Mary, freshly showered and in a pair of modest, flannel pajamas, joins us at some point during the conversation, and really shocks the hell out of me when she takes a few puffs off the passing doobie. In spite of the horrible events from earlier in the evening, the mood is relatively light, their calm composure at the familiarity of the situation—along with the THC—soothes my anxiety, and I pay close attention when they teach me what to do in case I’m ever alone with Caleb and he starts tremoring. The risk of choking, suffocating, or crashing into something is potentially more dangerous than the seizure itself, possibly life-threatening if he’s not closely monitored for his own safety. I deflate a little, realizing Caleb can’t be cured, that no matter what kind of custom strain of marijuana I cultivate, epilepsy will always be part of Caleb’s reality.
When all that’s left of the joint is a tiny roach in the ashtray, I’m much more knowledgeable about epilepsy and how it effects Caleb specifically, and although I’m still a bit traumatized over what I saw, I feel better knowing he wasn’t in grave danger from the seizure itself.
“I really should get back home. It’s getting late, and you two need to get to bed.” I scoot the chair back and stand up, glancing over at where the younger Elliott brother remains asleep. “Thank you both for explaining this all to me, and I’m sorry I froze up earlier. I promise it won’t happen again.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about, Hudson.” Mary peers up at me with contented satisfaction in her eyes. “You, your parents, and your siblings have not only been gracious hosts, but have welcomed us in like extended family, and we couldn’t be more thankful. I think the man upstairs knew exactly what He was doing when He sent us here to start up our new life.”
I offer a genuine smile, silently agreeing with her last comment. As a strong believer in fate and destiny, I know for a fact this is exactly where they’re supposed to be. “I’ll see you tomorrow at breakfast. Sleep well.”
“Wait. I’ll walk you home,” Crew announces as he slowly stands up. His movements and reflexes are more sluggish than normal from smoking—one of the main reasons no one should ever drive after getting stoned, much like after drinking.
“It’s okay; you don’t need to get out in the cold,” I insist as I slide into my jacket and Uggs, not wanting to get back out in the subzero temperatures myself.
He ignores me and slips on his parka, shoes, and beanie, then hooks his hand into the crook of my elbow and guides me to the door. “I’ll be right back, Mom,” he calls out as we walk out of the cabin, and all I hear is her light laughter.
Thankfully, the wind has eased up a bit as we traipse across the snow-crusted ground, and a few short minutes later, we’re standing on my front porch. His closeness yet again proves to be an internal heater as I feel the fire in my belly roar to life when he glides his fingers around the base of my throat and threads them through the hair at the nape of my neck. The simple touch of his skin against mine eliminates the shivering cold surrounding us.
Tugging gently on the loose locks, he angles my face upwards a split second before he lowers his full, tasty lips to mine. Our breaths soft and steady, his tongue curls around mine in a kiss that’s not quite as passionate as the previous times he’s claimed my mouth, but just as purposeful. Somehow, I just know whatever is happening between us is something special…
Something that’ll influence my life greatly.
Something I’ll never forget.
A light inside my house flickers on, startling us and causing us to pull apart. He places several more affectionate kisses to my tender lips prior to whispering goodnight and trekking back to his cabin. I watch him the entire way until he waves one last time before disappearing behind the door, and then I go inside.
I stop by my parents’ room to let them know I’m home safe and that Caleb is resting, agreeing to talk more in the morning about what all happened. Once I’m in my room, I change into my nightclothes and get ready for bed, not looking forward to my five-thirty alarm. Climbing into bed, I turn the TV on and press play on the DVD remote, curious to see which movie Crew had chosen for us to watch.
When the opening scene of True Romance appears on the screen, I snuggle down into the covers with the silliest grin on my face and drift off to sleep wondering if Crew Elliott is possibly too good to be true.
“Any idea where this is heading?” My mom’s voice, sincere but resilient, greets me the moment I shut the door behind me. “And ‘to bed’ isn’t the answer I’m looking for.”
Chuckling under my breath, as I knew this talk was coming, I shed my heavy coat and toe off my shoes before turning around to look at her. “I haven’t got a clue,” I admit honestly, knowing exactly what she’s referring to without even having to ask.
While I was gone, walking Hudson home, she moved from the table to the bed, now sitting cross-legged atop the comforter while aimlessly flipping through one of her celebrity magazines. “She’s not like any of those girls from back home, especially not Lila. I don’t want you playing games with her.”
“I’m not playing games, Mom. At least, not on purpose.” I fall back onto the pillows of the other bed with a heavy sigh. “She’s different. I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel it. It still doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing or where it’s going.”
Tossing her reading material to the side, she raises her chin and gives me the all-knowing Mom look. “She’s an old soul. There’s nothing shallow with Hudson. Everything she does, everything she feels, she does it bone-deep, from the heart. Even if you showed no interest in her whatsoever, she’d still do everything she can to help Caleb. She’s a healer; you can see it in her eyes. It’s part of the reason why she’s so passionate about the marijuana stuff; she does it ‘cause she knows it helps people who are suffering. I’m just not sure she’d know how to heal herself if she was ever the one hurting.”
I don’t reply at first as I mull over her words, the hard truth of them slamming home in my chest, particularly the insinuation I could be the one to hurt her. That’s not my endgame with her, not my intention, but I also know the likelihood of it happening is probably pretty high considering my track record. I didn’t come here looking for a relationship, but I wasn’t expecting to find someone like Hudson either.
She caught me by surprise.
I mean, yeah, when I see her, my cock notices and wants to come out to play, but it’s more than that. She’s so much more than just a pair of tits and some warm holes. Other than Caleb and my mom, I’ve never wanted to take care of someone else before. Never cared enough. It was more about what they could do for me.
But with her? I roll my neck, trying to dislodge the unfamiliar sensation settling over me. I’m just a guy whose future plans include homeschooling my little brother during the day, slinging drinks for tips at night, and looking to get my rocks off sometime in-between. A girl like her deserves someone a helluva lot better than a guy like me.
“Don’t you even start thinking like that, Crew Thomas Elliott,” Mom warns, as if my every thought is scrolling across my forehead. “You’re so much like her you don’t even realize it. You’ve sacrificed everything to move here with Caleb and me…gave up your friends, college, put your dreams on hold, all for the love of your brother and your determination to make him feel better. I told you just yesterday that you don’t need to lose yourself in all of this. You have the right to live your own life as well.”