11. Hudson

CHAPTER 11

Hudson

"Hudson!"

Nick’s voice cut through the comfortable hum of The Hearthstone, and I spotted him waving from the far corner of the bar. I threaded through the crowd, catching the familiar smell of wood polish and beer, the faint twinkle of string lights overhead. The place hadn’t changed much in the years I’d been gone—same warm, lived-in charm.

But the feeling in my chest wasn’t nostalgia.

I told myself I was just looking for the guys. But the truth was, my eyes had already found her. Sofia was behind the bar, her dark hair in a loose braid that fell over one shoulder. She moved with an effortless grace, like she was born to be there, her laugh carrying faintly above the low buzz of conversation.

I told myself that I wasn’t here for her. That she wasn’t the main reason I’d accepted Nick’s invitation tonight. But even as I headed toward Nick and the guys, I felt her pull.

Nick grinned as I approached, and Tommy gave a small nod of acknowledgment. Beside him sat a guy I hadn’t met before.

“Hudson, this is Jack Rhodes,” Tommy said, gesturing between us. “My partner.”

“And my wife’s brother,” Nick added.

Jack extended a hand. “Good to meet you.”

I shook his hand before settling onto my stool. “You too.”

I accepted the beer Nick slid across the bar top. Was I disappointed that they’d snagged me one instead of giving me a chance to order from Sofia? Yes. But they didn’t need to know that.

“Jamie’s around here somewhere,” Nick said. “Think he stepped outside to take a call.”

“Is he on leave, too?” I asked.

Nick and I had gone to high school with Jamie, but I hadn’t seen him since. He’d joined the Marines and left town right after I had. It’d been good to see him at the scavenger hunt earlier, but we hadn’t managed to get to the catching up conversation since there were clues to figure out and bets to win.

Or to lose, in our case.

I’d wanted to get into the spirit of the competition like I used to—and like I’d told my pen pal I was planning to—but as soon as I’d seen Sofia in the wide open space of the square, I couldn’t bring myself to focus on much else. There was something about the setting that had me on edge. I spent the whole time watching for any signs of trouble, so when Dane made an appearance, I was glad I’d been ready for that instead of lost in the drive to win.

“Nah, Jamie’s back for good as of about six months ago,” Nick replied, leaning back on his stool. “Moved back to town and joined the fire department.”

Tommy grinned. “I don’t know him well yet, but dude’s a beast. He can pull two shifts in a row, barely sleep, and somehow make it to the gym often enough to snag himself a spot in the firefighter calendar. Makes the rest of us look bad.”

“Oh, please,” Jack chimed in. “If half our job meant hanging out at the station working out until we got a call, maybe the police would have a calendar, too.”

I choked on my beer. “I’m sorry, did you say firefighter calendar? Please don’t tell me that’s a real thing.”

“Oh, it’s a real thing, all right,” Jack said. “But it’s not just for Snow Hill. It’s for all of Central PA. Apparently there aren’t enough hot firefighters in each small town for a whole calendar.”

Tommy, Nick, and I slowly turned to Jack, each of us probably having the same how-do-you-know-all-that looks on our faces.

Jack held up his hands. “Wife’s the mayor’s assistant. I can’t help what I overhear.”

“How much did she have to do with the making of this calendar, anyway?” Nick asked, clearly teasing his friend.

“Too much,” Jack replied, pursing his lips. “Then again, Holly and Grace were a big help.”

This had both Tommy and Nick glaring at him in response, and I bit back a laugh.

“There he is,” Nick said, tipping his beer toward the other end of the bar.

I turned to see Jamie heading our way, a beer in one hand and that same easy confidence he’d always had. And just like when I’d seen him at the town square, it was obvious that even though he hadn’t changed much, there was an edge to him now. It was like a weight in his eyes and stance that hadn’t been there when we were younger. Life had a way of doing that to everyone, but life in the Marines did it faster.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” Jamie said to me, sliding onto the empty stool next to Tommy.

“Jamie,” I said, returning his nod. “We were just talking about your calendar.”

He smirked. “I’d say I regretted doing it, but I’d be lying. I don’t hate the extra attention.”

That had Nick, Tommy, and Jack rolling their eyes, and this time I couldn’t fight my chuckle. “What made you move back?” I asked.

“Got tired of moving around. Figured it was time to settle down, and the fire department was hiring. Seemed like the right fit. What about you? Are you back for good?”

I filled him in on my plan to enjoy my leave in Snow Hill before finding a place closer to where I’d be working in Harrisburg. But when the conversation shifted away from me, I had a hard time paying attention. I was mildly aware of the topics of discussion as the guys cycled through them, but my eyes kept drifting to the bar, where Sofia was laughing at something a customer said, her braid swaying as she moved.

She didn’t glance our way, but I swore I felt the air shift when she passed by.

“Earth to Hudson.” Nick snapped his fingers in front of my face, dragging me back to the table. “You good?”

I blinked, turning back to the table. “Yeah, I’m good.”

Jack smirked. “You’ve got it bad.”

“What?”

“Please.” Jack leaned back on his stool, folding his arms. “You’ve been eyeing Sofia all night.”

“I haven’t,” I protested, though the heat rising to my neck probably said otherwise.

Nick tilted his head as he looked around me. “Tommy, I think this guy might have a thing for your sister.”

“Thanks for that,” I bit out from the corner of my mouth.

Tommy’s expression hardened, and he leveled me with a look that could cut steel. “Let’s get one thing straight: Sofia’s not a conquest. If you’re planning to play games, don’t bother.”

