Page 72 of Cherish

“Her fits?” Hudson asks, all raised brows and exceedingly proper British accent.

“Oh yeah. She has a lot of them.” Tiola rolls her eyes. “But the good thing is they don’t last long.”

“Still,” I say to Hudson. “You got her back, and that’s what really matters.”

In the blessed silence that follows, we all just stare at one another. At least until Flint claps Hudson on the back and says, “Be careful what you wish for, man.”

“Truer words,” Hudson answers as he stares at Tiola in obvious horror. “Truer words.”

41

Dying Is

Snot an Option

Ten minutes later, we’re sitting around Maroly and Arnst’s large, round dinner table, eating a pouspous dish that’s as delicious as I remember. Or at least some of us are—the vampires are making do with ice water. The beautiful chandelier lit by crystals above us shines just as bright as the last time we were here, casting a glow over the faces below it.

“So,” Arnst says after everyone’s been served. “How did you all meet Hudson?”

The question seems innocent enough, but I can’t help thinking that what he’s really asking is how someone of Hudson’s stature came to know the rest of us.

After a quick drink of water, Hudson answers, “Well, Grace is my mate. The rest of the group came with her.”

“Besides Jaxon,” I comment. “Heisyour brother.”

“Really?” Tiola squeals, bouncing up and down in her chair. “Grace, you’re Hudson’s mate?”

“I am,” I assure her, reaching over to rest my hand on Hudson’s knee under the table.

He shoots me a smile as he moves to gently cover my hand with his own.

“Is it difficult?” Maroly asks.

My brows hit my hairline. “Being mated to Hudson?”

“Yes, or being his brother. He’s so brave—you must worry about him all the time.” Maroly looks so concerned that I almost choke on my latest bite of pouspous.

Jaxon, however, seems to take it in stride. “Oh, it is definitely a trial,” he tells her.

“I can imagine. But also a real honor, I’m sure,” Arnst interjects.

Now it’s Jaxon’s turn to choke on his water. “It is, absolutely,” I say for him, squeezing Hudson’s knee in a silent apology for teasing him. “He’s the best person I know.”

“Me too!” Tiola squeals. The little girl only knows one volume. “Hudson is the best! He saved everyone!”

“I don’t think that’s quite what happened—” Hudson starts, but I cut him off with a grin.

“Now, now, don’t be modest, darling. You truly did save Adarie single-handedly. It’s the most impressive story I’ve ever heard.”

Hudson flushes bright red—a first for him—while the rest of our friends struggle not to laugh. And even though the conversation is hilarious, mostly because of how uncomfortable it makes him, I remind myself to make sure he knows that, under all the teasing, I mean every word I’m saying.

“Grace is leaving her own accomplishments out of this discussion,” Hudson tells our hosts smoothly. “As are the rest of my friends. They’re really all amazing people.”

“Of course they are,” Maroly tells him. “They’re friends with you, aren’t they?”

This time, it’s Flint who sounds like he’s having trouble swallowing—I’m sure having his worth judged based on his friendship with Hudson is a doozy for him—but he doesn’t say anything. In the end, neither does anyone else. They just kind of grin down at their plates while Hudson squirms in the proverbial hot seat.

Deciding to take mercy on him, because I’m just that generous, I clear my throat and prepare to shift the conversation to a different, equally important topic. “We do have a question for you, if you don’t mind.”

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