Chapter 9
LEO
I carried the vase of fresh flowers from the dining table to the coffee table. Standing back, I placed my hands on my hips and studied them.
“What do you think, Ledgie?” She didn’t deign to lift her head from where it was tucked under her leg. “I get it. You’re tired of my shit, but if Hudson doesn’t like it, I’m telling him it’s your fault.”
After studying the flowers a moment longer, I realized they were too tall and would block part of the television from the couch. Not that my plans for the evening included TV with Hudson, but I wanted the flowers to linger a few days and remind him of our—hopefully—amazing first date.
Trying to put together a gesture worthy of Hudson had me in knots.
No pressure. I could’ve suggested it for next weekend, but I didn’t want this weekend to end without taking an intentional step in whatever direction we were headed.
No way in hell would I leave room for panicking and excuses when the real world came calling with our alarms in the morning.
I wanted to wake up in each other’s arms as we had this morning.
Snuggling, light kisses that turned heated, then watching each other touch ourselves without pretending to watch TV.
It’d been a dream come true that I hadn’t realized I had.
Somehow it seemed like the next logical progression of our friendship.
God, I hope I don’t fuck it up like I did my marriage.
I wouldn’t let that happen. I’d learned so much from that relationship and its failure—enough to know what not to do next time. Communicate, communicate, communicate.
Ollie did me a solid by offering to take Hudson with him to run some errands in Portland for the afternoon, which gave me time to prep for the date.
That included a frantic call to my mom from the only grocery store in town to get advice on a decent boxed pasta I could pair with her famous ragu since I didn’t know how to make my own.
Maybe that’s something Hudson and I could learn together.
It can’t be that different from playing with clay.
In between talking me through how to make the sauce, she peppered me with questions about who I was cooking for. I wasn’t ready to tell other people about Hudson and me until I knew there was a Hudson and me.
After moving the flowers to the corner of the dining table, I began cooking the pasta sauce.
While it simmered to perfection, I took a shower and got ready.
I dismissed the usual casual clothes I would wear around the house and instead put on my one nice outfit—a pair of charcoal dress pants and a gray-blue button-up.
Business casual didn’t fit with my job, so the outfit only got brought out for weddings, funerals, and the occasional special event.
My first date with Hudson certainly qualified as the latter.
After checking on the sauce, I got a text from Ollie.
Ollie: We’re back in town. Okay to drop off Hudson, or do you need more time?
Leo: It’s okay to drop him off. Thanks so much, man. I owe you one.
Ollie: If this works out, you’re going to owe me a lot more than one. [Cupid GIF]
As I popped the cork on a bottle of Cabernet my mom had insisted would go great with dinner, I heard Hudson’s familiar steps.
I had no interest in playing coy, so I yanked off the apron and strode over to greet him at the door.
Hudson could get in his head sometimes, and I didn’t want to leave room for second-guessing.
Hudson stepped through the door, looking dapper in a black button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows under a dark patterned vest and a bow tie. A fucking bow tie. One of his curls hung over his forehead.
His cheeks pinkened. “I changed at Ollie’s.” He quickly removed his shoes.
“You look amazing,” I finally said, shaking my head to clear the stupor.
His shoulders relaxed as he stepped into my open arms. I loved seeing a confident Hudson, and it made me so happy he could be that way around me. He’d lost a lot of that confidence in the late stages of his marriage.
Hudson placed a hand on my hip and leaned in for a lingering kiss. I felt it all the way to my toes, which curled in my socks.
“You do too. I can’t believe you’re busting out your league trophy night best for our date.” He kissed a spot right under my chin.
I hummed and inhaled the spicy scent of his shampoo. “Only the best for you.”
“Dinner smells delicious.” He walked over to give General Ledger ear scritches while I went to check on the food.
“Thanks. It’s Mom’s recipe. How’d it go today?
” I slid the apron back on and wiped my clammy palms on it.
Warmth blanketed my back as Hudson sidled up and hooked his chin over my shoulder, watching me as I stirred.
