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Chapter Twenty-three
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HUDSON
“Damn, you were on fire tonight.” Colton claps me on the back seconds after I exit the stage.
Grabbing the towel he offers, I wipe it across my sweat riddled forehead and along the back of my neck before tossing it over my shoulder.
“Thanks. It felt good.”
“Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain someone being in the crowd tonight, would it?” he asks, already knowing the answer to that question.
I give him a look that tells him exactly that before turning and heading down the stairs and around to the back of the stage.
“Do you know what time the bus is heading out?” I ask him, grabbing a water from one of the large coolers set up for the artists, bands, and crew members.
“Probably in the next hour once everyone is loaded and ready to go.”
“Nice show, Hudson,” Anna says as she steps up next to me.
“Thanks.” I twist the cap off the water and kill the entire bottle in two drinks.
“So I was thinking I could ride with you tonight. We could get the opening verse down on the song you were helping me with.”
“Not tonight. I’m beat,” I say, reaching for another water.
“I’m going to go grab a bite to eat before we hit the road, you want anything?” Colton pulls my attention back to him.
“Yeah. Grab me whatever you get.”
“Anna?” Colton’s gaze shifts to her.
“I already ate. Thank you though.”
“No problem. I’ll meet you back at the bus in a few?”
“Okay, sounds good.” I nod, taking another long pull of water.
“So what’s your plan for tomorrow? I was thinking maybe we could do a little sightseeing while we’re out. I’ve actually never been to Knoxville before.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to,” I say, not missing the confusion that crosses her face but also not wanting to get into all of it with her right now.
The argument with Lennon this afternoon really opened my eyes. I know she’s expressed uneasiness about my friendship with Anna before, but I don’t think I realized just how much it was bothering her until today. And of course there was the knowledge that she spent time with Travis and how tore up that made me feel.
She did nothing more than have a friendly conversation with another man and I instantly started a fight over it. How would I react if the roles were reversed and she was spending her days and nights with another man? I would fucking lose it.
I know she has more she wants to still say. I could tell by the way she exploded that it’s been building for a while. I think it’s about time I stop worrying about Anna’s feelings so much and start worrying about Lennon’s like I should have been all along.
I finish the rest of my water, catching sight of Lennon making her way toward us.
“I’ll talk to you later, Anna, yeah?” I don’t wait for her to respond before taking off toward my girl.
“Oh my god, you were amazing,” Lennon squeals, launching herself into my arms the moment we reach each other.
Given the way this day started, I couldn’t be happier with how it’s ending. I’ve sensed a disconnect with Lennon for some time now. Like she’s pulling away even though I don’t think she’s aware of it herself. But today, after our argument, I felt some of that dissipate.
Pulling her close, I bury my face into her hair and inhale her sweet scent.
