Chapter 32 -Allison
I’m sitting at the bar with Paige for brunch when a large figure storms across the bar. My eyes widen at the sight of Tate, red faced and jaw clenched in anger.
“Woah. What the hell?” Paige says, waving the bartender down for help. My hand falls to his heaving chest.
“Tate— “
“I’ve got Hudson on the phone. We need to go. Now.”
“What, why didn’t he call me? What’s going on?
” I ask rapid fire questions as I jump off the stool, snatching my purse up.
Tate has his keys in his hands. He’s speaking with a calm and soothing voice into the phone, keeping Hudson at ease.
My heart pounds as my short legs keep up with his long strides out of the restaurant.
Tate’s SUV peels out onto the street with a loud screech, his knuckles turning white as his punishing grip on the wheel tightens.
“Hudson? Baby, are you okay?”
“Mom! I’m okay. I found a worker like Tate said to. They got me some juice.” My chest squeezes painfully at the idea of Hudson, lost and alone. “There’s a police officer, too. He wants to talk to you.”
I’m going to kill TJ.
Tate weaves in and out of traffic- well over the speed limit. His jaw ticks as he makes controlled decisions on the drive, turning twenty minutes away into ten.
He pulls right up to the entrance and throws the car in park.
I jump out, phone still to my ear as the officer gives directions to where he’s waiting by, deep in the park.
Well away from any of the restaurants and the hotel located in the park.
Tate’s large frame parts the sea of people.
He grips my hands tightly, pulling me behind him.
I spot the top of Hudson’s signature ball cap through the crowd. Relief floods my chest. Hudson’s face crumples when he sees me. He collides with my chest, knocking the wind out of me. I don’t care. I squeeze him back just as tight.
“Mom.” His little face is red with fresh tears.
“I know, baby. I’m here.” Now that Hudson’s in my arms, the fear starts to subside. I become aware of Tate standing beside me, a silent support. I straighten up but hold tight to Hudson’s hand. “Thank you, Tate. Really... I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t… if you weren’t…”
“It’s okay. I know.” Tate’s fingers spread wide, then clench into fists— like he’s trying to keep himself from reaching out. He shoves them into the pockets of his jeans. “Hudson, you did a good job calling me. You can always call me. Ok?”
“Yes sir.” Hudson nods, wiping his nose with his sleeve. The corner of Tate’s mouth lifts into a small smile.
“Hudson! There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you!” TJ’s grating voice reaches us before he does. He’s walking at a fast pace with his arms stretched out as he raises his voice. "When I tell you to stay put, that’s what I expect you to do!”
Hudson’s face flushes a tomato shade of red and hides behind my arm.
“Oh, hell no.” I say, getting ready for a verbal lashing to this prick. Tate steps in front of TJ, blocking us entirely from view.
“You’re not gonna stand here, yell the place down and embarrass them. Especially not for something that, as the adult in charge, is one hundred percent your fault.” Tate jabs a finger into TJ’s chest. “You're responsible for this ten-year-old child. I’m not gonna stand for it.”
“I said I’d be right back. I just had to take Tanya back to the hotel room so she could rest her feet!” TJ’s getting defensive, flailing his arms about and causing a scene.
The worker who waited with Hudson doesn’t look a day over seventeen, but she pipes up, “Um, I waited here with him for nearly two hours before we figured out the password to the phone.”
She flicks her ponytail over her shoulder before crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes on TJ.
“Are you the parent who brought him here today?” The officer asks, hands on his belt.
I just wrap an arm around Hudson’s shoulders to steer him back to the car.
He doesn’t need to hear all of this. We can just talk through our lawyers.
The one I was able to hire with the promotion bonus was going to be contacting him on Monday anyway.
TJ’s neglect is going to cost him. This is just the final nail in the coffin.
“Allison!” TJ calls to my back. I don’t glance back, trusting Tate to keep him away. “It’s still my weekend!”
I decided against making any more of a spectacle by shouting back. I’m not sure that anything more than a fuck you, TJ would come out anyway.
When we make it to the car, I open the back door for Hudson. He slides in but doesn’t let go of my hand. His pleading eyes meet mine. My sweet boy, too old to ask but still young enough to need me. I slide into the seat beside him and pull the door shut.
Finally, I’m able to take a deep breath. Tate’s vehicle smells of pine and leather and his cologne. Tate gets in the car. He’s calm. He doesn’t slam the door. I still see the anger rolling off him in waves, in the tick of his jaw and the redness crawling up his neck.
“I wish he wasn’t my dad,” Hudson says quietly enough I almost miss it.
“I love you so much,” I smooth his hair back, “That never changes.”
Hudson lays his head on my shoulder, still holding tight to my hand. His breathing evens out, and he’s asleep before we’ve even gotten on the highway. I keep petting his hair.
My eyes meet Tate’s in the rearview mirror. He looks back to the road without saying a word. This man, who just jumped in without question to help Hudson. He just takes care of others and doesn’t ever ask or expect anything in return.
It’s dark out by the time the vehicle pulls to a stop in front of the house. Tate opens Hudson’s door, lifting him out of the car with ease. I’m surprised he doesn’t wake up. I hurry ahead of him to unlock the door. His eyes meet mine as I hold it open for him to carry Hudson upstairs.
I follow him up, trying not to check out his muscled back straining against his shirt the entire way. I fail. My eyes roam his muscled body. Damn, his ass looks great in a pair of jeans.
“Which one?” Tate glances over his shoulder once he gets to the top of the stairs. My cheeks flame as I snap my gaze to his. A smirk tugs at his lips and he quirks a brow.
“Uh, the one on the left.” I stumble. When he turns back around, I smack a hand to my forehead. God, Alli, get a grip.
He lays Hudson down on the bed and covers him up, tucking him in just so. He steps back so I can kiss him goodnight.
I rub his hair the way I always do, thanking my lucky stars he’s in bed safe.
When I glance back at Tate, he’s already watching me.
I notice the softness in his gaze. He scratches his jaw and then without a word, turns to leave the room.
My body is moving before my mind catches up.
I follow him into the hallway and catch his wrist.
His eyes meet mine, wide with surprise and something like hope. He has done nothing but made me feel safe and respected my choices. Time and again he’s proven he’s nothing like TJ. He takes a step closer.
My eyes flick between his. His knuckles brush against my jaw.
His arm wraps around my waist and pulls my chest flush against him.
I want to kiss him. I want him to hold me and make everything right and perfect between us.
For him to, this once, not be the perfect gentleman and take what I know we both want.
And then I remember why I can’t. My eyes fall to his chest. I start to pull away but Tate's arms tighten around me, holding me in place.
“Don’t… Not yet. Just... let me hold you a little longer.” Tate whispers against my hair. We stand there for a long time, and not nearly long enough. His lips linger as he places a soft kiss on my forehead. Then he’s gone and I’m left missing his warmth.
I stand frozen in place listening to his footsteps on each stair and the soft click of the door shutting.