I picked up my taster spoon, scooped sauce on it, and then blew on it before feeding it to him.
“I’m only allowing this blatant spoon reuse since we’ve already swapped spit.” He let out a satisfied moan. “Bless your mom’s recipe.”
“My execution of it isn’t half-bad either.”
“Eh.” He wavered his flat hand from side to side, then chuckled as he kissed behind my ear. I pinched his hip before he darted away. I soaked up the simple domesticity of our usual teasing with some kisses thrown in. My fears of things being awkward between us dissolved at that moment.
“Today was good. Ollie was insufferable though. He wouldn’t shut up about taking credit for setting us up.”
I laughed. It was gonna be hell at work tomorrow but totally worth it. “His meddling might’ve fast-tracked things, but I’d like to think we would’ve gotten here eventually.”
Hudson held my stare as he leaned against the counter next to me. The smile he gave made my heart skip a beat.
“He also offered to take me to a sex shop for supplies. Said something about a training set?”
I choked on air. I’d Googled enough to know what a training set was but had no idea if either of us was interested in that.
My ex hadn’t been interested in anal sex, and I would never push someone to go beyond their boundaries, so it hadn’t been something I’d dedicated much brain power to beyond the occasional “that seems hot.” Hands and mouths would be enough.
Am I seriously standing in our kitchen and thinking about the various ways I can have sex with Hudson? Judging by the twitch in my dick, I sure as hell was.
“Did you go to the sex shop?”
Hudson snorted. “With Ollie? No way.” He bit his bottom lip. “I was kind of thinking that would be something fun for us to do together. Sometime.”
The idea of checking out the toys and gear at a sex shop with Hudson sent my blood rushing south. I needed to hold it together through dinner.
“Pretty sure he considered it his duty to teach me about sex with penis-havers. It was an illuminating afternoon.” He pulled plates out of the cupboard.
“So, are you more or less interested in it after his ‘education’?” I asked while filling the pot with water.
“Despite Ollie’s meddling…more. Especially seeing you all dressed up and wearing my mise en place apron.” He stepped behind me again, slid his hand between my shirt and the apron, and flicked his thumb across my nipple.
I dropped my head onto his shoulder. I loved this flirty side of Hudson. I thought I’d met all sides of my favorite person, but I’d never been happier to be wrong.
“On that topic, should we talk about the sex stuff? Since it’s new to both of us? At least, I assume it is.”
“I like it when you’re all reasonable. And yeah, only touched my dick so far.” He kissed the back of my neck. His warm laughter soothed some of my remaining nerves.
After I left the pot to boil, I turned to him since the conversation deserved to be face-to-face.
“I want you, Hudson, and I’m happy with whatever we want to do at whatever pace works for us.
If we want to keep watching each other jerk off for a while, that works for me.
If we want more, I’m good with that too. ” More than good. Ecstatic even.
He bit his lip and then smiled. “I liked waking up with you.”
I kissed his cheek when he reached around me to grab General Ledger’s wet food bowl from the drying rack. “Me too. Best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages.”
Hudson’s smile faltered. I’d triggered something with my words. Using everything I knew about him, I tried to replicate his possible train of thought. What had I said wrong? It didn’t take long to make a guess.
I stalked forward and boxed him in against the counter. He licked his lips and loosely wrapped his arms around my waist.
“It was the best night’s sleep because it was with you, not because I’ve missed sharing a bed with a warm body.”
Hudson’s shoulders relaxed. “I’ll admit I was worried about that. Is this too fast? What if you haven’t had enough time to be single? Not that we’re in a relationship or anything.” I intercepted his shaky hand before he could run it through his curls.
“I’d like to be in a relationship. We don’t need to label it yet if you don’t want to.
” I was messing it up. I didn’t want him to doubt that I was in it or think I didn’t care enough to have my own wants.
“I know we’re fumbling through this, but I’m not interested in dating anyone else.
I want to explore this with you.” I squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.
