Georgia-Blue & Hudson (Stoney Creek #5)

Chapter 29

Hudson

I’ve known this family for most of my life, and here I am with my heart racing and my palms sweating, unsure of what they’ll say. I told my dad everything, and he insisted I do the right thing and tell the family. They’re not going to appreciate hearing it second hand from someone else in town. I wouldn’t disrespect any of the Bassetts that way. I respect Georgia’s father, her mom, Gray and her brothers too much for that.

I have to man up.

When Gray passes me a beer, I don’t even lift it to my lips. I never thought I’d be having this conversation.

He frowns. “You good, bud? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Just got a lot on my mind.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Come to think of it, you’ve been acting weird since you got back from Florida. All that sun gone to your head?” He snickers, taking a long pull and I try not to wince.

“I’ve just been busy.” It’s not a lie, but I’m not coming clean. I’m taking the chicken’s way out, as usual. “Cotton farming doesn’t end at five o’clock.”

He ignores me. “So, you called us all here for some emergency meeting? Thought you’d set the goddamn farm on fire or something.”

“Nope, nothin’ like that.” I’ve just been sleeping with your sister for the last month and a half and we’re in love and you’re going to fucking kill me…

“So, what is it?”

I palm the back of my neck. “I really wanna wait till the others get here.”

“I’m here,” Brooklyn says, giving me a smile. “And we all know I make everything better.”

I’ve gotta hand it to him, he gives nothing away. Knowing full well what we’ve been up to, he’s kept to his word and not said shit to anyone. Well, aside from Eden. I’ve no doubt she knows everything. Pillow talk is a known thing around here. I just wonder how much Georgia has told her friends. Gray rolls his eyes, then gives Brook a second glance. “You know what’s up with Huds?”

Brooklyn shrugs. “I’m sure whatever it is, we’ll find out soon enough.”

“It’s a woman, isn’t it?” A slow grin spreads across Gray’s face. He punches me in the chest lightly. “You dog, who is it? And please don’t say Dolly Simpson. I heard she’s in a relationship now anyways, not that I’ve got anything against the girl, but if I have to hear one more story about fake tanning lotion, it’ll be the end of me.”

I swallow hard, my eyes meeting Brooklyn’s. “I, uh…”

“It is, isn’t it? You’ve met someone? Was it here or in Florida?” Now he’s racking his brain to think about which single female just strolled into Stoney Creek. I want to die.

“Here and Florida.” The words come out before I can stop them.

Gray scratches his chin. “Huh?”

“Listen, Gray, I came here to tell you something’, and now we’re here, I think I should tell you first before your dad and the rest of your brothers arrive.”

“Hudson, you're starting to scare me. What the fuck is going on?”

I rest my beer on the counter. “I just want you to know that up until Florida, nothin’ happened between us. I’ve always respected her. I never set out for anything to go down — it just happened .”

His frown deepens, then it’s like it dawns on him. “No, you didn’t.”

“Just hold on now?—”

“Hudson, what are you telling me?” I already feel the chill coming off him.

I brace myself. “Me and Georgia…”

“What the fuck?” He shoves me backward. I saw it coming so I don’t move too far.

“Just let me finish.”

“You mean my little sister? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“ Our little sister.” Brooklyn stands between us. “And hear him out for a second before you resort to violence.”

Gray points at Brooklyn. “You knew?”

Realizing he’s put his foot in it, he shoves Gray back. “I found out by accident, and Hudson was always gonna come and tell you, right, H?”

“Oh, that’s decent of you,” Gray practically bellows. “You waited until our sister was out of town before you took her to bed and probably promised her the world. Do you really expect me to really believe that? Tell me this is some kind of joke.”

“It’s not a joke, but it also didn’t happen like that.”

The punch to the face hits me hard, and I let it happen. It fucking hurts because Gray is strong, but before he swings again, Brook is shoving him away. The pain hits me and I forget about Gray’s right hook for a second. He’s about the same strength as me, but when he’s mad, he’s like a wounded bull.

“It’s okay, Brook.” I wave him away. “I deserve it. I deserve all I get.”

“We trusted you!”

“It isn’t like that.”

“No? So exactly how is it, Nash?”

Brooklyn looks between us. “Now he’s Nash?”

“Shut up!” we both bellow at Brook.

He waves his hands in the air. “No hitting the referee.”

