Page 102 of Here's to Tomorrow

“Hey, lady. I’m talkin’ to you. Come here.”

He grabs for me and I instinctively throw Joey behind me. The man’s hand connects with my wrist and my other arms flies back on its own accord. My palm connects with the side of his face and he growls, stepping toward me.

“Little bitch!” he spits my way. “Don’t you ever—”

“Hey! Get the fuck away from them!”

Hudson comes barreling down the aisle and the man spins on his heel, taking off in an instant. He runs from the store, glancing back several times. Hudson rushes for me, wrapping me in his arms and hugging Joey close to him.

“You girls okay?” We both nod. “Good.” He leans close to my ear. “That slap was hot as hell. You’re so getting laid tonight.”

I laugh lightly and shrug. “I may be little, but I’m tough. Besides, I’d do anything to protect Joey, and you. I do that for the people I love.”

His eyes fill with surprise. “Did you just, uh…did you just say you love me?”

I wait for the worry to fill me but it never comes. I do love him, and Joey, and I don’t give a crap who knows.

“Nah. Probably just a heat of the moment thing,” I tease. “Couldn’t possibly be true.”

He laughs and hugs me close, kissing my temple and then straight down to my ear. I can feel him smiling against my face in every kiss. “I love you too, Rae,” he whispers.

“I said it was a fluke,” I say softly back to him.

“Uh-huh. Right. Yousolove me.”

I push him away, laughing. “Oh, grow up, you weirdo. It was a fluke!”

“Daddy,” Joey says, from beside us, “that guy cursed a lot. So did you and Rae. That’s like five dollars!”

“Five? I thought it was only seventy-five cents per curse word!” he argues, trying to keep Joey’s attention on anything other than what we just encountered.

“Not when it’s that many,” she explains.

Hudson huffs and pulls a five out of his pocket. “You’re going to make me go broke, dude. Then who will pay for your groceries?”

She shrugs. “Rae will. She loves me.”

Hudson looks to me, waiting for me to say that was a fluke too. I shake my head. “Nope, I meant that part.”

He laughs. “Come on, goofballs. The beach is calling our names!”

I almost—almost—forgot where we were heading. I almost forgot about my biggest fear. Hudson did that for me—to me.Maybe it won’t be so bad after all.

After we report the incident to the cashier, opting to not involve the police just yet, we pile back into the car. Joey’s asleep before we hit the highway. I envy how children can just do that—fall asleep anywhere.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You can ask me anything since you love me and all.”

I shove his arm lightly. “Shut up.”

He grins, never taking his eyes off the road. “Ask your question.”

“What happened with Joey’s mom? Is she in Joey’s life at all?”

“Up front, let me just say that I didn’t leave Jess just because, and I didn’t rip Joey from her. I want to be sure that’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Not for a second. I’m curious is all.”

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