I gave him a gentle kiss before returning to the stove. I could tell he needed a minute to think, and hell, I did too. We idly chatted about his day with Ollie while I prepared the salad.
Once the noodles were ready, Hudson dished up wet food for General Ledger.
I pulled out a third chair at the dining table and showed Hudson the seat I’d made for Ledgie so she could sit on the chair and eat at the table with us.
The kiss he gave me made the added afternoon stress of putting it together worth it.
Once the three of us were settled at the table, comfortable like we’d done it a hundred times, I took a bite of the pasta. It turned out pretty fucking good. Ma would be proud. We settled into a comfortable silence as we dug in.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about being single,” I said abruptly.
Hudson slowly chewed and held my eye contact.
“Even before this whirlwind weekend, I mean. I don’t think it matters that I haven’t been single for very long or that I’ve been in a relationship basically my entire adult life.
I’m not a codependent person, but I enjoy sharing my life with someone.
I can be my own person and enjoy being part of a relationship. ”
Hudson watched me closely.
“I think that was part of the problem with our marriage. We developed into adults and were different people than the high schoolers we’d been when we started dating.
People who were no longer compatible where it counted.
We held on for years longer than we should’ve.
” Probably due to the stubbornness and pride in being high school sweethearts who made it.
It was hard to swallow as I remembered the many arguments we’d had about careers, family, moving.
We eventually disagreed on everything major.
Hudson’s thumb brushed the back of my hand.
He knew how hard it’d been and had shown up countless times when I’d needed to head to the lanes and bowl off some steam.
We’d had deep conversations about what my ex and I fought over and his marriage troubles too.
Hudson and I were always on the same page with the things that mattered to me.
“When you put it that way, it makes sense.” He stared off into the distance as he chewed another bite.
I waited, holding my breath for the nod. The one Hudson did whenever he needed to puzzle through something before he was satisfied.
He nodded, and my shoulders dropped from my ears.
Hudson opened his mouth a few times before words came out. “I like that I can be myself around you. To be honest, I’ve never been so comfortable around someone. You don’t mind how particular I can be with things.”
I laughed but got what he meant. He’d often shared during our friendship when people grew frustrated with how he liked to organize his life and how he approached certain tasks with militant precision.
That was part of who he was, just like my laid-back attitude around those things was part of who I was.
We understood that about each other and compromised.
“And I noticed you filled the dishwasher as you cooked. I’m very impressed.”
I was pleased he’d noticed. If someone like Hudson could deal with my messy ass, there was hope for us yet.
“Ollie said he wouldn’t mention anything to the rest of the team or your other coworkers.” Hudson studied his plate as he scooped another bite.
“Do you want to stay quiet about us or go public?” I wanted to go public. I didn’t want to secretly date him and leave him worrying I would change my mind at any moment. This was real for me, and I wanted to know it was for him too.
“I bet some people will be confused, but I’m not ashamed. Maybe not do a couple announcement social media post tonight, but I don’t want to hide you either. Or hide us.”
I squeezed his hand. “That’s perfect. I’m proud to date you, and I want to treat this like I would any other new relationship.”
He gave me a soft, sweet smile I wanted to hold in my heart forever.
Hudson sat back and rubbed his sexy, thick belly. “That was delicious. Thank you. I’ll be expecting you to cook more gourmet meals.”
I chuckled. “My pleasure.” I carried the dishes to the dishwasher, dismissing his insistence that he should clean since I’d cooked. Maybe next time, but for this date, I wanted to show him I saw him, really saw him, and cared about what mattered to him.
Once the dishes were put away and the pans were soaking, I cleaned off the counter because Hudson always worried about ants. I didn’t want his mind wandering to anything other than us tonight.
When finished, I turned around, and Hudson was there, tugging me toward him and wrapping his arms tightly around me. He kissed me hungrily—feeding the flame flickering all night. I forced myself to pull back.
“If you’re impressed by me doing the dishes, just wait for the shock and awe you’re about to experience.” I took his hand and led him to my bedroom.