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Frowning, I looked down to see I was still sporting some serious morning wood behind my boxer briefs. Not like it was anything he hadn’t seen from me before, but I guessed times were different now. Normally I would’ve shrugged and not given a shit about making him uncomfortable, but hehadgone out and gotten me food. It was a peace offering. The least I could do was put on some pants and go take care of the situation.
I grabbed the jeans I’d left on the floor last night and threw them on before heading to the bathroom. When I came out, Hudson had already made the bed and was in the process of plumping the pillows.
Because of course he was.
My stomach let out a low growl before I could make a smartass remark about his housekeeping, and I turned my attention to the bag he’d brought in and rummaged through the goods.
Some drinks, bagels, fruit, chips, PB&J sandwiches. I grabbed a bagel and dug further into the bag for something to spread on it, coming away with butter and jam. It wasn’t schmear or a bacon, egg, and cheese, but I’d make an exception during a hurricane. Butonlyduring a hurricane.
When Hudson made a sound behind me, I glanced over my shoulder. “What?”
“You’re not gonna ask where the lox is?”
It was a shame he knew me so well. “Hey, I’m a low-key kind of guy—”
“No New Yorker is that easygoing when it comes to their bagels.”
I cracked a smile. “You’re not wrong, but this’ll do. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I popped open the tab on the Coke I’d grabbed and took a long sip. It was still cool but not cold, and I quickly grabbed the others from the bag and shoved them inside the small fridge so they wouldn’t end up too warm.
“Did you, uh…sleep okay?” Hudson asked, somewhat warily.
“Yeah, why?”
He shoved his hands in his pocket and shrugged. “No reason.”
“Did I kick you in my sleep or something? I don’t remember having any violent dreams.”
I’d been doing something else entirely, but I wasn’t copping to that.
“You’d know if you had.” Hudson’s expression relaxed a little. “I’d have left bruises from kicking you back.”
“Then I guess we both survived. Shocker. What time is it anyway?”
“A little after eleven.”
“Shit. Seriously?” Shaking my head, I dropped into the chair and unwrapped one of the packages of plastic utensils. “Any word on when this mess plans to go the hell away?”
“One of the kitchen staff said we’re in the tail end, so…” He looked out the window, mouth flattened in a thin line. “Sooner rather than later.”
But not soon enough.Which meant we’d be spending another twenty-four hours together, this time stuck in a small room with one bed.
Ordinarily, I would’ve been down for that kind of situation, but it required two willing participants, and Hudson wouldn’t even look my way without a shirt.
Oh, fuck me, and the power was still out. No TV. No internet. No books.
That last one made me feel a little ashamed, because who in publishing was ever without a book? There were plenty on my phone, but I’d shut it off before it could die on me last night, so…
As I struggled to come up with some way to pass the time, I buttered my bagel then topped it with a healthy amount of jam. I ate in silence, watching the back of Hudson. He’d moved to stand in front of the window like he couldwillthe storm away. No doubt he was cursing his luck, because as much as I was annoyed at the circumstances, his distaste for me seemed to be tenfold. Which meant this was the worst-case scenario for him. He didn’t have to say it. The air was thick with his frustration, but unless he wanted to go swimming in the parking lot, he was stuck with me.
And really, I wasn’t a bad guy. I just made shit decisions. We’d both ended up in a pretty good spot, after all, so really, was the way he still held a grudge necessary?
Yes, you dick. Entirely warranted. Shut up and eat your bagel.
I munched in silence as Hudson kept his back to me. It wasn’t like he could see much of anything out the window. I was a much better-looking view, for fuck’s sake.
