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“Landry,” Hudson’s dad said.
“Eugene, but everyone calls me Genie,” I replied.
“Well,” Landry began. “I saw a young lady changing a tire along the side of the road. I figured I’d stop and check to see if she needed help. It was Genie here.”
“Your father told me he had sons,” I said to Hudson, squeezing his hand.
“When she said she couldn’t cook, I thought of Hudson and his weird obsession with cooking. I knew right then he’d do well to have someone like that.”
I cringed, pinching my thumb and index finger together almost to demonstrate. “I can cook a little.”
Kelly and Landry laughed, but when I glanced up at Hudson, he was smiling at me softly. He rubbed my cheek. “See? You were meant to come to me.”
“How did you two meet?” Landry asked.
Hudson gave his parents the details, leaving nothing unturned. I expected myself to be embarrassed or ashamed, but Hudson was so animated and happy as he talked about me living with him. Even when he spoke of my hardships with the apartment and job, he spoke highly of me. There was no room for me to be uncomfortable. Instead, I watched him, mesmerized, as he gushed over me. Suddenly, I realized I was inmymoment. Things were only going to get better. Hudson was making it clear I was a part of his life.
???
The place was jam packed with people, and music played. As Sue said, most of them seemed to come to dance and have fun, while others chatted in groups throughout the huge building. I was too enamored with Hudson to notice the older women at first. But I had to pee so badly, and the moment I stepped away from Hudson, my attention snagged on everything. The way people eyed me. As I walked to the bathroom, a hateful-looking woman said loudly, “Hudson’s really dropped the bar for taste in women when my daughter broke up with him.”
“Was a good idea on her part,” added another woman. “Hudson walked away from the company tocook.”
I felt my anger boil to the surface. Forget what she said about me. Was she looking down on Hudson for choosing to cook inhisrestaurant? Were they idiots? Had they not visited Homestyle? Hudson was very successful.
“Look at that hair,” the first one muttered. “She’s begging for attention with that color.”
I stopped and fisted my hands at my sides. Turning their way, I saw they were looking to their left and didn’t notice me. “Hilary has made her way to Hudson.”
The second woman laughed. “I bet he’s filled with regret.”
I looked toward Hudson and Finnick. A gorgeous brunette stood beside them. Was that Hudson’s ex? She placed her hand on Finnick’s shoulder, who kindly shrugged her off. I smiled. Regardless of what she once was, I didn’t care. Hudson wasn’t paying attention to her. Even when she kept looking at him, he gave her a nod and went back to his conversation with the man next to him and Finnick. There were no staring or interactions on his part. I was getting a bit irked that she kept ogling my man, but she finally withdrew and went back to chatting up the other brother.
“Oh, look!” a young voice called out beside me. I turned to find a young boy—maybe about nine or ten—standing beside me. He had dirty blond hair and familiar eyes, but when did he arrive? “It seems Miss Hilary is onto the next Henderson brother.”
Hilary’s mom turned bright red as she glared at the boy. He smiled, holding his gaming device up as he waved at the two gawking women. With a huff, they turned away, and the boy said, “Just so you know, she didn’t break up with Hudson. Hudson ended things because she was giving him a hard time when he wanted to open a restaurant. Grandma told me. She likes to gossip.”
Grandma Sue?
“I wasn’t worried. I mean, have you seen my hair.” As I picked up one of my red curls, I spoke in the same snooty tone the women spoke in, causing the kid to laugh.
He nodded. “It’s cool.”
“And you are?”
“Hudson’s my uncle.”
That was Finnick’s son. I should have known immediately. The kid looked like the Henderson men. For a second, I believed I might be staring at my future if I ever allowed such a scenario. I couldn’t believe my thoughts! Sue was rubbing off on me.
“I’m Eugene, but you can call me Genie.”
“Finley.” Even his name was like his father’s. So cute.
“Well, thanks for scaring them off. The trailer park might have come out of me if they kept talking.”
He laughed. “That’s weird.”
“Hold that thought,” I said. “I have to use the bathroom so bad! Both of your grandmas kept me at the salon all day, and then dragged me here. I’ve barely had time to do anything.”
