“Oh, Hudson,” she sighs. “What am I going to do with you?” There is nothing but affection in her tone.
She’s right. I should, but then I wouldn’t be able to sit in Riley’s chair sometimes. I knew Raven would be busy this morning. I talked to her last night, and she told me her morning was swamped. That’s part of the reason I chose today to stop in. I’ll just feign innocence and act like I forgot if she brings it up. It had been a few days since I’d seen Riley, and I needed my fix. It all worked out.
It’s a good thing that I like to keep my hair high and tight. I have to fight a groan when I think about putting my foot in my mouth earlier. “Love me,” I finally answer.
“Those girls spoil you.”
“That they do.” I can’t argue that.
“All right, well, lunch is ready. Are you close?”
“I just pulled in. I’ll be right there.”
“Sounds good. Make sure you take off your boots on the porch. I just mopped.”
I laugh. “Yes, Mom.” Her laughter fades away as the line goes dead. Pulling my keys from the ignition and grabbing my phone from the cupholder, I head inside.
It’s almost seven by the time I’m finished for the day. I head home, which happens to be on my family’s property. I built this place myself, and I love it. It’s a four-bedroom barn dominium with an open-floor plan and vaulted ceilings. It’s definitely my labor of love. It’s taken me three years, but it’s finally complete, and I couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out. Lucky for me, I had my dad to help. It took time and often I’d have to wait until I had the cash to finish a certain area, but it was worth it in the end. After grabbing a quick shower, I head toward town to meet my friend Clayton for a drink. He’s leaving town soon, so nights like these are going to be few and far between.
The Pour House is packed when I pull in. Not that I would expect otherwise on a Friday night. There’s not much to do in this small town. We have a bowling alley that houses the senior league on most nights or birthday parties for kids, and that’s about it as far as entertainment goes. If we want to see a movie, we have to go to the town next to ours, which is about a thirty-minute drive. Not far in the grand scheme of things, but not as convenient as The Pour House either. So the town is mostly divided. Those under the age of twenty-one and the senior bowling league go one way, and the rest of the adults who don’t want to stay home or drive to the next town come here. It looks like half the town is here from the number of cars in the parking lot.
I find a spot in the back and make my way inside. When I pull open the door, the sounds of the mingling voices and the country music blaring over the speakers washes over me. I scan the room, looking for Clayton, and I can’t stop my grin when I find him. He’s sitting at the back of the bar, surrounded by our group of friends. The group contains lots of familiar faces but only one captures my full attention.
Riley.
It’s only been a few hours since I laid eyes on her, but still, my heart rate kicks up, and I have to fight the urge to rush toward her, pull her into my arms, and kiss the hell out of her. I’ve imagined doing that very thing so many times.
Instead, I steel my resolve and make my way to the back two tables that have been pushed together. I’m still a few strides away when Bruce spots me.
“It’s about damn time you got here.” He holds up his beer bottle in salute. “We started without you.” His smile is wide, and his eyes are a little glassy, which tells me he has more than just started. He’s well on his way to buzzed.
“I can see that.” I laugh. Clayton holds his hand out for a fist bump, and I meet him over the table. Our friends, Brett, and Jacob are also here. I do the same with them before stopping behind Raven, who just so happens to be sitting next to Riley. I bend down and kiss Raven’s cheek. On impulse, I do the same to Riley. Her intake of breath has me feeling ten fucking feet tall. I wave to April and Darcey but stay where I’m standing behind Raven and Riley.
“What are you drinking?” Clayton asks as he starts to stand.
I hold my hand up to stop him. “I’m good for now.” I notice Raven and Riley are drinking and want to make sure they each make it home okay. Sure, they both live here in town, but I feel protective of them. Raven because she’s been my best friend since I was five years old, and Riley, well, she’s been mine in my mind since I was a teenager.
“Sit.” Clayton points at the open seat next to Riley.
I bite down on my cheek to keep from smiling. We’ve all hung out in a group together more times than I can count. It’s not often that I get to be next to her. This time, the odds are in my favor as I pull out the chair beside hers. I lean into her with the ruse of looking around her to see Clayton, but really, I just want to be close to her in any way that I can. It’s a dangerous game, one that I play often, but I can usually control myself. Something in my gut tells me that I need to keep myself in check tonight. I’m still too open, too raw from our interaction earlier today.
“You getting excited?” I ask my other best friend. Clayton and Raven have shared that title since we were kids. I’m glad we all get along so well. It could have been a disaster otherwise. In fact, I think my two besties have a thing for each other. Clayton was digging her back in high school, but nothing ever came of it.
“I am. It’s going to be hard to be gone from everyone for so long, but it feels right at the same time.”
“How long will you be gone?” Riley asks.
I notice that she reaches under the table and grabs Raven’s hand. Yeah, definitely something brewing between Raven and Clayton.
“I signed up for two years.”
“And it’s an agricultural mission?” April inquires.
“Yeah. We’re going to help with the structure of rooftop gardens in Guatemala. Their land leasing is different, and apparently, rooftop farming is the way to go.” Clayton shrugs as if he’s not sure, but he’s signed up to go on the mission anyway.
“That’s a long time to be away,” Raven speaks up.
Clayton’s eyes find hers, and something passes between them that I can’t name. “It is, but they need the help, and I can offer it. I want to go now before I have a family of my own that I’m not willing to leave behind.”
Raven nods and swallows hard. “That makes sense.” She averts her gaze to Darcey, who is sitting on the other side of the table. “How was your date last night?” she inquires.
Just like that, women at the table hone in on Darcey, and her date, while the guys half listen and bullshit about our weeks.
“Anyone need a refill?” Riley asks. She pushes back in her chair and stands.
I want to tell her to sit and that I’ll get her whatever she needs, but that’s not who we are. Maybe in my mind, but the reality is that she’s not mine.
“Me.” Raven shakes her empty beer bottle.
Riley asks everyone else at the table and takes note of who needs another beer. She goes around the table, and then her eyes land on me.
“Hudson?”
“I’m good, but I’ll go with you to help you carry them.” I push back from my chair and stand.