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Max barked, causing us to jump.
“What was that for, Bear?” I asked.
He barked again at his owner.
Hudson narrowed his eyes at the animal and said, “I thinkMaxis offended that I upset you.”
“You didn’t upset me. My situation upsets me. It’s like I kept ignoring all the obvious red stop signs and thinking everything would work itself out if I chose to run red lights.”
“I knew you looked like the type to get speeding tickets. Knowing you run redlights confirms it.”
I laughed. “I knew you were judging me from the very beginning.”
He shrugged. “I’m not judging, but watching you stresses me out.”
“How so?”
“Actually, I don’t know. I honestly don’t.” His brow furrowed as he watched the fire.
I felt bad that I’d only been around the guy for a few days and stressed him out.
“Actually,youdon’t stress me out, Red, but thinking of your clumsy ass getting hurt does worry me. I don’t mind you; you know.” He made a sound in his throat as soon as he spoke.
I was glad he wasn’t looking at me since I felt my skin heat. Hudson didn’t mind me and might worry about me? My heart was starting to pitter patter out of control.
“Ah, I freak myself out, too. It’s okay. I judge your matching pajama sets,” I whispered.
He threw his head back and laughed, which caused weird flutters to erupt in my stomach. It was a deep, husky sound that made me tingle all over.
“You should treat yourself more. You’ll find it quite nice.”
My smile waned. “I splurge on my hair and spend eleven bucks a month on digital books. That’s how I treat myself.” The creases on his forehead deepened, so I added, “I’m saving money.”
“For?”
“I suppose I need a home first, but I actually want to start my own business.”
I felt embarrassed and silly telling an actual business owner about my ideas. After seeing Hudson’s restaurant, my plans looked more like wishful thinking. It took a lot more than just money to start a business.
“Oh? What kind of business?” he asked.
The size difference between us made me nervous. Adding that particular conversation to the mix amplified it, and I swallowed heavily.
I stared at the fire as my pulse roared in my ears. “A book café. I want to open a place with books, coffee,andcakes. Any type of sweets, if you ask me, go so well with books and coffee.” I sighed ruefully. “But I’ve been foolish with those stop signs. From the very beginning, I’ve always needed a home.”
More than that dream.
That was never going to change. I couldn’t have stayed in that apartment much longer, and deep down, I always knew that.
It’s fine. Everything’s fine.
“I’m guessing you’re in your mid-twenties?” Hudson asked unexpectedly.
“Twenty-nine, actually.”
“That means you have forty years, at least, to open a bookstore. Just because it can’t happen for you now, doesn’t mean it won’t happen eventually.”
I brought my knees to my chest and rested my head on top of them as I watched him. “How old are you?”
