Chapter Twenty
GAbrIELLA-ROSE
I STIRRED FROM MY sleep to find myself alone again and the bedroom bathed in sunlight. I couldn’t believe that I had slept for so long. I looked over at my phone to see it was nearly eleven-thirty in the morning. I got up, grabbed a robe from the hanger, and made my way downstairs to the kitchen.
I reached the bottom of the stairs and realized that I had no idea where the kitchen was, until I heard voices coming from down the hall. I made my way toward the voices and found myself walking into the kitchen where Hudson and Nico were both sitting talking.
Hudson instantly got up from his chair, walked over to me, and pressed a kiss to my cheek before he spoke.
“Morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep okay?”
I instinctively leaned into his hand as he placed it on my cheek and smiled back at him.
“I did, thank you. Why didn’t one of you get me up, though? It’s already nearly lunchtime. Half the day is gone.”
I looked over as Nico chuckled somewhat under his breath, but still loud enough to hear.
“I’m sorry, Rosa. I shouldn’t laugh. However, I’m sure you will agree the weekend has been quite an eventful one for you, especially with relocating to another state in a few hours. We just thought you might appreciate the sleep-in. Now sit yourself down. I’ll get you a coffee and make us all brunch.”
I felt Hudson’s hand on my back as he guided me over to the table to sit down. A cup of coffee was placed in front of me as soon as I sat, along with a wink from Nico. I felt the butterflies go around in my stomach at his gesture. It was so confusing why I was getting these feelings over a man I shouldn’t even be contemplating having a relationship with. Nevertheless, the feelings were there and only growing stronger the more time I spent with him.
I was pulled from my thoughts when I felt a hand placed over mine. I looked over to find Hudson smiling at me. If he realized I had feelings for Nico, he didn’t seem to mind. Either that or he was completely oblivious.
“Nico, now that I am staying here, hopefully for good, you really should allow me to cook for you both. I have so much to thank you both for, and it doesn’t seem right allowing you to cook all the time.”
Nico waved me away with his hand as he continued to get everything together for our meal. Hudson replied to my comment.
“When you are settled, I’m sure Nico will be happy to share meal preparations with you. However, today is about you relaxing. As Nico said, you’ve had quite a hectic few days. We just want you to spend the day having fun.”
“Hudson’s right. After brunch, we can do some of the tourist things in town, and tonight we can just sit down and enjoy a movie. That is, if you want me to gatecrash your party.”
I watched as he wiggled his eyebrows at both of us, causing Hudson to laugh.
“Nico, you know this is your house as well. You don’t need to ask. I’m sure Gaby will get bored of my company after a while and will enjoy someone else to talk to.”
I couldn’t get bored of either of them, and wanted nothing more than to spend every night with them both. Inside and outside of the bedroom. How I would approach that subject, though, was an entirely different matter, and one not so soon into my relationship with Hudson. But something told me he might be more accommodating to that idea than I had first thought. I smiled at them both.
“I would love to spend the day and evening with both of you. After all, I’m the lucky one to have such gorgeous men taking care and looking out for me.”
I wasn’t sure who coughed first, Hudson or Nico, but I turned to look at each of them in turn. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a slight blush on Nico’s face as he quickly turned away from me. I looked back at Hudson to see him just smile and shrug his shoulders.
“I guess we are spending the day with Gaby, then, Nico?”
AFTER SPENDING A relaxing brunch together, grabbing a quick shower and getting changed, I now found myself between two gorgeous men standing quietly at the south pool of the 9/11 memorial. I had wanted to come to pay my respects here for years. Unfortunately, until now, I had never left Detroit, thanks to Vincent. Well, now that had all changed. I was amazed at how peaceful and quiet it was there, even with the hundreds of people that were around the area. We stood there a while, just paying our respects in silence to the thousands of people that died on that fateful day. It was probably the most humbling day of my life to date.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Hudson still standing there, but no sign of Nico. Hudson gestured for me to walk away and I followed him. After a while, I spoke.
“Where’s Nico?”
“He doesn’t like staying for too long. It brings back too many memories for him. He lost a school friend, and their parents in Tower One that day.”
I suddenly felt terrible for putting him through that. If I’d known, I would never have asked them both to bring me here. Hudson realized from the look on my face what I was thinking.
“Don’t think like that, Gaby. He wouldn’t have come here if he didn’t want to. He wanted to bring you here. He can just never stay too long.”
He pulled me into his arms and held me for a moment as a tear fell down my face. I hadn’t wanted to bring up those memories that must have still been so raw to Nico, even all these years later. However, as Hudson had said, Nico wouldn’t have come here if he didn’t want to.
