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“Let go of me.” Michael jerked out of Hudson’s hand, stepping backward onto my toes.
I nearly dropped the bowl of mashed potatoes. The veins in Hudson’s neck jumped as he yanked Michael’s shirt. “It looks like you came here for the sole purpose of antagonizing Eugene just because she didn’t allow you to touch her.”
“That better not be true, Michael,” Francis said from behind Hudson. “You knew I didn’t want you here today because we wanted to celebrate with Genie, and you came anyway.”
Michael glared at Hudson and said, “You better get your hands off my shirt.”
Hudson towered over his cousin. “Or…?”
“Don’t hurt him, Hudson,” Francis began. “Just make him leave.”
Michael snapped his head toward his sister. “Me? I’m your brother.”
“Outside!” Hudson shouted, shoving Michael forward and away from me when he tried to jerk out of his grasp again. “I’d rather Red not see what I’ll do to you if you don’t fucking leave.”
“Seriously, Hudson. Don’t hurt him,” Francis said as she followed them.
My stomach knotted. Turning around, I walked over to the kitchen counter and put the bowl down. “How about I leave instead?”
“Don’t do that, Genie,” my brother said. “Don’t let Michael ruin our time together.”
I couldn’t believe I had originally planned to live at my brother’s. There was no way I could have lasted a day with Michael harassing me. I loved my brother, and I knew he hated Michael bothering me, but he had to think of Francis. She would defend her brother no matter what.
Edwin would have never thrown him out like Hudson did. My brother and his wife would have let Michael go off on his rampage, saying words that didn’t help. The truth was sobering. My vision blurred, and I wiped my eyes.
“If Michael behaves this way around me, imagine how he acts toward other women,” I said to my brother.
Edwin flinched. “Genie…”
“Thanks for sending me to Hudson.” I sniffed. “He can do for me what you can’t. And don’t think I’m angry. I know Michael is Francis’s brother, but just because you two tolerate his behavior, doesn’t mean I want to. I love you, Edwin, but I’m going home. All this has done is remind me why I like being alone.”
Edwin opened his mouth but shut it when footsteps approached.
“Thanks for not reacting to him,” Francis said to Hudson.
“Michael’s using again,” Hudson replied. “The needles were lying right out in the open in his truck. I know you love him, Francis, but you’re not helping him. Red doesn’t deserve to be treated that way either.”
When they stopped at the kitchen entrance, I met Hudson’s gaze, and something in me cracked. My heart roared in my ears.
“Red…?” he murmured.
Tucking my red strands behind my ears, I stepped toward him. “Do you want to leave?”
Every part of my body trembled, and all I wanted was to be done with that day.
“Please don’t go.” Francis hurried to me. “I should have sent Michael away as soon as he showed up.”
“It’s fine. He’s your brother.” I eyed Hudson, who moved his gaze over me once.
“Let’s go.” That was all Hudson said. No trying to make me stay. No trying to make it better. Instead, he gave me exactly what I wanted—an escape.
???
Hudson didn’t push me into any conversation on the drive to his cabin. If he were any other person, I would have appreciated that space. Hudson was becoming unlike everyone else, though. I wanted to pour out all the words to him. Complain about his cousin and thank him for stepping in where my brother never did.
We remained quiet even after we were home. I only disappeared upstairs to change my clothes and get my blanket. I finally decided that I was done wearing a bra around the cabin. When I was home, I liked to be comfortable. With all those new pajamas, Hudson might never notice. When I returned downstairs, I didn’t see Hudson. He might have gone to his room.
Max joined me on the couch, laying within the curve of my legs. I closed my eyes, enjoying the comfort of being back in Hudson’s cabin.
