"Hey."
Hudson raised his gaze. The guy had moved closer, now standing next to the booth with a drink in hand and an easy smile that probably worked on most people.
"Hi," Hudson said.
"Mind if I sit?"
Hudson glanced toward the bar where Taylor very obviously watched the interaction and gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up.
He was going to kill her.
"Sure," Hudson said.
The guy slid into the booth across from him. Up close, he was even better looking, defined jaw, nice eyes, forearms that suggested he actually used his gym membership.
"I'm Derek."
"Hudson."
"Hudson." Derek leaned forward slightly. "Haven't seen you here before."
"First time."
"Yeah? How are you liking it?"
Hudson tried to think of something to say that wasn't "it's loud and I'm having an existential crisis." He landed on, "It's... different."
Derek laughed. "Different good or different bad?"
"To be decided."
"Fair enough." Derek took a sip of his drink, giving Hudson steady attention that should have been flattering, but mostly made Hudson aware of how out of his element he was. "So what brings you here? Besides the obvious."
Hudson wondered whatthe obviouswas.
"My sister,” he nodded toward the bar where Taylor was now very deliberately not looking at them. "She thought I needed to get out more."
"Your sister brought you to a gay bar?"
"It's a long story."
"I've got time."
Hudson tipped his beer back, buying himself a second to think. Derek was a good looking guy. He was also clearly interested, which should be… exciting? Nerve-racking?
"Not much to tell," Hudson said. "I'm home on leave. She dragged me out. Here we are."
"Leave?" Derek's expression shifted with interest. "You're military?"
"Yeah."
"Pilot?"
"How'd you guess?"
"Your posture." Derek grinned. "Most military guys I've met have been Army or Navy. Pilots are usually—" Hepaused, smirking. "Well, they're usually pretty full of themselves."
Hudson smiled despite himself. "Ahh. I see.”
