Page 10

Chapter nine

Hudson

Rolling over, my hand searches for her. A dull ache hums through my muscles as I shift, a reminder of the way we’d come together again in the middle of the night, unhurried, like we had all the time in the world. The memory wakes me enough to leave me wanting more.

But I come up empty. The sheets are cool now, faintly carrying her scent—lavender and something sweeter, something undeniably her. My hand brushes the space where she should be, and a knot forms low in my stomach.

I blink against the dim light creeping through the blinds, my eyes landing on the chair where my shirt still hangs, but her clothes are gone.

Sitting up, the ache sharpens, and I rake a hand through my hair, catching sight of something propped on the pillow beside me. A folded piece of paper, edges slightly crumpled, with my name written on the front.

My stomach twists as I reach for it, unfolding it carefully.

Hudson, Didn’t want to wake you—you looked too peaceful. Last night was…something else. I’ll be smiling about it for a long time. Maybe I’ll see you around. - D

I read the note twice, her words lingering in the air like a fading echo. “Fuck, I should’ve gotten her number,” I murmur to myself, folding the paper and placing it on the nightstand.

Dragging myself out of bed, I sit on the edge and rub a hand over my face. As I pull my shirt over my head, the faint scent of her perfume lingers, completely intoxicating. My throat tightens, and I grip the hem, tempted to breathe her in one last time.

Once dressed and packed, I check out with barely a glance from the front desk clerk. Outside, the morning chill bites as I reach my car. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I pause before starting the engine. Fuck, I didn’t want her to disappear in the night. I wanted to see her again. Last night was…incredible.

The soft sweetness of lavender lingers on my shirt the entire way, stirring flashes of last night, her laugh, the way she fit against me, the way she’d looked up at me with those eyes that felt like they saw too much. I could so easily get lost in them.

I don’t know her last name, don’t know if I’ll ever see her again, but one thing I know is…my superpowers are officially gone, and I don’t even care.

***

By the time I pull into my dorm parking lot, the disappointment from finding Daphne gone has lessened, but only slightly, making way for contentment from last night. I feel good, really fucking good. Last night was amazing and not one I’ll forget for a while. Do I wish I could have a repeat with her? Absolutely. But that can’t happen, so I’m taking it for what it was, a great night with an amazing girl.

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I’m walking. I almost let it go to voicemail, but when I see it’s my sister, I know she won’t stop until I answer. The kid’s relentless.

“Hey, squirt,” I say, already smiling.

“Don’t call me that,” she snaps, her voice sharp but playful. “I’m fourteen, not four. Anyway, Mom wants to know if you’re coming home for Thanksgiving. She’s planning to make enough pie to feed a football team.”

I laugh. That’s Mom. “Thanksgiving is still weeks away.”

“And? Preparation is key here, big brother.”

I laugh. “Yeah, tell her I’m in. And no, I’m not bringing anyone.”

“Not even Jay?” she asks. “Mom says you need someone to keep you from giving her dates the third degree. Oh, and FYI, her last one didn’t run off because of her. He ran off because you grilled him.”

I snort, shaking my head. “Jay’s busy this year. Also, what was I supposed to do? The guy said he was ‘in between jobs.’ That’s code for ‘I sit in sweatpants playing video games all day.’”

“But Mom deserves someone nice, Huds. She’s awesome.”

“She is,” I agree, softening at the thought. “That’s why she’s not ending up with some guy who calls Red Bull a personality trait.”

“Whatever,” she sighs, but I can hear the smile in her voice. “Just promise me you’ll try to be nice if she finds someone new, okay?”

The fact she keeps talking about me behaving around a new guy piques my interest. “Put Mom on the phone, please.”

“Oh, Mom’s too busy for you. She’s currently with her favorite child,” Rory says with far too much sass for a fourteen-year-old.

“Well, that can’t be true, because I’m not home with her,” I shoot back.

“Not funny, loser,” she whines, then I hear a rustling noise and her shouting, “Mom, Hudson’s delusional again. You better come talk to him.”

I’ll make her pay for that when I see her next. I’ll eat all her favorite cereal and leave the box in the cupboard. She hates that.

More rustling, and then my mom’s voice comes on the line. “There’s my favorite boy. How are you doing? It’s been too long since I’ve hugged you.”

“Ha,” I shout down the phone. “I hope Rory heard that. I knew I was your favorite.”

