Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Hudson
Naomi might think she’s good at hiding her emotions, but she’s not as unreadable as she believes. I saw the way her face paled when she looked at her phone in the café. Her hands trembled, just for a second, before she stashed the thing away like she could make it all disappear by pretending it didn’t exist.
“Spam text,” she said, brushing it off. I didn’t believe her for a second.
The moment she left the café, I followed her outside. She’d paused by her car, her shoulders tense as she unlocked the door. Something was eating at her, and I wasn’t about to let it go.
“Naomi,” I called, my voice steady but firm. She froze, her hand halfway to the door handle before she turned to face me.
“What, Hudson?” she asked, her tone sharp but not convincing. She was rattled, and it showed.
“What was on that text?” I asked, stepping closer. “And don’t tell me it was spam, because I’m not buying it.”
Her jaw tightened, and she crossed her arms, leaning back against the car. “It’s none of your business.”
“Like hell it’s not,” I shot back. “You looked like you’d seen a ghost. If something’s going on, I need to know.”
Her eyes flared with a mix of defiance and hesitation. Naomi had always been independent, fiercely so, and it wasn’t easy for her to let people in. But whatever was happening now wasn’t something she could handle on her own.
“It’s nothing,” she insisted, though her voice wavered. “Just... something weird. Probably a prank.”
I didn’t believe her, but I knew better than to push too hard right now. She wasn’t ready to open up, and forcing her wouldn’t help. Still, I wasn’t about to walk away and pretend everything was fine.
“Fine,” I said, stepping back. “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s your choice. But don’t think for a second I’m leaving you to deal with this alone.”
Her brows furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about keeping an eye on you,” I said plainly. “Until we figure out what’s going on.”
“We?” she echoed, her tone skeptical. “There is no ‘we,’ Hudson. I can handle this.”
“Can you?” I asked, my voice low and steady. “Because from where I’m standing, you don’t look so sure.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. Instead, she let out a frustrated sigh and looked away, her hands gripping her arms tightly. It was a small victory, but it told me I was right—she didn’t have this under control, and she knew it.
“I don’t need your help,” she said, though her tone lacked conviction. “I don’t want to drag you into whatever this is.”
“You’re not dragging me into anything,” I said. “I’m choosing to be here.”
Her gaze snapped back to mine, and for a moment, I thought she might actually argue. Instead, she just shook her head and muttered, “You’re impossible.”
“Maybe,” I said with a shrug. “But I’m also not going anywhere.”
The drive back to her place was quiet, tension hanging heavy in the air. I followed her car on my bike, my eyes scanning the road and the surroundings for anything suspicious. By the time we pulled up in front of her apartment, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the street in shadow.
Naomi stepped out of her car and turned to face me. “Thanks for the escort, but I’m fine now.”
“You’re not fine,” I said, cutting the engine and swinging off the bike. “And you’re not going inside alone.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Hudson, I’m not some damsel in distress. I don’t need you babysitting me.”
“I’m not babysitting,” I said. “I’m making sure you’re safe.”
She crossed her arms, glaring at me like I’d just insulted her. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” I said, taking a step closer. “But I’d rather be ridiculous than reckless. Humor me.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue further. Instead, she turned and headed up the stairs to her apartment, muttering something under her breath that I didn’t quite catch. I followed her, my gaze flicking to the shadows that seemed to stretch and shift in the dim light.
When we reached her door, she paused, her hand hovering over the lock. “You really don’t have to do this,” she said quietly, her tone softer now.
“I know,” I said. “But I’m doing it anyway.”
She sighed and unlocked the door, stepping inside. The apartment was small but cozy, the kind of place that felt lived in. She dropped her bag on the counter and turned to face me, her arms crossed again.
“So, what’s the plan, Mr. Protector?” she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm. “You’re just going to stand guard all night?”
“If I have to,” I said, leaning against the wall. “But I’d rather you just let me crash here. Makes things easier.”
She blinked, clearly caught off guard by my suggestion. “You want to stay here?”
“It’s practical,” I said with a shrug. “Unless you’ve got a better idea.”
Her eyes darted to the door, then back to me. I could see the wheels turning in her head, the internal debate playing out. Finally, she let out a resigned sigh. “Fine. You can stay. But this doesn’t mean I need you.”
“I know,” I said, my lips twitching into a small smile. “But it’s nice to hear you admit it anyway.”
She rolled her eyes and turned away, grabbing a glass of water from the kitchen. I watched her, my chest tightening at the sight of her trying so hard to be strong. She didn’t need to carry this alone, no matter what she thought.
As she set the glass down, she glanced at me, her expression guarded but curious. “Why are you doing this, Hudson? Really?”
“Because I care,” I said simply. “And because I can’t just stand by and watch you struggle when I know I can help.”
Her eyes softened, and for a moment, the walls she’d built seemed to crack. But then she straightened, her defenses snapping back into place. “Well, don’t get too comfortable. This is a one-time thing.”
I nodded, even though we both knew it wasn’t true. Whatever was going on, it wasn’t going to resolve overnight. And I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew she was safe.
Naomi’s lips parted as if to argue, but I cut her off, my voice firm. “You’re staying with me tonight. End of discussion.”