Chapter 28 Hudson
“This is definitely an upgrade from the Majestic,” Mira says when we pull into the Deerview Lodge and Spa, a valet waving us forward.
The sprawling four-story building resembles a castle, with a stone facade and gas lanterns lining the walkway.
Lush shrubbery and colorful flowers create a protective barrier between the parking lot and guests sipping cocktails on the patio.
“Your mom must have thrown serious money at this event, last minute and all,” Vanessa says, stepping onto the stone path.
“Probably not more than a single dividend check, since George boasts how he bought Microsoft stock before the internet was even a thing,” I say, regurgitating the anecdote my stepfather shares anytime someone asks how he amassed his fortune.
As if being born into generational wealth and having a financial advisor in high school didn’t help.
Relinquishing my keys to the valet, I make my way over to help Mira. After watching her struggle to get in the car earlier, I can only imagine how difficult it must be to get out in that dress.
“Here, let me,” I say, offering her my hand.
She’s windblown, with pink cheeks. Paired with the shimmery powder on her shoulders and the golden dress that’s gathered around her curves, she looks as if she just stepped out of a Renaissance painting, one where a knight might be kneeling in front of his maiden.
And I would lie down at her feet right now, in front of everyone, if she asked.
I don’t realize how long I’ve been staring at her until Vanessa’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “You guys coming?”
“In a minute,” I reply, watching the fabric slide down her bare legs.
I never thought I could be jealous of fabric and yet, here I am, wishing I could be the thing wrapped around her.
I wait until Adrian and Vanessa are a few paces ahead of us before I guide her back towards the vine-covered banister, my hands tangling in her hair, pressing my lips to hers.
“Stop,” she breathes, her hand pressing hard against my shoulder, and I freeze.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask, hoping I haven’t overstepped.
Her eyes dart back and forth, the relaxed, carefree woman from the lake retreating. She moves away from me. “Someone could see.”
“I don’t care,” I say, wrapping my arm around her waist, but she shakes her head, pained.
“But I do.”
The words leave me with a lingering chill, like a blanket being ripped off on a cold winter morning, and I’m desperate to be warm again. After everything we’ve gone through to get here, I don’t want to give it up, not even for an evening.
“Mira, I can go in there and tell them the truth,” I plead. “I want to. I don’t want to hide. Meredith is your friend, too. I’m sure she’d be happy for us.”
“But would Katherine? Or your mom?”
“Fuck ’em.”
She scoffs, unbelieving.
“I’m serious. I’ve put so much time and energy into pleasing those people, and for what? They don’t care about me. And I’m tired of putting in the effort, especially if it means not being able to walk in there with you.”
I grab her hand, thankful when she allows my fingers to intertwine with hers. But I can tell she’s not convinced.
“I don’t want to cause a scene,” she says, untangling her hand from mine.
I want to honor her wishes, but I have no idea how I’m supposed to go in that room and pretend that I don’t know how soft she is underneath my fingers, or the way she tastes like candy and sunshine when I lick along her thighs, or the sounds she makes, desperate and breathy, when she comes.
“I just need everything to go smoothly—this is my job—and then I’m all yours.”
I want to hold her and tell her that whatever she’s afraid of, we can handle it together.
That I’d endure the brunt of the judgment waiting for us if it meant I could sit beside her all night, listening to her laugh, stealing an extra dessert off the buffet knowing that she always likes something sweet around midnight.
But her resolve is impenetrable and I know I won’t win this fight.
I move my hand to rest against her cheek, nudging her chin up so that her hazel eyes meet mine. “I understand.”
Leaning forward, she allows her lips to touch mine ever so lightly and bends down to pick up her camera bag.
“Now, go in. Say hello to your family. And I’ll come in a few minutes later.”
“Mira, that’s ridiculous,” I sigh, hating even a few feet of separation when she’s feeling like this.
“Just do it, please.”
I squeeze her hand before I make my way up the stone path and into the lodge.
There’s a wary smile on the hostess’s face as she greets me, leading me through the restaurant floor towards my party.
Unlike the Majestic, whose brand is more adventure center than resort, this place caters to the ultra-rich.
I pass plates of steamed broccolini and filet mignon.
Metal signs adhered to the walls indicate which direction to go if I want to visit the spa, cigar room, and wine cellar, but we pass by all of them, stopping in front of a set of mahogany doors.
“Right through here,” the hostess says. The room is bustling, everyone standing around with champagne flutes and crystal wine glasses.
Long tables are adorned with tapered candles and gold place settings, and vases of white roses are scattered throughout.
The upscale, gaudy decor is worthy of a gala, but it isn’t right for either Meredith or Grant, who would rather be roasting s’mores around a bonfire, knocking back a few beers, and joking with their friends.
They stand together, visibly uncomfortable; Grant in a tailored black suit, and Meredith in a structured white dress that looks more appropriate for a Labor Day party than a rehearsal dinner.
They absentmindedly chat with their guests, all the while shooting pointed stares at Susan, who is beelining for me across the room.
“Finally,” she says, pulling me towards the top table, where I’m to take my place beside Katherine, who I can tell is already a little tipsy from the slew of empty champagne flutes in front of her. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“For what?” I ask, grabbing my own glass from one of the trays floating around.
“To start dinner,” she replies, as Amelia ushers Meredith and Grant to their seats.
“Why do I need to be here to start dinner?” I ask, genuinely confused.
“Because you’re giving the welcome speech.”
I practically choke on my drink. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Amelia and I thought it would be nice if you said a few words tonight since Derrick is speaking tomorrow.”
“A speech isn’t something you can spring on a person at the last minute,” I argue. “I mean, they’re literally called prepared remarks because you’re supposed to get time to prepare for them.”