“You wanna keep throwing shots? Go right ahead, but it won’t change how I feel about her. Nothing will. I’m sorry that this is how it went down, I never planned any of it.”

“How you feel about her? So one dirty weekend away without any of her family around isn’t enough for you?”

“If you really think that, then you honestly don’t know me at all and maybe you never did.”

“Fuck you. I don’t like being lied to. You said you were there to protect her, and instead you crawl into bed with her?”

Now isn’t the time to confess that yes, that’s exactly what happened in the beginning. My jaw is still aching from the first punch. “Nothing happened before Florida. We’ve had a connection these last few years, and I had no idea that this was how things were gonna go. I didn’t plan any of this, and neither did she. Plus, you’re not her father, Gray. She’s twenty-five years old and she has a mind of her own.”

Gray shoves Brook and comes at me again, I duck and punch him in the gut as he barrels into me and we crash into the bar stools, knocking them sideways.

“What the hell?” Gabe calls from across the room.

Fantastic timing. Now I’ve got three more of them to lay into me. Still, it’s what has to be done.

We’re wrestling like a couple of idiots when Bob and Gabe pull us apart. Beau follows behind, his eyes agog as we’re finally separated.

“You’re acting like a dick,” I sling at Gray. “And for the record, you punch like a little girl.”

“Really? Well, if that’s the case, why don’t you tell Dad and my brothers which girl you’ve been seeing in secret since Florida? I’m sure they’ll be interested to know.”

All eyes are on me, but I land my eyes on Bob. “I’m sorry, Bob.” If I call him Mr. Bassett, he’ll probably punch me too. “I didn’t want you to find out this way.”

He stares me down, hands on hips. Oh, boy. “Find out what?”

I clear my throat. Beau and Gabe come to a stop next to their father. Brook, to his credit, stands by me. “I’ve been seeing Georgia since Florida.”

Silence hangs around the room and I’ve no idea what Bob is going to say, but my eyes stay focussed on him. “Since Florida?”

“Yes, sir.”

Gray scoffs. “How long has this really been going on?”

I level him with my glare. “I told you. Florida. Neither of us meant for this to happen, but if I’m being honest, this last little while, we’ve had more of a connection.”

“I don't believe this.” Gabe runs a hand over his face.

“Me either,” Beau says. “But I confess, Georgia told me this morning.” At least Beau doesn’t look like he wants to punch my lights out.

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Bob says, his voice eerily calm.

I swallow hard. “I should have, I realize that now.”

“But you didn’t,” says Gabe.

“I’ve no excuse. I knew how I felt about Georgia, and I wanted to make sure she felt the same way about me.”

“You’re too old for her.” Grayson folds his arms over his chest. “We all know it.”

“We’ve discussed that, and while I agree with you, we also know how we feel.”

“Do you love her?” asks Bob.

“Dad—” Gray starts but Bob holds his hand up to stop him.

I flick my eyes to his. “Yes,” I say without hesitation. “I do.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Gray shakes his head. “You’ve known her since she was born.”

I point at him. “It’s not like that.”

“Enough!” Bob shouts and everyone jumps to attention. Robert Bassett doesn’t raise his voice very often, but when he does, everyone takes notice. He turns toward me. “You’re not just yankin’ my chain, Hudson? I’ve known you since you were a boy.”

I stare him dead in the eye. “I’m not yankin’ your chain, I wouldn’t mess around with Georgia if this wasn’t serious.”

He grips my shoulder, not super hard, but firm enough. “If you really love Georgia, then you’ll do the right thing.”

“I hear wedding bells,” Beau mutters.

“Christ.” Gabe shakes his head.

“Dad, you’ve got to be kidding. You’re okay with being lied to while the two of them snuck around behind our backs?” Gray is a tough nut to crack, but I kinda expected it.

“They’re adults,” Bob says firmly. “And frankly, I can’t imagine anyone more perfect for my girl than Hudson. The age gap is a concern, but as you say, you’re both adults.”

I’m stunned when he pulls me into a hug.

“Welcome to the family.” Brooklyn smacks me on the back and I’m taken aback by Bob’s reaction. He’s okay with this?

“Uh, are you sure you don’t wanna take a swing at me first?”

Bob grunts a laugh. “Gayle will be happy, she’s always had a soft spot for you.”

I can see Gabe’s shoulders relax, and Beau gives me a punch on the arm. “That’s for not fessing up sooner.”

