Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Hudson
The smell of freshly brewed coffee hit me the moment I pushed open the café door. It was warm and inviting, the kind of place that made you feel at home even if you didn’t belong. Naomi had mentioned it once in passing—a spot she used to visit when things got overwhelming, a place where she could breathe. I figured she could use that now.
The bell above the door jingled, and a cheerful voice called from behind the counter. “Be with you in just a minute!”
I stepped inside, taking in the familiar mismatched tables and chairs, the faint sound of acoustic music playing softly in the background. Naomi hadn’t been here since we came back to Cedar Hill, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was time to change that.
A few minutes later, Naomi stepped through the door, her brow furrowing slightly as she looked around. “Hudson, what is this?”
I smirked, nodding toward a table near the window. “Just thought we could use a change of scenery.”
She crossed her arms, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “You’re up to something.”
“Maybe,” I admitted, pulling out a chair for her. “Have a seat and find out.”
She shook her head, but she sat anyway, her gaze softening as she looked around. “I haven’t been here in years.”
“I know,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “Figured it might be time to fix that.”
The café owner, a woman in her sixties with silver-streaked hair and a knowing smile, appeared from behind the counter. Her eyes lit up the moment she spotted Naomi.
“Well, if it isn’t Naomi Ray,” she said, her voice warm and teasing. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Naomi flushed, a sheepish smile spreading across her face. “Hi, Mrs. Carter. It’s been a while.”
“Too long,” Mrs. Carter said, wiping her hands on her apron as she came over to our table. “And who’s this handsome fellow? Wait—don’t tell me. Hudson King, right?”
I blinked, surprised that she remembered me. “That’s me.”
Mrs. Carter grinned, glancing between us. “Well, isn’t this a sight? You two always were thick as thieves. Caused me more trouble than I care to admit.”
Naomi laughed softly, shaking her head. “We weren’t that bad.”
“Oh, don’t play innocent,” Mrs. Carter said, wagging a finger at her. “I still remember the time you two tried to sneak out with a whole tray of cookies. Thought I didn’t see you hiding behind the counter.”
“That was her idea,” I said, raising my hands in mock defense.
“Sure it was,” Naomi shot back, rolling her eyes.
Mrs. Carter chuckled, her gaze softening as she looked at Naomi. “It’s good to see you back, sweetheart. You’ve been missed.”
Naomi’s smile faltered for a moment, but she nodded. “It’s good to be back.”
Mrs. Carter patted her shoulder before heading back to the counter, leaving us in a silence that felt heavier than it should have. Naomi stared at the table, her fingers tracing the edge of her napkin.
“You okay?” I asked, leaning forward slightly.
“Yeah,” she said, her voice softer now. “It’s just... I forgot how much I missed this place. How much I missed... everything.”
I nodded, giving her a moment before speaking. “You don’t have to miss it anymore. You’re here now.”
She looked up at me then, her eyes shining with something I couldn’t quite name. “Thank you, Hudson.”
“For what?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“For bringing me here,” she said, her smile soft but genuine. “For reminding me that it’s okay to have good memories. Even here.”
The afternoon passed in a blur of warm conversation and easy laughter. Naomi seemed lighter, her usual walls crumbling as we slipped into the kind of banter that used to come so easily. She teased me about my terrible taste in movies, and I teased her about her overly detailed coffee orders.
“Seriously,” I said, shaking my head as she listed off her preferences to Mrs. Carter. “How do you even remember all that?”
“It’s not that complicated,” she said, rolling her eyes. “And besides, I like what I like.”
“Clearly,” I said, smirking.
She stuck her tongue out at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh. The sound felt foreign at first, like I’d forgotten how to enjoy something so simple. But with Naomi, it was easy.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting golden light through the windows, I found myself thinking about all the moments we’d missed. The years we’d spent apart felt heavier now, the weight of what could have been pressing against my chest.
“Do you ever think about what would’ve happened if you hadn’t left?” I asked suddenly, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
Naomi stilled, her fingers pausing on the edge of her cup. “Sometimes,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “But I don’t think it’s fair to wonder.”
“Why not?” I asked, my gaze steady on her.
She shrugged, looking down. “Because it doesn’t change anything. I left. And we’re here now. That’s what matters.”
“Maybe,” I said, leaning forward slightly. “But I still think about it.”
She looked up at me then, her eyes searching mine. “You do?”
“All the time,” I said, my voice low. “Even after all these years, you’re still the one I think about.”
For a moment, I thought she might look away, retreat into her usual defenses. But this time, she didn’t. She held my gaze, and in that moment, it felt like we were finally on the same page, finally ready to let the past give way to something new.