“He’s your brother.” Susan waves at the caterers as they bring over a tray of salmon puffs. She snatches one, popping it in her mouth and swallowing it before anyone can see her actually consume it. “You can’t tell me you need a study period to find something nice to say about him.”
Considering I couldn’t think of anything besides “Congrats” to write on his card, trying to find words to fill a whole speech is improbable.
We’ve never got along. Not really. Even when we were kids, I remember Grant ignoring me every chance he got.
Slamming the door and staying in his room the summers I was forced to visit thanks to the custody agreement.
So unless Susan wants me to go up there and recount the night Grant got so mad he threw one of his baseball trophies at me, giving me the scar on my shoulder, I don’t have much to say.
I turn towards Katherine, who hasn’t looked at me since I arrived. “You’re giving a speech too, right?”
She holds up her phone, displaying paragraphs of text.
“Want to join forces?”
She laughs, still mad from my earlier declaration. Of all the times for her to actually hear me, this is the worst moment.
“Are you not speaking tomorrow, dear?” my mother asks, clicking her tongue against her teeth in disdain.
“Meredith asked Vivianne to do the honors,” Katherine explains, as Amelia clinks a knife against her glass, grabbing the attention of the crowd.
“If you could all take your seats, please. We’re going to have our first speaker of the night. Grant’s brother, Hudson Hayes.”
A cacophony of heels clicking against linoleum and chairs being pushed aside fills the room, as all eyes turn to me. I thought I would have more time, that Katherine might have jumped at the chance to go first, but she’s clearly relishing my downfall.
I down my glass of champagne as Amelia hands me the microphone.
The room goes silent. I’ve been to enough weddings to know that whatever I say is supposed to be heartfelt.
A poignant yet charming tribute to the bride and groom, strung together with personal anecdotes and well wishes, but staring at the happy couple of honor my mind goes blank, completely devoid of original thought.
My palms begin to sweat, and there is a dry, scratchy cough building in the back of my throat. And when I move the microphone too close to my mouth, reverb blasts through the quiet room, causing guests to cover their ears.
Is this what it’s going to feel like addressing the employees at Elite on Monday? Will the Slack channels be filled with private messages discussing my inadequacies?
I try to shake off my insecurities as Grant grabs my arm. “Dude. Say something.”
“Thanks for coming,” I say, at a loss at what to say next, until Mira steps in front of me, camera in hand, offering me a confident smile. She’s absolutely stunning in the candlelight, glowing like a campfire, and staring at her, I find my words.
“Welcome, everyone, and thank you so much for coming out to celebrate Grant and Meredith this week,” I say, my voice steadier now.
Light applause rings out from the crowd, the loudest coming from Derrick, who is fisting an entire bottle of champagne. “Wooo! Fuck it up, Hayes.”
“Thank you, Derrick,” I chuckle as Grant pats his best friend on the shoulder, his other arm draped around his fiancée.
“As you all can see, it’s pretty obvious that these two are crazy about each other.
From not spending more than a few days apart since they started dating, to traveling to a new state or country every other month, it’s safe to say that these two can’t get enough of one another,” I say, motioning towards them.
“They found each other at one of Susan’s parties, funnily enough,” I say, pointing to my mother, who delights in the attention.
“It’s also funny to think how one day, one moment, one decision was all it took.
Meredith could have stayed at home that night.
Grant could have gone to a basketball game.
But instead they met on a boat in the middle of Lake Norman.
“But how did they know they were right for each other? It’s the question we all ask ourselves after that first encounter, questioning if those butterflies fluttering in your chest are momentary or forever.
Growing up, I always believed that love was about sacrifice; this idea was based on characters I’d read about in books or seen in movies.
I thought that to show ultimate devotion you had to give up parts of yourself for the person you cared about the most. Like how Wesley gave up years of his life to protect Buttercup, or how Arwen relinquished immortality for Aragorn. ”
As I move my eyes around the room, I see expectant faces.
And I’m ready to bare all. “But recently I discovered that love isn’t about sacrifice at all.
It’s about showing up. It’s about being honest. And it’s about endlessly giving yourself to another.
Whether it’s staying up a few minutes later because you don’t want the night to end, or remembering to order extra bao buns because they are her favorite.
It’s laughing at a terrible TV show you have no interest in watching because she loves it or making her coffee in the morning because you want to make sure she’s caffeinated enough to get through the day. ”
Mira stops shooting, her camera in her hand but far enough away from her face that I know her attention isn’t on capturing this memory but being a part of it.
“And so the question becomes how do you know if you’ve found that person.
The one you can give your time and energy to.
The one who is not only deserving but who will give it back.
As someone who recently stumbled upon such a person, I can attest that when it happens, you won’t be able to miss it.
It’s like spotting a rare flower in the forest or stumbling upon a first edition of your favorite book at the thrift store.
It’s so unexpected, wonderful, and exhilarating.
But there’s another part that makes it so terrifying.
Because you can’t help but wonder if you deserve this. ”
Tears well at the corner of Meredith’s eyes and she wipes them away with a napkin, and there’s a softness to Grant that gives me pause. But it’s Mira, who’s staring at me from across the room, that makes me keep going.
“I used to be so afraid of never measuring up, of never being enough, of not making the right sacrifices, but now, I’m ready. Ready to step up. To live every day for the people I love, and to ensure those people feel that love every day.”
And as the words leave my mouth, the truth within them radiates through my chest. Taking over Elite, standing up for myself, being my authentic self.
None of these challenges seem as daunting now that I have Mira.
It’s as if all the anxious static in my brain has subsided and I can finally hear the music clearly. And it’s fucking beautiful.
“And so, I hope that you continue to show up for each other, believe in each other, and remember that the only sacrifices you should be worried about making is who gets the last slice of pizza,” I say, raising my glass. “To Meredith and Grant.”