He typed: I think I’m in love with you
Stared at it for thirty seconds. Deleted it.
Then typed: Don’t die.
Deleted that too.
Typed: Please come back
No. That was too much. Not enough.
He stared at the cursor blinking on the empty screen. His mind circled back to Shaw’s exposed face on Facetime. He thought about five years of almosts and not-quites. About the way Shaw said his name:Hudson.
Hudson: I think I might actually like you
He hit send before he could change his mind.
The message showed as delivered. Then read.
Hudson watched the screen. Waited for the three dots to appear. For Shaw to say something—anything.
One minute turned to five minutes. Turned to ten.
Nothing.
His ribs ached and he didn’t know if it was from the crash or from the way his heart was trying to break through his sternum.
Hudson fell asleep like that, phone in his hand, checking it every time he woke up, which, at some point during the night, was every hour.
The next morning Hudson lay in Taylor’s guest room staring at the ceiling. Outside, Brooklyn was doing its thing: loud traffic, someone’s music blasting from an open window, a dog barking.
He glanced at his phone. Still nothing. He put it back down and stared at the ceiling some more.
Somewhere across the country Shaw was saying his goodbyes.
Hudson was left with nothing but silence.
PART 3
CHAPTER THIRTY
ELLIOT
The briefingat headquarters lasted twenty minutes. He took notes, asked relevant questions, and picked up a folder full of intel he'd spend the next twenty-four hours memorizing.
As he stepped out of the meeting, he saw his father standing in the corridor. His arms were crossed, face set in that familiar military stoicism.
They hadn't talked much since his mother died. Without her as the mediator, their conversations usually ended in disagreement.
He didn't have the energy for it anymore.
Stopping in front of his father, he saluted. "General."
"Walk with me." That was all his father said until they were outside, away from other personnel, anyone who might overhear. Then he stopped and turned to face Elliot.
"I heard about your orders."
"Yes, sir."
