“You let me deal with that.”
Somehow the knot of worry in my stomach eases. I have no idea what will happen next, but I trust Hudson. I always have. And if he says he can take care of it—take care of me—then I believe him.
I fall into his arms and we share sweet, tender kisses and even sweeter words. My thoughts still darken whenever I think about what my brother’s reaction to all of this will be. But Hudson is here for me. Whatever the future holds, he's on my side.
“You want to try Sebastian’s again?” Hudson asks, placing a kiss on my forehead.
I chuckle. “I’m not ten anymore … we don’t have to go for ice cream.”
“I know. But our last date got cut short. And I want to take you out...in public. With me. Hold your hand and feed you bites of dessert.”
“What if we see Hayden again? Are you going to disappear on me?” There’s a worried note to my voice, no matter how cool I’m trying to play this new relationship thing we’re navigating.
He sits up, pulling me up with him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
If Hayden saw us out together, reeking of sex, he’d punch Hudson in the face. Not that Hudson couldn’t defend himself, but still, it’s not a scenario I care to dwell on. But I see in his expression that Hudson’s set on this idea. Maybe he just wants a do-over, to paint some good memories over the awkward one from a few days ago.
“Can I borrow a T-shirt?” I ask.
“Of course you can.”
Thirty minutes later, we’re once again standing in line for ice cream cones. But the atmosphere couldn't be more different than last time. Hudson holds my hand the entire time we’re in line, and when he leans down to place soft kisses against the back of my neck, murmuring that he loves seeing me in his T-shirt, I almost melt into a puddle. Our date is happy instead of bittersweet, openly affectionate instead of secretive. The future is all spread out for us to choose from, like the ice cream flavors in their big inviting tubs, every option bright and sweet. Everything this transition means—leaving the bedroom and acting like a couple in public—is nothing short of a dream come true.
Epilogue
Hudson
One Year Later
“Stand still,” Hayden mutters. “Your bow tie is more crooked than a dog's hind leg.”
I laugh, jostling his hands even more. “And you're picking up some seriously hokey shit from Emery's mom.”
He grins. “What can I say? Her Midwest-isms are catchy.” He finishes adjusting my tie and slaps me on the shoulder. “I still can't believe you're getting married, dude. And before me, too. How the fuck did that happen?”
I know what he means. If someone had told me last year that I'd find a girlfriend by now—let alone a wife—I would have laughed in their face. And then probably punched them. I didn't understand why or how a man could tie himself down like that.
But Gracie showed me that a good relationship doesn't tie you down. It sets you free. It means that you'll always have someone there to support you. It gives you a space to be yourself without being alone. To try new things together and fuck up and laugh about it and try again.
Ever since we were kids, I'd always had feelings for Gracie. But I didn't understand just how deep they ran. And when I started to realize it, I instinctively fought the idea. Love was a drug, a trap, a trick that only other people fell for. My being in love with Gracie would change everything. I'd have to give up my playboy lifestyle, Hayden wouldn't trust me anymore, and Gracie's heart would probably end up broken.
But it was already too late. From the moment we first kissed, her tongue eagerly stroking mine in that crowded nightclub hallway, I had started changing...for the better.
Then, on the night of our last lesson, I couldn't deny the truth any longer. Seeing Gracie cry over me had felt like a gut-punch. I know you don't do relationships, she said, and instead of nodding along, I realized something: I genuinely wanted one. I wanted to try. I wanted to learn. So I let her know that it was her turn to become my teacher. And she did. She showed me how to love—in her own way, full of laughter, passion, and heat. I never knew something could feel so all encompassing. She was my first thought when I woke up and the last thing on my mind when I drifted off to sleep. It was her name on my lips when we made love, her very being imprinted on my heart. It was love with no guardrails, and I fell hard and deep for her.