“Sorry, bud.” I’m still worried about Gray’s reaction. I know he needs time and loyalty is a big thing with him. I can’t honestly say I’m stunned by it, but he’s not calming down.

Our eyes meet. “I think you need to leave.”

“That’s enough, Gray,” Bob says.

“He’s allowed to feel how he feels,” Gabe puts in. “I understand where he’s coming from, but it’s Georgia’s life, too. I’m sure they’ve both thought it through, right, Hudson?”

I nod. “Absolutely. I also value our friendship, Gray. You know that and it was one of the reasons I was hesitant?—”

“Just not hesitant enough to stop.”

“Is this really about me and Georgia, or about you not being in control?”

“You wanna say that again?”

“That’s enough!” Bob barks. “The both of you. Grayson, Georgia is a grown woman and the last time I checked, I’m her father.”

Of course, Gray won’t want to hear that.

The tension in the air is tight. “It’s okay, I really think I should leave and let the dust settle.”

I give the other Bassett men a chin lift as I turn to Bob. “Thank you for not punching me, Bob.”

He wags a finger in my face. “Doesn’t mean I’m a hundred percent on board with this. I need to talk to my daughter. All I’ve ever wanted since the day she was born was for her to be happy.”

“Of course. I respect that.”

Gray snorts and I choose to ignore him. If he wants to act like a damn asshat, then he can go right ahead.

I tip my head and head for the door.

Okay, so I wasn’t expecting that from Bob, but Gray is taking this way too far. Georgia isn’t a possession, she’s also not a woman to be controlled, especially not by her overbearing, overprotective brother.

“Hold up.” Brook jogs up to me. “You okay?”

I nod, feeling anything but. “I’ll live.”

“He’ll come around, when he sees how happy you both are.”

“I guess we can always wait until Hell freezes over?”

Brook gives me a sympathetic smile. “Don’t discount that, we all know Gray thinks he can make water into wine.”

I blow out a breath. “Got that right. I’ll see you later.”

He pats me on the back and I head over to my dirt bike. There’s nothing like taking your frustration out on speed and adrenaline. I never honestly thought Gray would be okay with it, but if he wants to keep coming at me, then so be it. I won’t back down, because no matter when he thinks, I’m in love with her.

I jump on the bike, my anger boiling as I start up the engine and take off with a loud screech.

I rev the engine, the wind on my face feels cool against my hot skin. I don’t know why Gray has to make me feel like a motherfucker. I already struggled with the dynamics for so long, and now Georgia feels the same way I do, we won’t be kept apart because Grayson doesn’t like the idea.

I tear past trees, the leaves blowing up at me as I reach a ridiculous speed. I’ve been riding bikes all my life, and sometimes you just gotta ride it out. I imagine Georgia’s face dropping when I tell her about Gray not being happy, and that makes me even angrier. I never want to make her sad, and now that I’m about to, I wonder whether or not I truly am the kind of man that deserves her. Should I have just let her down that night in Florida? Even though we were both too far gone and too into each other, we could’ve ended it. I wince at the idea of not having Georgia-Blue in my life. After loving her, I know that there is no other woman that can capture my heart like she does. The angel and devil on my shoulders are at war with one another, and the feeling of not being good enough weighs heavily on my mind.

I want Georgia to be happy too, of course I want that. And I know I can make her happy. Relationships take work, but I’m willing to put in the effort. I’m willing to show her, and her family, that I will always love and protect her, just like she deserves…

I’m shaken out of my thoughts as the bike skids suddenly, the dip in the road on the darkening dirt track coming upon me quicker than I thought. I hit the breaks, but the tire screeches in the mud. All of a sudden, I’m being thrown off, through the air, and I hit something hard with a thud. I hear a crack and I cry out in pain.

Fuck.

Fuck, no.

Everything starts to swirl and the darkness comes for me as I lay in the dirt. My mind shoots back to the day I was flat on my back with more broken bones than I could count when Bucko threw me off. Stars prick behind my eyes and I hear my own sharp intake of breath.

I barely register before I’m being pulled under; the dark cloud lurking as it takes the air from my chest.

I should’ve known. I should’ve taken the corner slower, not ridden in the dark in anger. And now here I lay, unmoving, and no one knows I’m here.

Every time I’ve ever felt a slither of happiness, it’s taken away as quickly as it surfaces. And now I’ll never earn Gray’s forgiveness, or tell Georgia how much I love her and that I always will.

My eyes flicker closed and hers is the last face I see.