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“Funny. He hasn’t mentioned you, either. Are you sure it was him and not your imagination? See, he’s been with me every night this week. When did you two have dinner together?” I ask knowing if they did have dinner together, it was before he and I became official and he’s allowed to have a past, just like I am.
Renee ignores my question. “He’s not for you, Troll. He’s just slumming it until it’s out of his system and we’re back together again.” She wrinkles her nose up at me as she turns to me. “You see, it takes a special woman to handle all that man and to deal with the demons of the job. You have no experience with any of that, do you?”
I also ignore her question as I see Grace quietly open the stall door behind Renee.
“Doesn’t matter. He’ll bore of you and your…” she waves a finger up and down my body, “…rolls and comes to his senses. And when he does, I’ll be there waiting for him with my arms opened wide. Because we are a power couple. Not a powderpuff.” She spits out at me and some of it lands on my face.
“Enough!” Hudson says from the bathroom door.
Both of us jump and turn to him as he stands at the door to the bathroom.
“Renee. You will leave this bar and never return. You are not welcome here. Do you understand me?”
I never heard or saw him open the door. My focus was on Renee and what she was saying. She’s good. She played right into my insecurities and made me feel small and inconsequential.
"But Hudy. She accosted me!” Renee lied and ran up to him, placing her hands on his chest, as if I scared her and she was terrified of me.
“Liar!” Grace exclaims. “I heard the whole damn thing, you skank. Get the fuck out of here before I kick your ass.” Grace points past Hudson.
“You heard them. Go.” I quietly state to Renee.
Renee looks at Hudson, but he just moves out of the way so Renee can get past him at the door. “You’ll regret this, Hudy. You’ll see. She’s not enough for you and you’ll want me back, but I’ll have moved on.”
“Go.” He quietly states.
Preserving what is left of her dignity, she walks out of the bathroom and Hudson watches as she leaves the bar. He turns to Grace and me, still standing in the bathroom.
“Grace. Can I have a moment with Kate?” Hudson asks, but never takes his eyes off of me.
“Sure. Of course. I just need to wash my hands.” Grace looks between Hudson and I and reconsiders. “You know what? I’ve got hand sanitizer in my purse. I’ll just use that.” She sneaks by Hudson, and he lets the door close.
“Are you okay?” he asks me from across the room.
I only nod as I continue to wipe my now dry hands with my paper towel.
“Are you sure?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Come here.” He holds out his arms, and I drop my towel and grab onto him and cry. “Shh. It’s okay, baby. I’m here. I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”
“No. It’s not your fault. She just played me, and I let her.” I say into his shirt. It smells of sweat, dirt, and Hudson. Perfect.
“It doesn’t matter what she said. All that matters is that I love you and only you, Kate Benson.” He pulls my head up and wraps his fingers into my hair. “You. Do you hear me? You are the one I want. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Hudson.”
His quick breath shocks me. “Say it again.”
I smile. “I love you, too.”
“I want to hear that every day for the rest of my life. You understand me?” He whispers into my ear as he kisses the side of my head.
I nod. “I want to hear it every day, too.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
