“But he’s my brother…my blood. Of course I’m going to be there for him. But she…” I pause, struggling with how to say it. “It’s like she shares the same feelings about him, and he’s basically a stranger to her.”
Making a tsk-tsk sound with her mouth, she gets up and pads over the few feet between the beds, scooting me over to make room for her on my mattress. “You better not go screwing something up before you even give it a chance. Don’t think I don’t notice the way you can’t help but smile when you see her, or the way you both can’t stop touching each other when you’re close. I’ve never seen you like this before and I like it.”
She pauses to tousle my already messy hair, her mouth turned up in a happy smile. “The point of the conversation wasn’t to imply you’re not good enough for her—quite the opposite actually. You’re my son, my first baby, and if anything, I think most girls don’t come close to stacking up to you. I just wanted to make sure you realize how unique Hudson is, and how girls like her don’t come around very often.”
“I know, Mom,” I drape my arm over her shoulders and pull her close to me. “I’m just not sure with Caleb and working I have the time to put into something else. I need to stay focused on helping you two out.”
“If someone’s important enough to you, you’ll make time to fit them in your life, but for now, take it slow and listen to your gut.” Giggling, she pokes me in my stomach. “Whatever this spark is between y’all may blaze into something spectacular, or it may simmer out, but either way, I think you’ll be short-changing yourself if you don’t give it a shot.”
Kissing my cheek, she returns to the other bed and slides under the blankets, leaving me staring at the ceiling, lost in thought for the third straight night. Over and over again in my head, I replay chunks of the conversation with my mom, mixed in with images of Hudson from the last couple of days—the way her bright blue eyes crinkle up in the corner when she laughs, how she takes Caleb’s smartass comments in stride and is always ready to dish them back out, the way her full lips form the perfect O when she exhales perfect smoke rings. My last thought is Mom’s advice to listen to my gut.
For the past four-plus years, I’ve always followed my dick when it came to girls, and though it’s rarely led me down the wrong path, I’m not so sure it’s led me down the right one either. I’m a long damn way from listening to my heart on any of this shit, but my gut seems like a happy medium between the two.
And my gut wants Hudson.
At some point in the middle of the night, I hear Mom up moving around, getting Caleb some water and the vaporizer, but once it sounds like they have everything under control, I pass back out until I’m woken up by someone jumping on my bed.
“Wake up, lover boy. I’m hungry!” Caleb shouts while using my mattress as a trampoline, alternating between bouncing on his knees and his feet.
“What in the world are you doing?” I grumble as I roll over and hide my head under the pillow. “It’s way too fucking early to be this damn chipper.”
He snickers and jumps harder, the little shit. “It’s almost nine, assface. You need to take a shower when Mom gets out so we can go—”
As he’s talking, it hits me. If he’s the one waking me up, that means he didn’t have an episode this morning. Stunned at the realization, I spring up from under the fluffy down comforter and tackle him down on the bed.
“Nothing this morning?” I ask, my words gruffer than I intend them to be, my throat catching.
He shakes his head, with a grin on his face spread ear-to-motherfucking-ear. “Nope. Not even a headache, though Mom says I scared the shit out of everyone last night.”
“Hell, yeah!” I hoot loud enough for the neighboring cabin to hear…shit, maybe even the whole resort, but I don’t give a damn. We’re still a ways off from deeming this an effective treatment, and even though he had a pretty bad seizure last night, this is the first morning in months he hasn’t woken up with one, and I call that a fucking win. “Don’t worry about last night either, man. They’re all cool.”
An hour later, the three of us are floating on air—or maybe that’s the celebratory joint we shared—as we enter the main lodge for breakfast, eager to share the good news with Hudson and the rest of her family. Doug approaches our table almost immediately after we sit down, greeting us with a friendly smile.
“Mornin’, Mary,” he tips his head in my mom’s direction, then does the same to me and Caleb, “and gentlemen. Everyone sleep okay? Can I start you off with some coffee or juice?”
It doesn’t go unnoticed on my part how he doesn’t mention what happened after dinner last night, and I greatly appreciate it. Despite the fact Caleb puts on a great show around other people about how happy-go-lucky he is and how he pretends having epilepsy doesn’t bother him, I know for a fact he’s embarrassed after he has an episode in front of people.
I was the one who had to listen to him quietly cry himself to sleep at night after kids made fun of him, and no matter how many little shits’ asses I kicked for picking on my brother over the last couple years, there was still always someone who made a snide remark or dig at him. I can only hope we’ve left that life behind for good.
“I’ll start with some coffee, please,” Mom replies, then looks at me. “Crew, you too?”
“Yeah, I’ll have a cup too,” I nod, “though I’m already so alert this morning I’m not sure the caffeine is needed.”
Not paying attention to the conversation, Caleb is too busy scanning the dining room to realize it’s his turn to order a drink. “Caleb, dude, what do you want to drink?” I nudge him with my shoulder.
“Where’s Hudson? She usually takes our orders.” He completely ignores my question, though I’m glad he does, ‘cause I was wondering the same thing, but didn’t want to ask.
“She left just about fifteen minutes ago for the university…something about an exam today that she needed to get there early to review for,” Doug explains. “She asked if I’d seen you guys before leaving, but I hadn’t.”
I swallow back the disappointment, having completely forgotten she has classes in Denver three days a week. “What time does she normally get back?”
“Usually a little before dinner, depending on the weather and traffic. Would you all be interested in joining us for dinner again tonight?”
“That’s not necessary, Doug. We’re not going to intrude on your family time at home,” Mom’s voice drowns out both mine and Caleb’s quick ‘yes’.
Throwing his head back with laughter, he winks at me and Caleb. “It looks like you were outvoted, Mary, and you’re not intruding. The kids seem to get along,” he lifts his brow at me, emphasizing he’s noticed how well Hudson and I get along, “and Mel and I enjoy your company. Dinner’s around six, but you can come over whenever you’d like. Now, Caleb, what can I get you to drink, son?”
It’s a little after noon when I walk into the Half Pipe Pub, ready to meet my new boss and fill out whatever paperwork is necessary to make sure I’m ready to get to work as soon as we return from the move. I’m more than a little surprised at the bustling venue during a weekday lunch, but bodies are packed shoulder-to-shoulder at the bar, and nearly every table is claimed.
“Take a seat anywhere you can find one. Someone will be with you shortly,” a guy behind the bar calls out over his shoulder as he fills a pilsner glass with an amber beer from the tap.
Nodding my acknowledgement, I hang my coat on one of the free hooks right inside the front door then stride up to one of the open high bar-top tables that seats two, sliding onto one of the wooden chairs. While I wait for the server to come over, I take a few minutes to scan the entire area, acquainting myself with my new place of employment.