Page 43 of Here's to Tomorrow

He nods. “Always.”

“Good. Now get the fuck out because I have a date to get ready for and I only have an hour to make some serious magic happen,” I say, pushing him out the door.

“Pft, yeah right. You’re always beautiful. No magic there, just good genes.” He winks at me.

“True. Now go.”

He ducks out of my room and down the hall. He’s opening the door when I realize something. “Perry?” I burst through my bedroom door as he turns around. “Why’d you stop by?”

“Just had a feeling you were needing me.” He smiles easily, but I can tell something’s up. He’s avoiding eye contact, and that’s a dead giveaway when it comes to Perry and me. He knows how I feel about that shit.

I nod and blow him a kiss, pretending everything is okay because that’s what he wants. I’ll let him have it…for now. “Love you.”

He returns the words and gesture as he closes the door, leaving me staring after him. He’s been acting off lately, and I’m not sure what’s going on. We usually talk about anything and everything; me saying Perry is my best friend is not an exaggeration. We grew up like brother and sister, only with a different bond. We’re as close as twins some days. He means the world to me, and I’m worried about him.

The last time Perry started to act like this, he ended up in therapy. It took a month to finally get him to break down and agree to attend at least ten sessions. He claimed himself “cured” after two months and has been fine ever since—until now.

I shake off my thoughts, knowing there’s not much that can be done tonight, and start getting ready for my date with Hudson.

After putting on my jeans and shirt, I add a small spritz of curling cream and hairspray to make sure my naturally curly mane doesn’t turn into a complete train wreck throughout the night. I finish up my beauty routine by applying a little more mascara than normal and some lip gloss with a faint sheen to it. The outfit gets completed with a long antique-looking silver necklace filled with several different charms, and my black leather boots that always make me feel like a badass when I wear them.

This date is either going to rock my world or be the death of me.

With one final glance in the mirror, I grab my small bag and jacket and hit the road.

* * *

I don’t think I took a breath the entire drive to Hudson’s apartment—that’s the only explanation I have for the dizziness I’m feeling as I stand here staring at his door.

You can do this, Rae. Just press the damn doorbell. It won’t bite you. It can’t because it’s an inanimate object. Just press the button!

As I’m reaching out to the press the doorbell, the door is yanked open. I scream and stumble backward. I brace myself for the fall that’s probably going to bruise my ass, but it never comes. Hudson grabs me before I hit the ground.

I’m staring into his stormy eyes when something along the lines of my “my hero” comes flying out of my mouth. I can only hope Hudson didn’t hear me.

He laughs.Shit. He probably heard me.

“Yeah, I heard you. Why do you think my doorbell will bite?”Fuck!“I can still hear you, Rae. You might want to rein those thoughts in before you start talking about how ridiculously hot I am.”

Of course saying something like that is just an invitation to check him out. Who am I to deny him?

He’s right—he does look ridiculously hot in jeans and a plain gray thermal that brings out the green in his eyes. His hair is the perfect sort of messy it always is and that ever-present five o’clock shadow is gracing his tanned face.

He smiles, and since I’m so close to him, I can finally see flaw I hadn’t noticed before. His bottom front tooth has a small chip in it, and the one next to it is a bit crooked. He isn’t so perfect after all, but truthfully, it doesn’t take away from his beauty—it adds to it.

Hudson sets me upright. “So, do you want to come in?”

I straighten my top and grab my swaying necklace—a nervous habit of mine. “Sure.”

The first thing I notice when we walk inside is how small it is. It’s even smaller than the apartment I share with Haley. You can see everything but the bedroom and bathroom—which are down a narrow hallway—just by standing at the door. Despite all that, it’s cute and cozy, very homey.

The second thing I notice is how clean it is. It’s spotless, reminding me of one of those “for show only” apartments.

There are a few simple paintings hung about and a big black sofa with red throw pillows sitting opposite a huge TV that takes up almost the entire front wall. You can tell the place lacks that special feminine touch, but it’s still lived-in. It’s warm, inviting, and friendly, and I can easily see Hudson spending his nights here.

“Now that you have sufficiently checked out my humble abode from the front door, would you like the grand tour?” Hudson teases.

“I’m not sure that will be necessary,” I deadpan.

---