the-hot-chickkind of thing. To be fair, I haven’t been ogling her too bad. The only thing I’ve looked at for a pervy amount of time is her ass, which isrealnice, if I do say so.

Perv.

In my defense, she was walking ahead of me, so my eyes just sort of drifted on their own accord.

There’s really no denying that Rae is attractive—no, wait, that’s too bland of a word. Rae is…gorgeous, sexy, beautiful,perfect. She’s everything I’d be looking for in a woman if I dated—but I don’t, and I’m not looking to.

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