Hudson let me go and took my hand in his. “Come on. I know exactly where he will be.”
I allowed him to lead me away from the memorial and toward the glades where, over in one corner, I could see Nico sitting, a solemn look on his face. I couldn’t help myself as I pulled my hand from Hudson’s and went running over to him, engulfing him in my arms.
“I’m sorry, Nico. I didn’t mean to put you through that.”
His arms came around me to return the embrace, and we sat there for a moment comforting each other. I felt his grip loosen and moved away to see a sad smile on his face.
“I know you didn’t, Rosa. I wanted to be there with you. It’s just…”
“Hudson explained. Please next time say if there is something I want to do that will upset you. I’m sure Hudson can take me there, just the two of us. I hate seeing you upset.”
Hudson placed his hand on my shoulder as I felt his presence behind me. I looked up and he was smiling at both of us.
“Come on, let’s enjoy the rest of the day together.”
WE'D SPENT THE afternoon just chilling out around Central Park. There were so many sights I wanted to see in New York, like Times Square, The New York Public Library, The Empire State Building and so much more. However there just wasn’t enough time for one afternoon, and if I was going to be living here I would be able to visit whenever I liked. We took a walk around the park to see the Bethesda fountain, Strawberry Fields, the Alice in Wonderland statue, and had just finished walking around Central Park Zoo. It was just starting to get dark when we arrived at the horse carriages.
“I’ll head off and get us something to eat.”
I looked over at Nico with a perplexed expression on my face. I knew that you had to pre-book the carriage rides, so I was surprised when we had stopped here. Hudson took my hand.
“I booked for a ride this morning. It was Nico’s idea. He thought we could do with some time to ourselves and talk about the future.”
I went to thank Nico for the sweet idea, but saw that he had already left us. Hudson helped me up into the beautiful white coach that was next to us, and the driver placed a blanket over our legs. It wasn’t that cold, but the evening air was still very fresh and I was thankful of the warmth. Especially when Hudson pulled me into his side and placed his arm around me.
“So, I know everything was a little chaotic yesterday evening, and we kind of made the decision for you to come to New York with us. However, you do have the choice. You don’t have to stay here with us if you want to go somewhere else. I will help you with anything you need.”
I looked up at Hudson. I could see the doubt in his eyes of what my reply would be. However, there was never any doubt in my mind. I wanted to spend the rest of my days with him – and Nico, for that matter.
“Of course I want to stay with you. You and Nico. You saved me. If you hadn’t called when you did, then I would probably be sporting a body full of bruises this morning. Vincent suspected there was something going on when the money didn’t appear in our bank account last night. I made up an excuse, but I’m not sure he actually believed me. The past three days have been some of the happiest of my life. Both of you have looked after me and cared for me. I can’t think of anywhere else I would rather be.” I paused for a second because there was one thing that was bothering me. “There is one thing, though. One thing that is worrying me. Apart from Vincent finding me here, that is.”
I could feel Hudson tense slightly next to me as if worried what I was about to say was about him. His voice was hesitant as he replied.
“What’s that, sweetheart?”
“I can’t expect you to keep me. Not only that, but I want to stand on my own two feet as well. The past five years Vincent has told me what to do, and what to wear, and where I could work. I don’t want to feel like that anymore. I want to be able to get a job and earn my own money. Along with help out in the apartment.”
Hudson brought his finger up to my lips to stop me from speaking. “I would never tell you what you have to do. With regards to a job, of course you can find one, but hear my suggestion first. I know you worked as a PA to Vincent, and mine has recently resigned because she is moving away with her family. You don’t have to take it, but I would love for you to work for me as my PA. On a purely selfish note, it would mean I get to spend the whole day with you. If you don’t want to, that is fine, but at least consider it.”
I hadn’t expected Hudson to offer me a job. It had been the last thing I had thought of. I was more thinking of a job in a coffee shop, not that I would probably have been very good at it. However, the thought of spending every day in the office with Hudson, and possibly Nico, was quite appealing. Even if it was only until he could find someone else if I felt it was too much.
“I didn’t expect you to give me a job, Hudson, if that is what you thought I was suggesting.” I raised my hand as he went to speak. “Before you say anything, I said I wasn’t expecting you to give me a job. If you need me to be your PA, then I will gratefully help. We can see how things go and whether we make it permanent or not. Okay?”
I guessed I would have an argument if I did decide I didn’t want to work for him in the future, but that would be a problem for another day.
“I’ll agree to that for the moment. As for helping around the house, of course you can. You’ll just have to have that argument with Nico. He’s the OCD one, not me.” He pulled me into his side again, and started to stroke my hair. “Anyway, let’s just enjoy our night ride in the park.”