Page 65 of Fragile Heart

“Hudson?” the man answers.

“No, this is Quinn,” I tell him quietly. He only knows who I am because Hudson told him I was coming to LA with him.

“Ok, is everything alright?” he asks slowly, clearly confused as to why I’m calling him from Hudson’s phone.

“Um, I don’t know. Something happened tonight with Hudson. I don’t know what exactly, but I’m leaving.” I pause, collecting my thoughts. “He’s really angry, and I’m worried he might do something he’ll regret.” Like fall off the wagon again.

“I see.” Thankfully he seems to understand what I’m saying without me having to actually say it. “I’ll be right over. I’ll make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“Ok, thanks.” I hang up and put the phone back where it was. I know I shouldn’t care what Hudson does after the vile things he said to me. But he’s still a person, and something triggered him. As much as I want him to hurt like I’m hurting, I just can’t let him hurthimself. That’s not who I am, and I’ll be damned if I let go of who I am for a man who doesn’t care about me.

I wheel my suitcase down the hall, still in my dress and heels. I stop in the kitchen and see Hudson laying on a lounger by the pool. He’s looking up at the sky like he didn’t just hurt me for no damn reason.

With one more look around this house, I leave. True to his word, the car is waiting for me in the driveway. The driver gives me a sad smile as he loads my suitcase into the trunk.

“Airport?”

“Yes, please.” He backs out of Hudson’s driveway without another word. As the house gets further away from us, the dam breaks, and I can’t hold my tears back anymore.

---