Page 33 of What About Us
Chapter 12
Finnley
Town Square is withinwalking distance of my townhouse. So, while I finish getting ready, Hudson packs a small, soft-sided cooler bag with drinks. Once Paige is dressed, I fix her hair in two Dutch braids, finishing it off with two red and blue ribbons at the ends, and then we head out.
We stop at Timber’s Treats and Hudson grabs our pickup order he called ahead for, while Paige and I wait outside in the shade. I watch him go, thinking back to the bathroom. I could have sworn he was going to kiss me. He was so close, and I didn’t miss the way he couldn’t keep his eyes off my thighs. It made my nipples pebble in my shirt, and my breath hitched when he touched me.
Whatis happening to me?
Hudson emerges a couple minutes later with a BLT and salad for us to share. He shoots me a grin. “Nat says hey. My girls ready to go?” he asks, and a strange sort of pleasure swells in my chest. It’s not the first time he’s called us ‘his girls,’ but being here in our hometown and heading to a movie in the park like a happy family makes me smile. It’ll never be the case for real, but the thought is nice.
Paige pockets her magnifying glass, while I shoulder the cooler bag and carry the blanket with my other hand. “Yep,” she says and grabs Hudson’s free hand. “Oh, Daddy!” Suddenly so excited, she’s bouncing on her feet as she strolls along between us. “Can I ask Finnley now?”
Hudson shoots me a small smile, and then looks down at Paige with a nod. “Go ahead.”
“What’s up, sweet girl?” I ask, running a hand over her hair while we walk.
“There’s a Mommy and Me Day at my day camp in…” she trails off and looks up at Hudson. “When is it again, Daddy?”
“It’s actually not for a while, Pipsqueak. First week in September.”
Her brows crease. “But I’ll be in school then.”
Hudson nods and ruffles Paige’s hair. “It’s on a weekend, sweetheart.”
“Oh. Ok. So, I wanted to ask Mommy to go, but Daddy said she’s working and won’t be able to come.” She pushes her bangs out of her face, peering back up a me with big hazel eyes. “Can you go with me?”
My head snaps up and my eyes meet Hudson’s, her words hitting me right in the chest. I feel the prick of tears behind my eyes. I’m touched that she thought of me over all the other female influences she has—her grandma, her aunts, and even Wrenley, whom she adores. I can’t seem to swallow over the lump of emotion in my throat.
I reach for her hand, giving it a little tug, and stop walking to crouch down in front of her. “I would love that, Paige. Of course, I’ll go with you.”
She beams at me and claps her tiny hands before launching herself at me, wrapping her skinny arms around my neck. I sniffle back my emotions and my eyes lock on Hudson, who is standing above us. He gives me a half smile, and the look in his eyes is so intense it makes my limbs feel heavy and my chest tight. My stomach flip-flops and I take a deep breath, dropping my eyes back to Paige.
“We’re gonna have so much fun!” she says excitedly and launches into a laundry list of things the camp has planned for that day.
The three of us stroll down the American flag-lined Main Street. Businesses are decked out in patriotic colors and banners and flying their own flags. Pops of orange, yellow, and hot pink dot the sidewalks from large, potted zinnia and azaleas spilling over their sides. The sweet scent lingers in the air as we make our way to Town Square. The sun dips lower in the sky, bathing the town in that signature orange evening glow, and the cricket song starts.
The whole area is buzzing with locals and out-of-towners alike when we arrive for the movie in the park. They’re showingLady and the Tramp, which happens to be one of Paige’s favorite Disney movies. Between Hudson’s insistence that the only cartoons worth watching are old schoolTom and JerryandThe Looney TunesShow—he’s not wrong—and his dislike for Disney princess movies, Paige has been raised on the classics.
When other kids her age are watchingBlueyandDoc McStuffins, she’s watching reruns of Bugs and Daffy and quoting101 Dalmatians. Withoneexception: the girl isMoanaobsessed, as evidenced by the giant picture of Moana and Maui on her shirt.
As we approach, the giant gazebo in the center is decked out in red, white, and blue bunting and American flags. From one side, a large white screen has been erected.
“Daddy!” Paige exclaims, tugging Hudson’s hand and tilting her head back to look at him. “I see Grammy and Pop-Pop! Can I go to them?”
She points across the square, and sure enough, Duke and Emily are standing at the edge of the picnic tables. They’re talking to Trevor, who owns the local bar—Rowdy Roxy’s—and his wife Tanya, who is extremely pregnant. Their five-year-old daughter, Maisy, blows bubbles from a pink stick, while their three-year-old son, T.J., tries to catch them.
Hudson nods and releases her hand. “Go on. I’ll get your hot dog,” he says. He waves and catches his dad’s eye to make sure he sees Paige coming toward him.
The two of us walk side by side until we hit the hotdog stand. Hudson hands me our takeout containers, then fishes in his back pocket for his wallet. He orders Paige a hot dog and chips, while I gather napkins and a handful of ketchup packets. Afterward, we make our way over to where Duke and Emily are still chatting. Emily pulls me into a hug and Duke gives me a warm smile and a pat on the arm. Tanya and I exchange hellos, while Hudson extends a hand to Trevor.
“Hey, man. I hear you’re back in town to stay,” Trevor says, shaking Hudson’s hand.
“Yeah, looks like it.”
Tanya smiles before excusing herself and gathering her children. They wander off to their blanket, and so do Hudson’s parents.
“You sell the bar?” Trevor asks, squinting against the setting sun.
