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“Seriously, Lennon. Just think about it. We could take a long weekend. Head down on Friday, see Hudson play. Spend some much needed girl time together on Saturday. Head home on Sunday and spend Monday recuperating from what hopefully will be one hell of a weekend.”
Even I can’t deny her plan doesn’t sound half bad. And of course I’m dying to see Hudson again, even if I’m not willing to admit that piece of information out loud. And seeing him play? I’ve been dying to do that since the second he told me he was a musician. I mean, come on, what girl doesn’t love a hot musician? And Hudson definitely has the hot part down.
“You know you want to,” Em adds, straightening her leg out to nudge the side of my knee with her foot. “Come on, Len. What do you say?”
“I don’t want Hudson to know I’ll be there.”
“Done.” She nods once. “Colton’s gonna shit when he finds out we’re coming.”
“You mean Colton doesn’t know? I thought you said he invited you?”
“He did. I told him I’d think about it. I had to make sure you’d go with me first.” She smiles wide and winks before quickly climbing out of the bed.
Rolling to my side, I throw the covers over my head and let out a slow breath, still not able to fully process everything that happened last night or how I feel about it.
I must have dozed off in the few minutes Emma was gone because when she flops down on the bed next to me I shoot up, disoriented and a little confused.
“We’re all set,” she announces, pushing my wild mess of blonde hair out of my face.
“All set for what?” I manage through a large yawn.
“I talked to Colton. He gave me the information to the bar where Hudson is playing. We’re meeting him there at ten. I figure we will head up right after class which will put us checking into our hotel about eight. Then of course we need time to get ready. Hudson goes on at nine so they’ll be there if we get in earlier.”
“We’re actually doing this?” I question, collapsing back onto the bed before rolling face down into my pillow. “I thought maybe I was dreaming,” I speak directly into the fluffy cotton.
“No such luck, butter cup.” The bed shifts seconds before Emma’s hand connects with my ass cheek on a hard smack. “Now get your ass up. You’ve got to be at your parents in less than an hour.”
“I don’t wanna go,” I whine, throwing my hands dramatically to the side.
“Well too bad. You’ve missed lunch the last two weekends. If you don’t go today they will come to us and as much as I love your parents, I do not want to deal with Elise Claire when she’s in one of her moods.” I hear the smile in her voice as she refers to my mother.
My parents are incredible but my mom tends to get a bit of a stick up her ass when she hasn’t seen me in a while. Considering my sister, Nana, and Uncle Scott never miss Sunday lunch, she doesn’t take too kindly to it when I do.
In my defense, Nana, my mother’s mother, never misses anything, likeever. Uncle Scott, who isn’t actually my uncle but a very good family friend, has exactly two friends and that’s my mom and dad, so he always shows. He and dad usually end up sneaking off shortly after eating whatever elaborate thing my mom made to drink beer and watch whatever sports program happens to be on at the time. And Starr, well she still lives with my parents so she’s there by default. I keep telling my mom that shouldn’t count but in her book it does.
“Fine.” I groan, knowing she’s right. There’s no way I can get out of it a third weekend in a row, especially considering I’ll be missing next Sunday to be in Nashville with Emma. “You sure you don’t want to come with me?” I lift my head, spotting my best friend leaning in the doorway waiting to make sure I’m actually going to get up.
“I think I hit my quota for the month. Besides, I’m pretty sure your Nana still hates me. I swear I feel her glaring at me every time I go anywhere near her.”
“She does not hate you.” I laugh.
“No, she only blames me for every bad decision you’ve ever made,” she says with a smile on her face and humor in her voice.
“She has to blame someone I guess.” I grin, slowly sitting up before dropping my legs over the side of the bed.
I stretch my arms over my head, my body sore in all the right places, causing my smile to spread.
“And there she goes,” Emma says knowingly, turning in the doorway. “I’ll leave you to day dream about your hottie. I got shit to do. I’ll be back later tonight.”
“Love you,” I say to her backside seconds before she disappears down the hall.
“Love you back,” she says, the front door opening and closing moments later.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The smell of Hudson’s cologne still lingers in the room, almost as prominent as his touch still lingers on my skin.
I know it was just one night. Despite any plans Emma has to prove otherwise, that’s probably all it will ever be.
Even still, I can’t deny the way my stomach flutters at the thought of seeing him again next weekend, even if I think it’s ultimately a bad idea. There’s no way things will work between us long term so why make it any harder than it already is.
And even though I know with almost absolute certainty that this is true, it doesn’t silence that small voice in my head saying maybe things could turn out differently for us.
I give myself exactly thirty seconds to mull that over before I force myself out of bed, knowing the only thing worse than not showing for Sunday lunch is showing late and making everyone wait to eat.