Before I could reply, Sofia began making her way toward us as if her Spidey Senses were tingling. Her teasing smile was aimed squarely at Tommy, and her presence sent a ripple of energy through the room—or maybe just through me.

“Tommy,” she said, crossing her arms. “What’s up?”

Tommy smirked. “Just enjoying a wholesome guys’ night. Nothing to see here.”

Her lips twitched like she was holding back a laugh. “Uh-huh.”

Her gaze flicked to me, lingering for just a heartbeat longer than necessary. My chest tightened as I met her eyes, feeling the warmth of her attention before she shifted it back to Tommy.

“Anyone need another?” she asked.

But before any of us could answer, the door to the bar opened. I turned instinctively, catching sight of the man who’d just walked in. And as Tommy stiffened, I held back a curse.

Dane moved forward with an easy arrogance, almost like he owned the place. I felt Tommy shift beside me, like he was physically holding himself back from heading right for the guy. His hand tightened around his beer bottle, his expression hardening into something sharp. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, keeping his voice low.

I didn’t reply, but by the time Tommy lost the battle with himself to stay seated, I was already halfway off my stool. Not because I thought he needed me there, but because some part of me wouldn’t let him go alone.

Not one to step on toes, I glanced back at Jack. Tommy’s partner watched with a furrowed brow, but he hadn’t moved when I had. Something told me he would if he needed to, and that he was one of those guys who was patient enough to make sure no one ever saw him coming.

Rolling my neck, I followed Tommy through the bar. Dane hadn’t noticed us yet. His eyes were locked on Sofia.

I looked over my shoulder, noting that she was still rooted in place in front of the stools we’d just occupied.

She didn’t look scared—far from it. If anything, her shoulders were set, her jaw tight in a way that read more annoyed than anything else. But even from across the room, I could see the subtle way she exhaled, like she was preparing for whatever was about to happen.

Tommy intercepted Dane, cutting him off mid-stride. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here after I know she told you to leave town.”

Dane tilted his head as he smirked. “Tommy, hey. Long time, no see.”

The familiarity in his tone was almost casual, like they were old friends. But Tommy wasn’t biting. His stance was firm, his shoulders squared. “I’m not interested in catching up, Dane. You heard what I said.”

“I did, but you’re wrong. She didn’t tell me to leave town . Not specifically, anyway.”

I could almost hear Tommy’s jaw clenching. “What are you doing here?”

Dane’s smirk widened, his hands sliding into his jacket pockets. “Relax. I’m just here to grab a drink, same as anyone else.”

“Cut the act,” Tommy said, his voice dropping an octave.

Dane’s gaze flicked past Tommy, landing on Sofia again. His mouth softened into something that might have been genuine if it weren’t for the arrogant tilt of his chin. “I just want to talk to her.”

“Well, she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Tommy snapped, stepping closer. “You need to leave her alone.”

“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do. This is between me and Sofia.”

“It stopped being between you and Sofia the second you got yourself locked up,” Tommy shot back, his frustration spilling over. “You’re not good for her, Dane, and she knows it. She’s moved on. You need to do the same.”

Dane’s jaw ticked, but his voice stayed calm, almost mockingly so. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Tommy. And that holier-than-thou thing you’ve got going on? It’s cute, but put it away before you embarrass yourself.”

Tommy’s fists clenched at his sides, and I stepped closer, making my presence known without saying a word.

Dane’s eyes flicked to me, his expression shifting slightly, but he didn’t say anything. I was sure he recognized me from the cafe, and frankly, it didn’t say much for his tough-guy act that he only noticed me when I took that step. Did he even know I’d had him in my sights from the moment he’d walked in?

“That’s enough.” Sofia’s voice broke the tension like a splash of cold water. She was no longer behind the bar, but standing next to us now, her dark eyes sharp as they darted between the three of us.

“Sofia—” Tommy started, but she cut him off.

“No,” she said firmly. “I can handle this.”

Her posture was strong, but I could see the strain in her eyes from all the frustration simmering within her. It was clear she wasn’t scared of Dane—she was tired of him. Tired of the way he kept showing up, refusing to let go of something that had obviously been over for far too long. In her mind, anyway.

Dane’s gaze softened again as he turned to her. “Sof, I just wanted to?—”

“I don’t care what you wanted, Dane,” she said, cutting him off with a sharpness that surprised me. “I’ve told you before, and I’ll tell you again: I don’t want to talk to you. Not here. Not anywhere. I’m done.”

“Sof—”

“Don’t,” she snapped, her voice rising just enough to draw a few curious glances from nearby tables.

For a moment, Dane’s mask slipped, and something raw flashed in his eyes. Regret? Maybe. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his cocky facade. “Fine,” he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “I’ll go. For now.”

He glanced at Tommy, then at me, the look in his eyes twisting into something colder. He sent Sofia one more look that was almost pleading, but when she simply glared back at him, he turned and walked out.

The tension in the bar didn’t ease immediately. Conversations resumed in low murmurs, but the weight of what had just happened lingered in the air.

Sofia let out a long breath, her shoulders slumping. “Thanks for the backup, Tommy. And you, too, Hudson. But next time, just let me handle it, okay?”

Tommy’s jaw worked, but he didn’t argue. I, however, couldn’t keep quiet. “Promises, promises.”

Her gaze met mine, and something unspoken passed between us before she sighed and walked away.

Tommy turned to me, his expression still tense. “This isn’t over.”

“I know,” I said quietly, my eyes following Sofia as she moved back behind the bar.

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