Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
“I know.” I nodded and gripped the glass a little harder. “I just thought it would be so much more poignant to show up and surprise him, then launch into the myriad of reasons we shouldn’t be together, but then I’d bring it back to the only reason we should, which is that we belong . . . together.” I winced. “It sounded way better in my head. Look, I know you hate me for sneaking into Juniper’s life, and you can’t stand my family, or our last name, but I really can’t either. Every time someone says it, I just think of my mother now. And I’m sure you can think of a million other people you’d rather see Hudson with—”
“Do you love my brother?” she asked, interrupting my ramble.
I startled, and my gaze snapped to Tanner, who was staring like I needed medical attention. That’s when I realized the entirety of the café was listening to me. Awesome. “I think that’s something Hudson should hear first.”
Caroline nodded. “I don’t hate you, Allie. Even when I was furious with all of you for sneaking around my back with Juniper, I never hated you. I’m just sorry you came all this way.”
My stomach pitched and I scrambled to school my expression, to hold on to any vestige of dignity, but I’d left all my masks in New York, and now there was just . . . me. “It’s too late, isn’t it? I waited too long and blew my chance.” My eyes prickled, but I refused to cry. Even if I had to sweep the remnants of my heart off this linoleum floor, I wasn’t crying in front of Caroline.
“Oh, Allie.” She came around the counter and squeezed my hand, leash and all. “You could be ninety years old, and it would never be too late for Hudson. I’m so dang glad one of you has come to your senses. Of course I’ll tell you where he is. I just meant that it’s a shame you came all this way, because you drove the wrong direction.”
I nearly dropped the glass. “I what?”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Hudson
NYFouette92: I’d check the website because it looks like the cast sheet has changed again. MBC needs to get their shit together.
Three and a half weeks after unpacking the last box, I thought about Allie as I drove past Swan Lake on my way to what was now my home.
Not that I only thought about her around the lake. No, I thought about her while I unpacked, while I hiked the trailheads behind my house, when I woke up, while I was at work, and every second I lay in bed before falling asleep. The only time I didn’t think about Allie was when I was in the water, which made me volunteer for every possible duty.
I’d only been here twenty-seven days and already had a reputation of being reckless, but that note had probably transferred with my file.
Every muscle ached as I pulled into the long driveway that I’d probably curse myself for choosing every time I had to snowplow in the coming months, but I loved the privacy of my house in the woods. For the first time in years, my life felt like . . . mine again.
My brow furrowed at the sight of a new red SUV parked dead center in front of my two-car garage. Temp plates were registered in Massachusetts.
I groaned as I put my car in park behind it. As much as I missed Juniper and Caroline, I was not up for a surprise visit, nor did I feel like sharing my space with Gavin or showing Mom and Dad around a town I wasn’t quite familiar with yet. Not to mention I was supposed to be on an airplane tomorrow morning.
“For fuck’s sake, do none of them know how to use a phone?” I muttered.
Every muscle in my body ached as I got out of the truck, protesting the hours I’d spent in a rather angry ocean, but I pocketed my keys and trudged up the steps to the red wraparound porch that had made me fall for this place hook, line, and sinker. No one was waiting at the front door, so I made my way around to the back.
And then I ceased to breathe, and blinked my eyes to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating.
“Good girl.” Allie’s back was to me as she took the ball from Sadie’s mouth and hurled it into the backyard. The little golden raced down the deck steps and scrambled after her target.
My heart jolted at the sound of her voice, then pounded when I recognized the faded, raggedy hoodie she was currently wearing.
“Allie?” I asked quietly, like she was a specter that would vanish if I said it too loudly.
She jumped and turned toward me with her hand splayed over the Rip Curl logo on her chest. “Damn, Hudson, you scared me!”