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“No shit.” With another curse, Nash tossed a pair of pliers onto the floor and got up. “You’re late.”
“I got held up in a meeting with Waters. Sorry.” Hudson nodded toward the house. “I see you got the appliances out of the house.”
“I managed.” Nash grimaced. “Might have pulled one or two muscles, but I got it done. Thanks for driving out, though. You want a beer?”
“Nah. I’m good. I'm supposed to meet up with Rebecca in an hour.”
Nash moved past Hudson and grabbed himself a cold one from the fridge. “You and her are still…hanging out?”
“Yeah.” His answer was gruff, and Nash gave him a curious look.
“You not liking the arrangement?”
He’d told Nash everything. How Rebecca had practically attacked him a few weeks back. And not that he was complaining or anything, the sex had been red-hot. Hell, it had been off the charts most every night since; it was just that he was starting to get pissed off at their arrangement. Something about the “benefits” thing was rubbing him the wrong way. He just wasn’t sure what that something was.
“I don’t know,” he admitted, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “I’m just tired, I guess. I’ve got a lot going on.”
“I heard you and Mackenzie are partnering on a new development in town.”
That surprised Hudson. Nothing had been announced, and he hadn’t said a word. Nash must have noticed the expression on his face, because he shrugged. “Nancy Davis.”
Ah. Enough said. The woman worked for the county and had looked after the permits for him. Apparently, she had a knack for talking about her work.
“The permits should be approved, and then we can move forward.”
“That’s a good thing, Huds. Let me know how I can help out.”
Hudson nodded. “Okay. I appreciate it.” He sighed. “So, we’re good? You don’t need me for anything else?”
“We’re good. There were three guys delivering the new appliances. I got them to help me move the old ones out. They’re coming back tomorrow to take them off my hands.” A sly grin touched Nash’s face. “What do you and Becca have planned tonight?”
“Hell if I know. She just told me to be come over for five. Said Liam had hockey practice after school and then would be at Cub Scouts until eight.”
Nash gave a low whistle. “Shit. That gives you three hours, and we both know you only need fifteen minutes.”
Hudson didn’t respond. His mind was on other things. Dartmouth. His father. Rebecca. The development. Dart-fucking-mouth.
“Hey.” Nash slapped him on the shoulder. “You look like that, and I can pretty much guarantee you, Rebecca will slam the door in your face. Fifteen minutes won’t matter at that point.
“Seriously.” Nash’s eyebrows rose. “Are you okay?”
Hudson rolled his shoulders and gazed out at the water. “You ever feel like you’re just a piece of driftwood? Like you have no control over where the tide will take you? No control over where you’ll end up or how you’ll even get there.”
“Every damn day, brother.” No longer were Nash’s eyes laughing. They were dead serious. “That’s the thing about life. There are no guarantees. You’ve got to fight for what you want and then fight not to lose it. The hard part is figuring out what it is you’re fighting for.”
“You might be onto something.” Hudson slapped his buddy on the shoulder. “I should get going.”
“Okay.” Nash stepped back. “Let me know.”
Hudson was at the door and paused. “Let you know what?”
“Let me know when you figure that shit out.”
Hudson headed back up the steps and climbed into his truck. He checked his phone and saw that it was nearly five. With a quick turn of the key, his truck roared to life and he headed back to Crystal Lake. Back to Rebecca. And his allotted three hours.
By the time he reached her place, dusk was falling, brought on early by the heavy clouds in the sky and the endless wind that buffeted the town. Her car was parked in its usual spot, and soft light fell from the windows. Rebecca hadn’t bothered to install blinds in the front room and he could see she’d spent a night painting the walls. It looked good. She’d become one hell of an independent woman.
She’d become the woman he knew she would. Hudson slid from his truck and took the stairs two at a time. He didn’t bother to knock. He reached for the doorknob, but before he could grab hold of it, the door opened.
