Page 70 of Bedhead

I whistled. “Damn. Thirty-five. That’s longer than mine.”

“To hear them talk, you’d think it was closer to fifty. But they’re gonna do a big blowout for it, no expense spared, invite everyone. They never got to do that the first time around, so they’re making up for it now.”

“No chance or retiring anytime soon, then, huh?”

“Yeah, right. Mama switched theaters a while back to take over as artistic director, and I think she’ll be happy doing that for the rest of her life. And Mom isn’t anywhere close to wanting to retire from publishing. Which I’m fine with. I don’t know if being a CEO and dealing with her headaches are as interesting as what I do now. But I’m open to it. In the far-off future.”

“Oh wow,” I said, a little taken aback.

“What?”

“I guess I just assumed you wanted to take over Montgomery Publishing.”

Hudson turned his head in my direction. “Why would you assume that?”

“Because…”Because that’s been the plan for me, and I didn’t think about your parents not putting pressure on you to do the same.

“Ah.” He shook his head. “No, Mom never forced me to follow in her footsteps. It’s always been my choice.” When I nodded, he added, “I’m sorry your dad didn’t offer you the same possibilities. But if this isn’t what you want to do in your career, you can always pivot. Do something you enjoy.”

Wait. SomethingIenjoy?

I pulled my hand away from his. “What are you talking about, pivot? I like what I do.”

“Oh. I mean, yeah, if you like it—”

“I never said I didn’t. Why do you seem surprised by that?”

“Because you always hated that your dad basically forced you into being his successor—”

“He didn’tforceme.”

“Not physically.”

I stared at Hudson in bewilderment, my head spinning at the turn in conversation. “What the fuck?”

He sighed, rubbing his jaw. “You always talked about his high expectations and that he expected you to follow in his footsteps. I didn’t think you got a choice in the matter.”

Well…sure I did. Or at least I wanted tobelieveI did. If I’d hated publishing, I was sure I could’ve chosen a different path.

Maybe.

Shit. Maybe not.

My stomach roiled, and it wasn’t from the waves.

I liked my job. I really did. But this conversation had me thinking back to what Hudson said the night of the blackout, about wanting this deal with Viper to prove myself to my dad. To prove I could handle big accounts and be a worthy leader of his company.

Maybe he was right. And it only reminded me of my past sins and all of the fallout that had brought us to this point.

I was gonna be sick.

“Watch my bag. I’m gonna take a walk.”

Before Hudson could reply, I was gone.

22

HUDSON

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