Mom chuckles. “You’re my favorite boy, and she’s my favorite girl.”

“Ha!” I hear Rory cackling in the background.

“Okay, okay, fine. Favorite girl, favorite boy,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But let’s be real, we both know it’s really just me.”

“Don’t push it,” Mom teases. “Now, are you coming home for Thanksgiving? Rory says I need to make it official before she eats the entire grocery budget in snacks.”

“It’s, like, seven weeks away,” I reply with a smirk. “Bit early to lock me in, isn’t it?”

“Not if you want our usual Parker family feast. You know I like to be prepared,” she counters.

“Fine, I’ll be there,” I tell her. “And no, I’m not bringing anyone, before you ask.”

“I wasn’t going to,” Mom says, feigning innocence.

“Sure you weren’t,” I say. “Rory mentioned something about you having a guy in the picture?”

“Oh, so that’s what this call is about.” There’s a hint of amusement in her voice. “Well, since my love life seems to be public knowledge, yes, I’ve been to coffee with someone. It’s nothing serious.”

“Yet,” Rory pipes up in the background. “She likes him!”

“Rory,” Mom warns gently, but I can hear her smiling.

I shake my head, grinning. “So, is this coffee guy going to be around for Thanksgiving? I’d like to meet him.”

“It’s way too early for anything like that.”

“If you’re sure,” I say. “But, you know, if he ever wants to survive a Thanksgiving with us, he’s got to know what he’s getting into. Rory alone is enough to send most people running.”

“I’m a delight!” Rory shouts indignantly from the background.

“Sure, squirt,” I reply, my grin widening.

“Don’t call me that!”

Mom chuckles, cutting in before we can escalate. “Alright, enough you two. Hudson, you don’t need to worry about this. It’s just coffee. And I’d like to enjoy it for that, without you two running interference.”

“I’m not doing that,” I say with mock innocence. “But you deserve someone great, Mom. Just making sure this guy gets that.”

Her voice softens. “I appreciate that, sweetheart, but really, it’s nothing serious. Right now, I’m just enjoying the company.”

“Good,” I reply sincerely, my tone light.

“Now go do something productive with your day instead of pestering me.”

“Fine, fine,” I reply. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too,” she says before we hang up.

As I’m pushing my way inside my room, my phone buzzes in my hand from the guys’ group chat.

New Messages from: Textual Healing Group Chat

Jay

Yo, Huds, how was Gracie last night?

Miles

Yeah, did she play your favorite breakup cry-a-thon song?

Hudson:

First, it’s not a cry-a-thon. Her music is an art form. And yes, she played it. She was amazing.

Seb

Translation: You cried.

Hudson

I didn’t cry. I had feelings.

Jay

LOL. Sure, man. But did the night end with just Gracie, or did you find someone else to “appreciate”?

Miles

*Wide eyes*

Seb

Did our boy lose his superpowers? Spill it, Huds.

Hudson

Can’t a guy just enjoy good music without being interrogated?

Jay

With you? Absolutely not.

Seb

Agreed. Highly suspicious behavior.

Miles

Don’t dodge the question, man.

Hudson

There’s nothing to say.

Jay

Official poll time.

Jay creates poll: “Do you believe Hudson stayed celibate post-concert?” “Absolutely, Huds is a new man” “Hell no, man’s a liar”

Seb

Clicked 2 so fast I broke my screen.

Miles

2 obviously.

Hudson

You guys are ridiculous.

Seb

Oh no. He’s doing the “avoidance phase.”

Miles

What’s next, the over-explanation phase?

Hudson

I DON’T HAVE TO EXPLAIN MYSELF.

Jay

Ah, stage three: caps lock. He’s really spiraling.

Seb

Look, we’re not saying hooking up is bad, Huds. We’re just saying you realize your superpowers are gone now, right?

Hudson

I didn’t hook up!

Miles

Did you at least get her name?

Hudson

Yes.

Jay

Was it just her name? Or, you know, more than her name ?

Hudson

Okay, fine! I hooked up. Happy? I’m not telling you details, though.

Seb

Because there’s nothing else to tell, or because you’re emotionally compromised?

Miles

He’s totally emotionally compromised.

Hudson

You guys are the worst.

Jay

Love you too, buddy.

Seb

Let us know when the wedding is.

Hudson

I’m leaving this chat.

Miles

No, you’re not. You live for this.