Page 99 of When the Time Is Right
“Sure. Anything that gets you home faster,” I said, looking at his face on my screen and wondering how many more times we’d be doing that very same thing in the future.
“Thanks, babe.” He placed a kiss to his fingers and then to the lens. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Hud.” I reluctantly hung up.
Cal shook his head as I put my phone back on the table. “Can I just say something? Like, just put it out there?”
I shrugged and took another drink. “You never needed my permission before. Knock yourself out.”
“Why in the fuck are you letting Lauren do this? I mean, I get why Hudson is trying to be fair and prevent Jack from feeling the hurt of a dysfunctional home like the one he had growing up. But you? Why haven’t you gone over there and fought for him? Fought for you both?” He glared at me as if I were a stranger and not his little sister. “The Alexis Lawson I know doesn’t take shit. Especially from Lauren Rafferty of all people, who right now has her head so far up her ass that she can’t see how this will tear all of us apart.”
It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it. I bit my lip—just like I’d been biting my tongue—then rolled my eyes and took another drink.
“It just doesn’t make any sense, Lex. This shit isn’t fair to anyone but Mark, and I have milk at home that’s older than their relationship.”
I stared over his shoulder because I didn’t have an answer to his questions. I agreed with him wholeheartedly, but I had no idea how to fix this.
“Why are you being such a coward?” Cal pressed on. “That’s not the Lex we all love. It’s damn sure not the one Hudson is in love with.” He slapped the table again. “Hey, Joan of Arc, look at me. Why are you being a martyr instead of fighting for what you want?”
I glared at him, hating how helpless I felt about it all. “I’m the girlfriend. She’s the mother of his child. If I wade into the middle of this, I’m going to be the bad guy. What happens if I make things worse for Hudson?”
“Worse? What’s worse? He’s leaving the only home he has ever known. The only family that has ever given a shit about him. He’s starting a new branch of Hud Construction, so rushed and unthought out that he could possibly fuck it all up and lose big time out there. And you, Lex. He’s losing you.”
I swallowed my rage after having it all thrown in my face like that. “Cal, she doesn’t have to listen to me.”
“Do you love Hudson? Like building-a-life, starting-a-family-of-your-own, being-a-second-mother-to-Jack, and finally-being-happy love him? Or are you just gonna do nothing and hide like you always do when shit gets tough?”
“Hey!” I yelled, and my voice cracked as I pounded on the table. “Shut the hell up. I love him, okay? Yes, like forever. Yes, like I want him to be the father of my children, and there’s nothing more that I want than to be a bigger part of Jack’s life. A life with him is all I’ll ever fucking want, so you can shove your nosy ass questions up your…” I paused because I’d already said ass, but damn it, I was pissed. So I finished instead with, “Up your dick hole.”
He grinned. The motherfucker grinned.
“Are you mad?”
“Yeah, I’m mad. I’m furious. How dare you question how much I love Hudson.”
“Are you mad enough to fight for him yet?”
Without much thought, I answered, “Hell yeah.”
“Good. I’ll drive you to Lauren’s.”“Does this minivan go any faster?” I bitched from the passenger seat. I’d always assumed Cal would have one eventually, but I hadn’t been prepared for it so soon. Then again, the thing had all the bells and whistles, and I’m pretty sure it could drive itself.
“Faster? Since when do you like traveling at traffic speed?”
“Since my whole fucking life depends on it. Now get the lead out, Cally. I’m ready to kick her ass.” I turned my head and grimaced.
“What?” he screeched.
“Okay, I’m not gonna kick anyone’s ass, but I’m ready to give her a piece of my mind.”
“Fine. That’s better. I’m not becoming an accomplice to anything.”
I laughed and the thought that Hudson would love all of this ran across my mind. Cal fighting for his best friend, albeit using me as the weapon. But I had to hand it to him; he wasn’t dumb. Pissing me off was a good way to see how far Lauren was willing to take this.
I only prayed it worked.
I didn’t feel much like a weapon as I marched up her sidewalk and banged on her door, glancing back at my brother who was giving me a thumbs-up from the cushy front seat of his new grocery-getter. It wasn’t that late, and her car was the only one in the drive since Homewrecking Granddaddy Mark was in Portland already.
