Page 16 of What About Us
“Mm-hm,” I hum and try to keep my eyes off the curve of her ass as she crosses the living room and disappears up the stairs.
I absolutely fail.
I haven’t stopped thinking about that tiny, little, insignificant kiss six months ago, and how good it felt to finally give into something I’ve wanted for the past almost twenty years. But I never will again; I can’t.
But there’s also not a frozen dick’s chance in hell of living here long-term if I can’t get my dick under control. And right now, my options are severely limited: move back home with my parents and explain to Finn why we’re moving out or pull my shit together. Those are my options. Both seem equally painful for entirely different reasons.
I run a hand down my face. “Fuck.”
Chapter 6
Finnley
It’s just after sixwhen I pull into the driveway at home. A monster of a silver chevy truck is parked on the right side of the two-car garage. I’m lucky my Volvo is mid-sized, because it’s like an actual dinosaur has taken up residence in my garage.
The truck is jacked up a couple of inches, with gleaming, chrome wheels and not a scratch on it. It’s not brand-new, but damn, if it’s not the sexiest truck I’ve ever seen. I am definitely driving that thing sometime soon. I’d be indestructible in it. I could take out curbs and not even feel it.
I’m not surprised in the least that Hudson has been here a mere seventy-two hours and has already nailed down transportation. I’d offered him my car, but that would mean he’d have to get up and run me to the B&B every morning, and getting Paige up before five every morning through the summer just seemed cruel. I’m glad he and Hutch were able to find something so quickly. One less thing for Hudson to stress about.
After drooling over the truck a bit more, I grab my bag from where I dropped it on the hood of the Volvo and head inside through the garage.
The second I step inside, I’m hit with the smell of food and the sight of Hudson at the stove stirring something in a pot. From here, I can see smoke coming from the small grill on the patio outside.
“You’re cooking?” I ask incredulously.
Hudson glances over his shoulder when I come through the door and chuckles. “Don’t get too excited. It’s just mac and cheese and hot dogs.” He tips his head to the sliding glass door. “Shit, can you check on those?” he asks with a grimace.
He’s dressed in the least sexy clothes possible—a gray T-shirt and basketball shorts—but my stupid brain immediately notices the way his bicep flexes as he stirs the cheese into the pasta. And then, the way his muscles move under the thin fabric covering his back when he reaches for the milk. Who needs porn when I can just watch my best friend cook?
“You keep this up, and I’m never letting you guys leave,” I manage to say around my tongue that feels two inches thick. “A girl could get used to coming home to a literal thirst trap making dinner every night.” Dropping my bag on the counter and kicking off my shoes, I tease, “You sure you don’t want another wife?”
In the middle of gulping his beer, he chokes a little, and some dribbles down his chin.
“You should have seen your face.” I laugh before leaning in to give him a little side squeeze. Has he always smelled this good? God, I’m losing it.
“You’d have to put out,” he shoots back.
I’m halfway out the sliding glass door, when I almost trip over my feet and my cheeks heat. Somehow, I manage to act unaffected. “Deal.”
When I step outside, there’s an empty bottle of beer on the wicker table and Hudson’s laptop is open next to it. Three coloring books and a jumbo tub of crayons sit abandoned on the concrete next to the table, and I presume Paige must have left them in exchange for playing upstairs in her room. Besides coloring, spending time pretending her bed is a castle for herdolls is one of her favorite things. Hudson’s shoes have been discarded next to the loveseat and his cell phone is on the cushion next to where he must have been sitting.
It makes me smile. I love my life in Timber Forge and my independence, but seeing all their stuff strewn out, I realize I’ve been lonelier than I thought. I love that he and Paige are comfortable enough being here to make themselves at home. It feels strangely domestic and…kind of perfect.
Hudson steps out onto the patio behind me and peeks over my shoulder. “Are they charcoal?”
“Nope. They are done, though.” I turn off the burners, and then bend over to shut off the propane tank.
When I move to stand back up, a wave of dizziness hits me, and I stumble back into him. His strong arms come around me, steadying me.
“Shit, you all right?”
“Yeah. Lost my balance.” I haven’t eaten much all day, and I know he’ll ask. So, I turn and pat his chest. “Thanks for cooking, Huddy. I’m starved.”
He stiffens a little, but then relaxes just as quickly. Still, it makes me look up at him, questioningly.
“Areyouok?” I ask.
“Yeah. I’m good,” he says.
