Page 35 of Here's to Tomorrow

10

Rae

I shouldn’t like Hudson as much as I do, especially since I just met the guy, but I can’t help feeling a connection to him. I have no idea why, but he feels…safe.

I like safe.

“How about dinner at my place on Wednesday?” he asks hopefully.

“That sounds perfect.”

He shoots me a wide smile. “Good. Good.” He’s still smiling like an idiot. “I hate to do this, but I have to get going.”

“Oh that’s no problem. I have some stuff planned this afternoon anyway.”

We gather our things and head toward the door together. I never really understood the appeal when those hunky heroes did it in all those romance novels I read, but the moment Hudson’s hand finds my lower back, I get it. That one small touch feels so intimate.

“Can I walk you to your car?”

I dip my head and he steers me toward my little sedan, beating me to the door and opening it for me.

“Thank you so much for your help with Jacked Up, Rae. I feel like we’ve been stuck lately, and I think this is going to pump things up for us. I saw a card in the folder, so I’ll give that website guy a call tomorrow,” Hudson says, stuffing his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels.

God, he looks so cute when he’s being shy.

He stands several inches taller than me, and I have to tilt my head back to smile up at him. “It’s no problem. I’m glad I could help.”

“Seven thirty okay? For Wednesday?” he asks.

“Perfect.” He rocks back on his heels again, like he’s not sure what to say next.

“Hudson?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll see you Wednesday.”

He smiles again as I climb into my car.

When I glance in my mirror before I turn out of the parking lot, he’s still standing there with his hands in his pockets and that perfect smile plastered on his face.

* * *

I park in front of my apartment and switch my phone back on. I’m not surprised to see that Maura’s texted eight times while I was with Hudson, and I give her a call.

“Finally! You can’t just leave a girl hanging like that! Spill. Now,” she yells into the phone.

“First, calm down; you’re hurting my ear,” I say in my best motherly voice. “Second, I have a date Wednesday.” She squeals so loud I have to pull the phone away while she gets it all out. “Ears, woman!”

“Sorry!” she whispers. “I’m justsoexcited for you! I can tell you like him a lot. Tanner told me a little about him and he seems like a stand-up guy, Rae.”

I’m not sure I find anything Tanner says to be reassuring, but I’m glad Maura approves. “Good. So, how was yourseconddate with Tanner last night?”

“Glorious!” she rings out. “He’ssosweet and funny, Rae. I know he seems like a dick sometimes but it’s all a show, like he has to prove he’s macho or some crap like that. I swear, he’s so considerate and awesome when it’s just the two of us. Ireallylike him, Rae.”

Though her choice in men is questionable, I’m genuinely happy for my best friend. “As long as he treats you right, I’m happy for you.”

I hear someone in the background. “Damn. I gotta go, Rae. Order’s up! Talk to you later, love.”

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