Page 98 of When the Time Is Right
But after that, it’d be one trip after another with no end in sight.The dart board at Huey’s took a beating. Hudson had been gone over a week, and I’d broken tips off half my darts. One had even completely lost its fun pink-and-green fluffy bits—and I could relate.
Nevertheless, Hudson had been right as usual. Playing alone was pathetic, and that was now my life.
“I’ll take a cold pitcher, Carmen. This one’s gotten hot.” Honestly, beer just tasted like shit. The wings had been dry. Everything was shit. But I’d forced myself out of the house, refusing to sink like the Titanic.
“Are you sure you just don’t want a bottle instead?” she asked.
“Nah, make it a pitcher. I’ll share it with her.” I spun around and, at the door, saw a giant dork I hadn’t expected to run into that Thursday evening, but that dork was there for me. I ran over and threw my arms around my brother.
“Why didn’t you call me?” he asked.
“Because if I called and you turned me down, I’d be even more miserable, and I have to maintain a modicum of my ego to prove my dominance over Beep and Boop or they’ll eat my face off in my sleep.”
“Good thinking. Your face is one of your better features.”
I shoved my shoulder into his side and stomped back to my lonely booth.
“So, when does Hud get back?” Cal asked, going straight into it without pulling any punches. Then again, what had I expected?
“Tomorrow,” I answered, refilling my cup with the fresh cold-ish beer Carmen had brought us.
“What does this move mean for you two?”
But before I could answer, my phone went off beside my scattered, abused darts.
“That’s him. Hold on.” After a deep breath, I painted my face with a happy, supportive brush and answered his FaceTime call. “Hi.”
“Damn, you look good,” Hudson said, grinning at me on camera.
Across the table, Cal sat back and poured himself a beer.
“You look good too,” I replied. “How’d it go today? Find a Hudson Bradley–approved location?”
He wiped his scruffy chin with his hand and his brows rose, but there was little excitement on his face. “Yeah, I think so.” Clearly, neither of us wanted to celebrate because it was just one more thing making it all the more real. “I suppose I can check the warehouse, office, and at least an apartment off my list.”
“Well, that’s what you were out there to do. Job well done, big guy.” I felt none of the enthusiasm I was trying to emote, but he didn’t need me bitching and moaning. He needed me to be strong for him, whether he’d admit it or not.
“I guess. I just want to get back to Atlanta. I even tried to get a red eye out tonight, but there wasn’t anything that wouldn’t have me in the air for twelve hours just to save six. What are you doing? Are you at Huey’s?”
I pushed my shoulder forward and gave him a what-if-I-am glance, pursing my lips. “Yes, and I’ll have you know I just won at darts.”
Cal kicked me under the table.
“Okay, I was just playing myself, but why split hairs?”
“Are you alone?”
Thank God I didn’t have to lie; Hudson had enough guilt already. “Nope. My big, goofy brother is here. No need to worry.”
“Cal,” Hudson said and I turned the camera to face my company. “Don’t let her get you drunk and play her for money. You might be a doctor, but she’ll take you to the cleaners. She hustled me out of fifty bucks last time we played.”
Cal chuckled and leaned forward. “Do I look worried? Half the reason I don’t come here as much is because I make you guys look so, so sad. You’ll never be as good as me, either of you, so it’s not really fair to play you guys anyway.”
“Whatever. Keep dreaming,” Hudson fired back.
I returned the camera to me. “So, you gonna do that thing I like tomorrow night?”
Cal deserved everything he got.
“Which one, babe? The spanking thing or the—”
Cal slapped the table with his hands. “Lalalalalala. Okay, you two sickos win. Shut up.”
Hudson wrinkled his nose, looking playful and adorable, and then winked at me. And despite everything we were going through, I would never pass up the chance to see him light up and relax—even if a whole country separated us.
“Okay, well, I love you and I’ll see you tomorrow. Come by my place after you see Jack. Your three pussies have missed you. I’ll be the bald one on the bed.”
Cal gagged. It was awesome and so worth it.
“You know you’re the only pussy I want.”
“Okay, enough. Wrap it up, you two,” Cal begged. “I’m going to be sick.”
Hudson laughed. “Hey, that reminds me. Can you do me a favor and drop my truck off at the airport? I’m barely going to make it home in time to see Jack before bedtime. It will save me a trip so I can hurry up and get back to you.”
