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She blinked and covered her face. My heart twisted inside my chest when she turned away.
“Are you going to cry?” I asked.
“I’m not.” But her shoulders shook, telling me otherwise.
“You are.”
One second, I watched her back; the next, she was facing me. She ran straight toward me. All her softness slammed into me. I froze as her arms wrapped around me. “I’m going to be shameful and accept your offer. But I promise I’ll be a good roommate.” Her hands were hot, pressing against my back. “Thank you, Hudson.”
And with that, Eugene ran upstairs, leaving me in the same spot. I looked at Max, and he looked at me. “Got her,” I whispered. He clearly had no idea what I was up to. Honestly, neither did I despite the fact that I wanted her to stay and made it happen. And it felt pretty fucking good. I still felt the heat of her on my clothes.
NINETEEN
EUGENE
I felt a little shame, but not enough to reject Hudson’s offer. I was more embarrassed than anything. All that talk of leaving his house, not accepting his food, and bam! I agreed to live there without giving it much thought. The humiliation hadn’t lasted long after speaking to him, and I hadn’t felt judged. He probably wonderedwhyI had lived in that moldy apartment but hadn’t asked.
Not weighing all the pros and cons got me into some rough spots. Take my condemned apartment, for example. Living in that cabin was likely a big mistake. But it didn’t feel like one. I knew more than anyone that nothing lasted forever. Hudson wasn’t hard to live with; granted, I’d only been for there a few days, but I found him pleasant and easy to talk to. Time would tell the truth.
“And just like that, you’re going to be living with this man because he said so?” Holly asked again.
I switched my phone to the other ear. “Don’t say it like that. I’m not living in the same room with him, Holly. I’m living in the samehousewith him. When you saywith, it sounds like you’re trying to turn the entire situation dirty. His bedroom is downstairs, and he’s given me one of the spare rooms upstairs.”
“But that’s a little weird. He doesn’t know you, so that obviously means two things.”
“Don’t say it.”
“He’s trying to get into your pants or something.”
“Or he’s genuinely offering me help.”
“So, you don’t think it’s at all strange?”
Of course, I was shocked and a little wary, but Hudson didn’t seem like the sort to be shady. I wasn’t afraid of him. But maybe I should be, and that was my problem. “I’m a mess. We all know it, but I wouldn’t stay here if I was uncomfortable around him.”
“Yes, you would. When it comes to saving money, I know you.”
“Shit. You should see him, then you’d know Hudson has no reason to take in a homeless woman if he was trying to get laid. The man is stunningandsuccessful. I don’t see him having trouble finding women to fuck.” I bit my lips and fell back onto the bed. “Although he said it’s not pity, it has to be. The dude saw my apartment. Then, he told me I could stay and work at his place. Really, Holly? If he’s a creep, he’s got me fooled. I think he really wants to help me. I need this to work for a while.”
“You’re right. I can’t help but assume the worst, though.”
I smiled. “Because men are pigs?”
“They are.” There was some static over the line, like she was doing something before she said, “I’m still calling Eddie. I can’t agree with you staying until I know this dude checks out.”
“My brother already knows. I called him this morning, and he thinks it’s a good idea. Eddie wouldn’t send me someplace he didn’t think was safe. That makes me trust Hudson more.”
“Good, but you know you can come back and live with me, right? I can help you get a job at the hospital.”
“I love you for offering, but you know I can’t do that.” She had a relationship with Roger, but not only that. She had a beautiful one-bedroom apartment. I knew our friendship was solid and could withstand anything, but we enjoyed our privacy. At Hudson’s, I could be alone. Whenever he was at work, I could have the entire house to myself.
“Why are you so stubborn?”
I laughed. “I’m not.”
“Well, I’ll need to drop in soon. I’ll give you time to get settled, but I have to check this place out.”
I snorted. “You might not want to leave.”
