“It’s also coincidental that I just moved here and have a persistent ex and domineering parents.Just because it isn’t one of them, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have something to do with me,” I insisted, my mind whirling with possibilities, and none of them good.
“Either way, you would have been a sitting duck had you been home.Should have never fucking started with you like this,” Hudson muttered, sending me reeling back as though he’d physically struck me.
“Hud,” Griffin warned, eyeing his brother like a loaded gun.
“What was I fucking thinking?Fuck!”Hudson exploded, raking his hands through his hair.“So fucking stupid.”
“No, apparently I am,” I bit out before shoving past Hudson, flinging the door open, and striding out of the station, barely restraining the urge to run.
I distantly heard him bellow my name, but I was already out of the building and heading in the opposite direction of his truck.
I didn’t know where I was headed—his words a painful, pounding rhythm in my chest.
Should have never started with you.
I couldn’t go home.Despite what he’d said, I knew he’d come after me.And apparently, my home wasn’t safe anymore anyway.I needed time to collect myself.
Or at least to attempt to.
When the city library came into view—a beautiful brick building with stained glass windows—I stepped inside without second thought.The space felt instantly familiar; libraries and bookstores had been my refuge more times than I could count in my youth.
The soothing scent of books greeted me as I entered the foyer.Pausing, I took in the two-story structure with vaulted ceilings and rows upon rows of books ready to be explored.With a quick wave to the librarian behind the desk, an older woman with a kind smile, I climbed the stairs to the second floor, eager to find a corner of peace.
My fingers glided over the book spines as I passed, relishing the peaceful silence of the cavernous space.Gradually, my heart rate slowed to a familiar, steady cadence rather than the frantic beat from moments before, allowing my mind to clear and make way for reason.
I’d never seen Hudson as furious as he’d been after watching the footage.But what I saw in his eyes was more than rage—it was stark, cold fear.Fear for me.
He was blaming himself.He took so much on his shoulders, especially when it came to me.Despite how raw I felt, I couldn’t bring myself to believe he could regret us.That he could regret me.
I pulled one of my favorite books off the shelf and found a cozy chair to curl up in, needing to get lost in it before I faced reality.
It wasn’t long before my eyes drifted closed, the lack of sleep from the night before and the chaos of the morning taking their toll.
I woke an indeterminable amount of time later as I was lifted into familiar arms.
“Lucy!Fucking Christ!”Hudson’s hushed urgency made my eyes snap to his anxious face.“You scared the ever-living shit out of me!”he growled, holding me tight against him.
“I’m fine, Hudson.Put me down,” I demanded, trying to blink awake my sleep-addled brain.
“You’re not fine.I’mnot fine,” he insisted, though his face softened as he took me in.“I didn’t know where you were—no one did.I’ve been to every place I could think you would go.I’ve been out of my mind.”
“And what is it you want, Hudson?An apology?”I shot him an incredulous look.“You essentially said you wished you’d never met me, and I need to apologize for needing space?Go to hell,” I growled as I wriggled in his arms to no avail.
“Let’s get you home,” he insisted, no doubt not wanting to have this talk in such a quiet space where anyone could overhear.
On that, at least, I could agree.
“You are not carrying me.”I pushed against his hard chest.He had the nerve to look amused as he put me down dutifully and swept out his arm, gesturing for me to go first.
I stalked through the library, determined to walk the few blocks to my house.
“Baby, it’s pouring,” he said, stating the obvious as I stepped outside.
“Then you’d better get in your truck and go home,” I grumbled, the downpour immediately soaking me to the bone as I began the walk home.
He kept pace with me, allowing me to stew in silence until we reached my door.There, he halted my progress by taking my keys and insisting on entering my house alone, no doubt wanting to make sure it was safe before I went inside.
“I’ve got to get cleaned up,” I informed him when he returned with a nod and gestured for me to go inside.“You can let yourself out.”
