Page 78 of When the Time Is Right
“At least he was smart enough to go, I guess.”
Hudson’s voice got lower when he replied. “Nah, he wasn’t smart. Craig was a damn fool. He was there with you but left with the other chick. Seems pretty dumb to me.”
“Well, you left with me,” I said, thinking back on how he and Jack had taken me home. “I guess that makes you smart.”
“Maybe, but I wish I would have been smarter sooner. I could have brought you to the wedding too.”
Sinking back into my cozy sheets, I sighed. “Don’t beat yourself up. You can make it up to me by taking me to Cal and Vanessa’s pool party Saturday. And if you’re a real good boy, I’ll do that thing you like with my mouth afterward. Good night, Hudson.”
He groaned. “Uh. Saturday is so far away, babe. But I’ll take you up on it. Good night.”
We hung up and I slept all night with images of us doing a whole host of naughty things.We parked my—correction, his—Chevelle in front of Cal’s place and both took deep breaths.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked from the driver’s seat.
Everyone had been too busy that week, not like they ever showed up at Huey’s anymore anyway, so it was the first time we were going to be around the whole brood…as a couple.
“I’m not worried. Between your brute strength and my unmatched ability to browbeat verbally, I think we can handle them if they give us too much shit.” I turned in the leather seat and grabbed his hand. “But really, I don’t think they’re going to say anything. It might be awkward at first seeing us together, how we are now, but they love us. We wouldn’t be here with them instead of naked at one of our places if they didn’t.”
He kissed my fingers, and I wondered how I could have been so blind to how much I cared for him for so long. I suppose all things happen when they’re supposed to, but I was grateful to be in the place we were. Somewhere with intimacy and fun. Together, sharing more than just our company. Literally hand in hand, walking up to a party with all our friends and family.
For the first time in years, I was deep-down-into-my-bones unbelievably happy.
“There they are,” Cal said, bobbing in the crystal-clear water. “The loooooovebirds.”
“Shut up,” I warned him, although I wasn’t all that upset. However, he was my brother and it was my duty to be a pain in his ass when he was being an idiot. “Don’t you need some floaties, Cally? Maybe a nose plug? Then again, you’re so full of shit you probably float better than most.”
He flipped me off but didn’t fight back.
“Lex, watch me!” Jack shouted from the diving board before launching himself off it. When he popped back up, kicking and paddling to the side, I clapped for him.
“Nice form, Jackie Boy. I give it a nine-point-five.”
“Dad, you’ve gotta try that thing.” He didn’t even look back at us as he talked, making his way to the ladder again.
“Okay, I’ll get in there in a few minutes. Be careful.”
I spotted a few empty chairs at one of the umbrella-covered tables. It was the first time I’d been to Cal’s since the pool had been installed, and by looking at all the new furniture and things they’d added, you’d never know that Cal had been opposed to the whole thing. That and the massive smile on my brother’s face while he watched Jack go off the board again.
Hudson’s warm hand landed at the small of my back and he leaned in. “I’d offer to put sunblock on for you, but I’d rather not walk around with my dick hard in front of everyone. I’m already making mental lists of power tools to think about, knowing you’ll be at arm’s reach and half naked all day.”
I smiled up at him and gazed into his eyes, shining as blue as the water only feet away. “If you and your big dick are looking for sympathy, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
His voice grew even lower, and I bit my lip as he replied, “Me and my big dick don’t need any sympathy, babe. We just need you.”
How did he do that? Make me forget everyone else was even there. Make me feel like the only person for miles.
Well, until my mom broke me out of my Hudson daze.
“Alexis, come show your dad pictures of the cat house. I’ve been telling him all about it.”
Begrudgingly, I left Hudson, took my phone over to where all the old folks were gathered, including Mark, and told them all about it while averting my eyes from the sight of Hudson stripping down to his trunks and diving into the deep end like something straight out of a wet dream.
