Page 80 of Here's to Tomorrow

19

Hudson

“You’re saying she just showed up unannounced and Joey was there? Just, ‘BAM! Here’s my seven-year-old daughter. Surprise!’ and that was it?” Tucker asks, disbelief lacing his voice.

“Yep,” I say, popping my P for emphasis.

“Damn.” He whistles, leaning back into the recliner in my mom’s living room.

Gaige, Tucker, and I are all waiting for my mom to get back from the store with Joey so we can get started on movie night. They are bound to walk in the door any moment, and so is Rae.

“That’s rough, Hudson. How’d it go?” Gaige asks from beside me.

“It…went. She was a little pissed at first. Then she was unexpectedly okay with it.”

“Likereallyokay? Or just ‘woman’ okay?” Tuckers questions.

“Reallyokay,” I answer. He gives me a look, basically telling me he calls bullshit on that. I shake my head. “No, man, I mean it. She was fine. A little upset at first, but then okay. I don’t know what changed, but she just stopped being mad. I think I may have Joey to thank for that. Kid is a miracle worker.”

“Anyone in their right mind would fall in love with her. She’s impossible to resist.”

I nod at Gaige’s explanation. “I know. I’m totally fucked for when she’s older. I give in to her now over everything. It can only get worse from here.”

Tucker snorts. “Wimp.”

“Oh, like you don’t do the exact same,Uncle Tuck?” He shakes his head. “Bullshit. You’re so wrapped around her little finger it isn’t even funny.”

“Whatever,” he mumbles. “Does she know about Jess?”

“Kind of? I mean she knows she’s Joey’s mother and she’s not in the picture, but that’s about it. We didn’t go into detail about it. The subject kind of dropped after I brought up Perry.”

“Oh, yeah? Family?” Gaige questions.

“Exes?” Tucker throws out.

I look back and forth between the two of them, purely for dramatic effect, because at this point they’re both literally sitting on the edges of their seats.

“Cousins,” I finally say.

“NAILED IT!” Gaige shouts. “Pay up, asshole!” he says to Tucker, who is already digging in his wallet. He slips Gaige a twenty.

“You two had a fucking bet over that shit? Assholes,” I say with a headshake.

“Yoohoo! We’re home!” my mom calls, opening the front door.

Gaige is the first to his feet to help her carry stuff in—or get a hug from Joey. I’m not sure which.

“Uncle G!” Joey squeals. I assume Gaige picked her up and is swinging her around. It’s kind of their thing.

“My little bug! How are you, kiddo? Being bad and eating lots of sugar, I hope.”

I hear Joey giggle. “Noooo. I’ve been extra, extra good.”

“Well good. I was afraid I’d have to tickle you all night for being bad.”

“That’s no punishment. I like your tickles.”

“You’re terrible at keeping secrets, dorko,” Gaige teases.

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