‘’No! No please get off of me! Oh god pleaassee-‘’
‘’The lady said GET OFF OF HER!!!’’ boomed a sudden voice, and just like that both my arms and legs were instantly released, and I could hear the rushed scamper of hurried feet running to get away, as Jeremy and his boys hot tailed it out from the park right as the city-timed street lights around Madison Square slowly dimmed on, and I was now able to see through the lessening darkness who the fifth voice belonged to…
‘’Oh my god, are you okay Miss?!’’ said the concerned voice of Mr. Midnight’s worried face leaning down over mine…
CHAPTER 4
It was him. I couldn’t believe it!
‘’Yes, I’m…I’m fine, I think. Um, thank you Sir, thank you so much’’ I breathed, genuinely grateful for his sudden bold intervening just now, as I carefully steadied myself up to my feet with the aid of his hands and arms to help lift me.
‘’You sure Miss? Those guys looked like they were trying to rob you or something’’ he said continuing to look at me concerned.
‘’They did’’ I sighed miserably, feeling horribly heartbroken over the money I’d saved which just like that was now fucking gone ‘’…but apart from that, I’m fine, really, thank you so much’’ I said, allowing myself to timidly look up now into his eyes under the park lamp we were both stood beneath…blue. They were blue just like I imagined them to be…I thought with a hidden smile.
‘’You don’t look fine. Here, let me take a closer look at that’’ he said softly, and it was only when feeling his fingers lightly graze the side of my cheek, did I even remember I’d been punched ‘’Ooh I’m so sorry’’ he said looking rather worriedly at me when I flinched a little from his touch.
‘’No, it…it’s quite alright’’ I told him, my mind and body already feeling a little less traumatized by the horrible ordeal that just occurred, as I stood shyly gazing up into the eyes of my #strangercrush Mr. Midnight, with his deep in concern checking over me still from the vast swelling I could now feel ballooning my jaw and face.
‘’You need to get some ice on that and fast’’ he told me ‘’before it rises and swells your eye shut’’
‘’Yeah, I guess you’re right’’ I nodded, my voice unenthused now at knowing I was going to have to walk around for a while with a swollen shut eye, as I of course had no immediate access to any ice that would slow down the swelling.
‘’If it’s okay with you Miss, I actually have a fresh container of ice sitting out in my car, from a celebratory bottle of wine I was gifted this evening. Looks like you could use it more than me’’ he smiled softly.
‘’You know what, yeah, I think I’ll take you up on that Mr. Midn-um, Sir’’
‘’Hudson Avery’’ he smiled again.
‘’Taylor. Taylor Wainwright’’ I smiled back bashfully, before a slight flinch in pained discomfort reminded me that it took actual facial muscles to smile, and mine were all very much sore and swollen as hell right now which wasn’t the least bit fun.
With a gentleman’s arm held out for me to hold, and a polite steady pace that matched my whimpered walk, I let Hudson lead me out slowly through the park’s main entrance, and over to the familiar Bugatti sports car that always gave me the good goosebumps whenever I saw it.
‘’So tell me, what exactly is a young lady doing hanging out in a park this late at night? Oh it’s okay Taylor, I’m not going to hurt you’’ he said suddenly when noticing my face look a little hesitant at the car door he opened for me to sit in.
It wasn’t concern over his intention of me that had made me hesitant. I guess really it was good ole pride coming round to mess with me again, reminding me that it, and its co-bestie ‘embarrassment’ are never truly gone forever.
‘’No, I don’t imagine you would’’ I said looking up warmly at him ‘’…then again, I’ve been told that exact same thing by faces even more trusting than yours’’
He looked at me a little stunned, and I watched his mouth open, but then close again not quite knowing how to address that. I didn’t mean to stun him so, I just had a habit sometimes of speaking the truth out bluntly.
‘’I’m sorry about that, ignore me. I guess I’m just a little shaken up still is all’’ I leveled with him.
‘’I can understand that’’ he said looking somewhat pitifully at me ‘’well then, let’s get you inside Taylor and see what we can do about that swelling shall we’’
‘’Okay’’ I nodded, and with a gentle bow of my head, I allowed myself to absorb what to me was a pretty surreal and euphoric moment, as I gingerly stepped inside the car of the man in which whom I’d had a secret #strangercrush on for the longest time now. When I did, I felt instantly entranced by the indulgent musky scent of his gentleman’s cologne, beautifully lingering the inside of his car and teasing my nostrils as I carefully sat down.
I didn’t know through his own nostrils how much he could scent of my dirty clothing out in the cool night air, but inside the comfortable confines of his -might I say luxurious car -with its smooth ivory-finished leather-covered seating, its noir tinted blackout windows, the familiar late night serenade of blues jazz gently swaying from the speakers, and of course the gifted bottle of wine on ice to my left in which he told me about- I was pretty certain his nose would twist into an instant screw the second he sat next to me.
‘’Uh, you know what, on second thoughts I really should get going Mr. Avery’’ I said quickly exiting the car when he walked around and opened up the driver’s side door ‘’but really, thank you again for everything. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along when you did’’ I said politely, ignoring the now look of confusion that suddenly clouded his face over my hurried exit, as I swiftly reached forward through the car and took my rucksack from him which I only now remembered about, impressed again by Hudson’s courteous nature which politely let him carry my rucksack to the car for me in my frazzled minded absence.
‘’Taylor wait, what about your face?’’ he called after me, but I had already disappeared into the night.
CHAPTER 5
HUDSON POV:
Little weird…I frowned, my eyes doing a quick scan around my car to see if anything appeared out of place that had spooked her off all of a sudden.