“Thanks for coming with me. I’ve behaved like such a dick and I feel like you’ve given me a second chance or some shit like that.”
“Well, you had your brothers, and sister, and so had almost everything you needed to help you through today,” I explained, placing my hand on his thick thigh.
Hudson changed lanes and indicated to exit the freeway, saying. “Almost everything. What had I been missing?”
“A friend.”
“And that’s you is it,justMolly?”
“Absolutely.” I wanted to be more than that, but didn’t want to assume.
“Well, that’s good enough for me. For now, anyway.”
During that last leg of the trip, we started talking about movies. Tom Hanks came up a few times. Our banter flowed, and it felt like I had known him for ages.
As our surroundings started to look familiar, Hudson slowed the car.
“Do you want me to drop you off at home?” he said as he turned onto the street leading to our neighbourhood. I checked my phone, and it was almost eight in the evening. Harper and I were supposed to be at the movies until ten.
Before I could reply, he hastily added. “Or you could come back to mine?”
I knew then that was exactly what I wanted.
A thousand thoughts swam around my head before I replied. “OK,” I said. I could feel his eyes drilling into the side of my face.
Hudson’s voice became soft and quiet. “Are you sure, Molly?”
Turning in my seat, our eyes tangled. I had never been surer about anything in my life.
“Yes.”
His smile was contagious.
As he pulled into his driveway, Reed’s Jeep was already parked. We’d stopped for gas on the way back, and the boys and Harper had gone on ahead.
Jamming the car into park, he turned off the engine and nodded towards his house.
“So, are you ready to see the monster’s lair?” Hudson whispered.
“You aren’t half as scary as you think you are,” I replied.
Hudson leaned over and pushed some hair back from my face, scanning my features. “We’ll see, beautiful.”
My tummy flipped at the compliment.
“What about your dad’s stuff?” I said, motioning towards where it sat on the back seat.
“I’ll deal with that tomorrow. I’ve been in close confines with the sweetest girl I’ve ever met for the last hour and a half, and I have other things on my mind that have nothing to do with my father.”
“OK,” I said shyly.
We both climbed out of the car and walked to the front door. Before he opened it, Hudson turned to face me. “Remember what I said, Molly. That I wouldn’t walk away a second time? If you come upstairs, I won’t just beshowingyou my room. You do understand that?”
To give him my answer, I placed my hand in his and walked into the lion's den. But it wasn’t with fear of the unknown pumping through my chest; it was anticipation of what was to follow.
*****
The layout of Hudson’s house was like my father’s, but bigger. I could hear voices when we walked into the lobby.
