Page 68 of Bridesmaid By Chance
The tension between us immediately sucks all the air from the room as his eyes travel up and down my body, like they always do, as if he needs to mentally approve what I’m wearing.
When I say we’ve been walking around like zombies the last two days, I’m not kidding. We haven’t spoken to each other, we’ve barely acknowledged one another, and when we have, it’s been curt sentences.
There’s anger simmering.
Irritation.
A lack of understanding.
It’s a recipe for disaster for two people who are attempting to act like they’re in love.
Hudson tears his eyes off me when he notices Stacey to the side. “Hey, Stacey.”
Stacey looks between us, clearly sensing the awkward and uncomfortable tone as she says, “Hey, Hudson. How’s my favorite brother-in-law?”
Leave it to Stacey to push the limits.
Hudson visibly looks uncomfortable as he says, “Fine.”
“Why are you here?” I repeat.
His eyes move back to mine as he says, “I live here.”
“Yes, but you work in the office. Shouldn’t you be on the phone, ignoring me?”
Hudson’s eyes narrow. “I’m meeting Hardy and wanted to change because I’m going to the gym after. That answer good enough for you? Or do you need more of an explanation?”
“Ooh,” Stacey whispers in the background.
“That explanation will suffice.”
I head toward the front door, and he calls out, “Where are you going? Shouldn’t you be packing?”
“I should,” I say and keep walking toward the entrance.
“Are you done?” Hudson asks.
“You’ll find out when you go upstairs.” I nod toward the door. “Come on, Stacey.”
I’m about to exit the house when he says, “Want to be treated like an adult, Sloane? Then act like one.”
That pauses me midstep because where the hell did that come from? As far as I know, I’m the one actually communicating, unlike him.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me,” he says.
Did this man really come into this house guns blazing, ready to pick a fight?
I forget that my sister is even here as I march right up to Hudson and stand toe to toe with him. “We have a very long trip ahead of us, Husband. I suggest you try to get along with me, rather than start more turmoil between us, because if anything, I’m the one trying to grow this relationship, not you.”
His jaw grows tense as he stares down at me, a comeback on the tip of his tongue. Finally he says, “When will you be home?”
“I don’t know.” I turn away from him, but he grabs my hand and spins me back, right into his brawny chest.
“Will you be here for dinner?”
My mouth goes dry as his eyes zero in, those beautiful, sultry eyes of his. And I hate this. I hate that he has this power over me. That in an instant, he can steal all the air from my lungs.
