Chapter 7
SERENA
Morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Hudson’s suite, the reflective film on the outside letting us enjoy the gorgeous view while nobody could see into the room.
I woke slowly, my body deliciously sore in all the right places, the faint scent of Hudson’s cologne and last night’s sex clinging to the pillow beside me.
For a few blissful seconds, I enjoyed the quiet with a smile. Last night had felt like Hudson and I had reconnected in a way I really needed. And not just because the orgasms had been great.
He’d cooked one of my favorite meals, stocked up on the wine I loved, made sure we had privacy, and looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.
One good night wouldn’t solve all of our problems, but I appreciated the effort he’d put in.
It felt like we were turning a corner back to the happy couple we’d been before Maddie came to town.
I stretched and reached for my phone on the nightstand. Seeing how late it was, I smiled. No wonder the sheets next to me were cold. Hudson had probably been up for hours. I rarely slept this late, except for the few days after filming wrapped for a project.
Checking my calendar to confirm it was a late start day for Avery’s block schedule, I fired off a quick text.
Me
Did you get off to school okay?
Her reply came almost instantly, full of teenage sass.
Avery
I’m 16, not 6. I can handle getting myself to school on time. Already inside, and class doesn’t even start for 15 mins.
Before I could reply, she sent another message.
Avery
Chill out about not being here this morning. You deserve one night without worrying about me.
I smiled, but the guilt didn’t go away. My baby sister was wiser than her sixteen years, but only because she’d been mostly left to her own devices after I left home.
I’d never forget the day I’d learned our parents had left her home alone for two weeks while they jetted off to Europe without telling anyone. She’d only been fourteen, much too young to be on her own for that long.
I’d driven down to San Diego, waiting to call CPS until I was almost there because I didn’t want anyone to arrive at my childhood home before I did.
Luckily, I’d been able to talk the social worker into placing her with me temporarily because it was an emergency.
Then I filed a petition for legal guardianship the following morning and hired a real estate agent to help me find the house we now lived in.
The court case had been splashed all over the media, which only made our parents fight harder. But with the child psychologist, teachers, and Avery herself testifying in my favor, there had been no denying it was in my sister’s best interests to stay with me.
Once it was all over, she had acted so brave while I quietly fell apart in the bathroom. I’d sworn then that I would never let her feel abandoned again.
I set the phone down and slipped out of bed.
Hudson’s blue button-down was tossed over the couch in the sitting area.
I picked it up, brought it to my nose for a second, then slid it on, buttoning just enough to be decent.
A pair of my own panties from the drawer where I kept a few things at his place completed the outfit.
The shirt swallowed me, the hem hitting mid-thigh, covering me enough to wander through his house.
Barefoot, I padded downstairs in search of Hudson, a small smile playing on my lips. Coffee sounded good. And waffles. Maybe I’d whip up a batch with strawberries and whipped cream.
While I was mentally going through the ingredients I’d need, voices drifted from Hudson’s home office. The door was slightly ajar, and I slowed when I heard his low rumble followed by Maddie’s brighter tone.
“…already told me last night to stay away. Now this morning too?” Her tone was the deceptively sweet one I’d only ever heard her use with him.
“Hudson, this is getting ridiculous. I’m starting to worry Serena is just like that old high school girlfriend of yours who couldn’t handle our friendship.
It’s been months, and she’s still not very welcoming. ”
I froze just outside the door, my good morning quickly disappearing under her intrusion.
Hudson’s reply came after a short pause. “Serena isn’t jealous, Maddie. She’s just got a lot on her plate right now. The red-carpet thing hit her hard, and she’s protective of Avery. Give her some time. She’ll come around.”
I jerked back, pressing trembling fingers to my mouth as hurt sliced through me. He hadn’t told her to stop. Or even to just respect my boundaries. Instead, he framed my feelings as the problem that needed time and patience. Like I was the one being unreasonable.
He’d defended me less than he had with her all of the times she’d messed up, and I hadn’t even done anything to her.
Maddie’s voice softened even more. “I hope so. I miss the way things used to be with you. Easy, you know? Before everything got so complicated.”
I couldn’t listen to another word. My eyes burned, but I refused to cry. Not where he might hear me.
Exhaustion crashed over me as I turned quietly and went back upstairs.
The thought of the breakfast I’d been so excited about now made me feel like puking.
And I couldn’t bear the thought of facing Hudson right now, not while I was still shaking from what I’d just heard.
I needed time to figure out what I wanted to do, and I wasn’t going to let him smooth this over with a kiss and a promise.
I was done letting Maddie’s “mistakes” chip away at my life while I smiled and pretended it was fine.
Walking away from our relationship had seemed impossible only a few months ago, but I wasn’t so sure any longer. Maddie had done so much damage in such a short amount of time. I didn’t want to imagine how much worse things could get if he didn’t put a stop to her crap.
As soon as I got back to the bedroom, I stripped off his blue shirt and put it back where I’d found it. Then I dressed in stuff I kept in my drawer, shoving my outfit from the day before into my bag. When I was ready, I slipped out the front door without a sound.
Once I was in my car and the gate closed behind me, I pulled out my phone and sent a short text to Hudson.
Me
Avery needed me this morning. Heading home.
I didn’t wait for a reply before I turned out of his driveway. My agent’s name flashed on the screen just as I merged onto the highway.
I answered on speaker, trying to sound normal. “Morning, Mara.”
“Serena! I have the best news.” She sounded almost giddy. “An award-winning producer just reached out. I’m not supposed to say the name unless you’re interested in the project, but I can give a hint.”
I rolled my eyes. The games people played in Hollywood could be trying at the best of times. “What project?”
“One that the producer of that devastating drama last year that swept the awards circuit is incredibly excited about. He has a script that he wants to attach your name to.”
Normally, I wouldn’t be interested in signing on to a new project so soon after wrapping another.
Since Avery had come to live with me, I tried to space out filming so she wouldn’t feel like I was too busy for her.
And I never took jobs that required me to shoot out on location unless I'd only be gone for a week or it was during one of her school breaks.
But with my relationship up in the air, it was tempting to immerse myself in an exciting project. “What kind of script?”
“He’s calling it a brilliant, challenging piece with a nuanced, complex female lead and a truly unconventional voice. He’s thinking serious awards attention—Oscar buzz for the role. Wants to meet next week to discuss.”
The description only made the project more tempting.
It sounded like a role that could actually stretch me, let me show something deeper than the charming rom-com heroine I’d become known for.
This was the sort of part I’d been quietly craving while everyone kept offering me the safe, pretty girl-next-door roles.
“That sounds incredible,” I managed, my throat tight. But even as the words left my mouth, the sting from what I’d overheard burned hotter. I didn’t know if I could throw myself into a career-defining role when I couldn’t even trust the man I loved to stand up for me in his own house.
“It is. This could be the one that changes everything for you. I’ll send the script over today. We need to strike while he’s excited.”
I thanked her and ended the call, the excitement warring with the heavy ache still lodged in my chest.
When I pulled into my garage, I turned off the engine, and my phone buzzed again with a text from Hudson. I saw the notification but left it unopened so he wouldn’t know I’d seen it.
Inside, I kicked off my shoes and curled up on the couch with a blanket. I had the place to myself, and I let the silence wrap around me.
Last night had felt so good, but this morning proved nothing had really changed.
And now, with a potential career-changing role on the horizon, I had to decide how much more of my peace I was willing to sacrifice just to keep holding on to a man who still couldn’t see what was happening right in front of him.