“It was definitely a dick-move on my part back in the kitchen,” Hudson said.He took a deep breath.“When I saw you touching Cassie, another side of me came out.I’m not proud of it, but I can guarantee it’ll never happen again.”
“You and Cassie…are you serious about each other?”
“Honestly?We just met.”Hearing those words out loud brought on a slap of reality.“Even if we hadn’t just met, and especially if we were in a relationship, there’s no excuse for my actions.I’m sorry, Beau.”
Beau nodded.“Okay, I accept your apology.No real harm done.It’s not like I’ll ever be part of this family.”
“That’s not true.”
Beau issued a grunt.“For example?”
“You’ve been added to the group text,” Hudson pointed out.“And you’re here right now.We wanted you here.”
Beau didn’t argue.A good sign?
“This family has been broken for so long, we’re all trying to find our way to each other,” Hudson said.“Kade looked out for us in his own way.The twins have always been joined at the hip.Chloe has always done her own thing.She’s closest to Kade.Half the time, I don’t know where I fit in.”
“You fit.”
“Maybe from an outsider’s perspective.”Talking about it made Hudson realize just how disconnected he felt from the group.“They call me the quiet one, but I have plenty of opinions.I just keep them to myself since Kade talks over everyone.Before Beaumont died, we didn’t have much reason to keep in touch and he’d done an excellent job of ‘dividing and conquering’ us.So, in many ways, we’re just starting to learn who we are as grown folks.Our childhood wasn’t something to envy.Beaumont kept us apart or tried to instigate infighting.What I’m trying to say is that you didn’t miss much by not growing up here.In some ways, you might be better off.”
The words seemed to strike a chord in Beau as he nodded along.Good.Hudson knew what it was like to feel on the outside of the Sturgess family.It was high time they all broke down walls and accepted each other, moving forward.
“Trust takes time to build in a normal situation,” Hudson continued.“Beaumont made trusting even harder for all of us.We all have scars, physical and mental.”
“I’m no better,” Beau conceded.“I came in hot and then tried too hard.I can be stubborn when I want to.”
Hudson laughed.“How else do you think I knew you were one of us?”
Beau cracked up, too, and some of the tension broke.
“Are we good?”Hudson asked.
“We’re good.”
“Good, because I’m trying to be a better human, and I’d like it if we could start today over.”
“There are no do-overs in life, my brother.I wouldn’t want any, either.How else would I learn?”
“Look who’s the wise one now,” Hudson teased.
“You also realize we just said the word ‘good’ three times in a row,” Beau said.
“Then, it must be true.”
The back door opened, and Cassie stepped out.She must’ve been wondering what was taking so long.Or, maybe, she ran out of things to say to his siblings.
“She likes you,” Beau said quietly.
Despite the smokin’ hot kisses they’d shared, Hudson wasn’t convinced she wanted more.What did he have to give?His emotions were all over the place about everything—except the way he felt about her.
“Everything all right out here?”Cassie asked as she approached.
“Yes,” Beau answered before Hudson could.It was probably better coming from him anyway.“I need to check something in the barn before I head out.”Beau excused himself before Hudson could get a word in.
Thin worry lines scored Cassie’s forehead.A muscle under one eye twitched.Was she angry?Frustrated?Scared?
“What was that in the kitchen?”she asked, folding her arms over her chest like she needed some kind of barrier between them for safety’s sake.