Here's to Tomorrow

by Teagan Hunter

  “I sent you a text. Don’t read it until you get home though. Might make this a little less awkward.”

  Suddenly he steps back into me, closer than before, leaving no room between our bodies. He slowly reaches up and places both hands on my cheeks, gently sliding them up until he’s cradling my head. We’re locked in another one of “our” stares.

  He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, then leans forward and places his lips against my forehead. I close my eyes and feel myself melting into him. He holds his lips there for several seconds while I’m attempting to push air through my lungs.

  He’s so warm and surprisingly soft. We stand there for several minutes, completely locked together.

  “Goodnight, Rae,” he whispers against my skin. He slowly lets me go and walks off toward his building.

  I stand there frozen with my eyes still closed for what seems like hours, when I know it’s only been seconds since he walked away.

  And only seconds since I started missing him.

  I eventually climbed back in my car and drove home because I’m now lying in bed, snuggled up under my favorite teal blanket.

  My mind is racing. I wish Haley were still awake because I really need someone to talk to about tonight. I found her passed out on the couch when I arrived home. She may have had cheese puffs smashed on her sweatshirt and melted Skittles still in her hand. I may have taken photographic evidence.

  Tonight. Tonight, tonight, tonight.

  It was…amazing. I wasn’t expecting Hudson. I wasn’t expecting him to be so open, so sweet. And I definitely wasn’t expecting his favorite band to be my favorite band. He scored major points with that one. It was all so…easy. All of it. The conversation, the laughing, the silence. Everything. Even though I had seriously thought he was insulting me, I still listened to him and still wanted to listen to him. I’ve never had that before.

  I roll over, looking at the clock on my nightstand. Eleven thirty. I’ve been lying here for twenty minutes trying to calm my brain. I notice the light flashing on my cell, indicating a notification of sorts.

  The text. I completely forgot about the text!

  I practically throw myself across the bed and halfway onto the floor, grabbing for my phone.

  I unlock it and start uncontrollably laughing at the name that’s popped up on the screen.

  FMK.

  Um…what?

  FMK: You better be home while you’re reading this, little lady. I had a great time tonight. Thank you. Hope this is a little less awkward than walking me to my door. ;-)

  Me: FMK?

  FMK: Future Mr. Kamden. Ya know, since you so beautifully proposed to me tonight.

  I laugh because he’s got me there.

  FMK: Lame?

  Me: Very cute actually.

  FMK: You think I’m cute, huh?

  I do, but he doesn’t need to know that.

  Me: I think the name you put in my phone is cute. I’m still trying to decide if you are.

  FMK: You’re a terrible liar.

  I laugh because he’s so right.

  Me: Fair enough. Thank you for tonight. Goodnight, Hudson. x

  He responds immediately.

  FMK: Goodnight, Rae.

  I fall back onto my pillow with a smile on my face. I find peaceful slumber for the first time in weeks.

  Hudson

  I wake up to my phone ringing. I blindly reach over, knocking the framed picture Joey and me off my bedside table, and grab my phone. Squinting at the bright light, I see that I have four missed calls from my mom.

  I spring out of bed in a panic, thinking something’s wrong with Joey.

  “Hello?” Joey answers, not waiting on me to say anything first.

  “Joey? You okay, bug?” I ask cautiously.

  “I just missed you is all. Why didn’t you come home last night? You’re missing pancakes.”

  I wince. “Sorry, Joe. I had a late night last night. I’m getting up now and I’ll be on my way over. I promise.”

  I hear my mom in the background. “Joey! I told you not to wake him up!”

  “Ugh. He’s missing pancakes!” Joey answers my mom. “She’s so grouchy sometimes. Hurry, please. Love you. Bye.” And the line disconnects.

  I sigh and pull myself out of bed. I go about my morning shower routine and dress for a day at my mom’s with Joey. I grab Rocky—my black Lab—and hit the road.

  It’s only a ten-minute drive so I’m pulling into my mom’s driveway in no time. Joey runs out of the house to greet me.

  “You’re here! Finally!” So dramatic.

  “Hey, kiddo! You save me any pancakes?” I ask, lifting Joey up into my arms for a big bear hug. Rocky tries to squeeze his way in.

  “Barely. I was starving.”

  Setting Joe down, I laugh and make my way into my mom’s house, calling Rocky in behind me.

  “Yo, Eleanor! You better have saved me a big plate!” I yell to my mom.

  “Hudson Michael Tamell! I’m your mother. Call me Mom, Mommy, Mama. Anything but Eleanor,” she scolds.

  “Yeah, Hudson,” Joey pipes up.

  I raise my brows at my mom. She shrugs. “Gets it from you.”

  I laugh. “Fair enough.” I sit down at the breakfast bar and fix my gaze on Joey and Rocky who are still in the hallway rolling around. “So, bug, what do you want to do today?”

  “Swimming!” I shake my head no. “Ice skating!” Again, I shake my head no because it’s freaking September. “Hiking!” I shrug my shoulders. “I know! The dog park!” I shake my head yes and Rocky perks up at that. “Yes! Rocky, we’re going to the dog park! Come with me while I get dressed.” They go racing up the stairs.

  “Don’t run, Joe!” I yell after them. “Damn kids.”

  My mom snorts and mumbles an agreement. “Be careful with those two today. They’re a handful. Joey’s been hyper as hell all morning,” she warns.

  “Oh, boy.”

  “‘Oh, boy’ is right. You’re in for a long day. Now, how many pancakes do you want?”

  I give her my trademark grin that’s gotten me out of a lot of trouble over the years. “Six.”

  “Dammit, Hudson,” she groans because she’s going to have to make more batter. “You’re lucky I love you.”

  I get up and walk over to the stove where she is, planting a big wet kiss on her cheek. “I love you too, Eleanor.”

  I get hit with the spatula for that one.

  “You better go check on Joey and Rocky. I told ya they’ve been trouble all morning.”

  I release her and head for the stairs. I creep down the hallway because something tells me there’s a reason for their silence. And then I discover it.

  “Rocky!” Joey whispers to the dog. “We’re going to the dog park, little man. Do you know how fun that’s gonna be for you?” The door is slightly ajar so I peek in the crack. Joey has Rocky’s head firmly in grasp, talking right into his face. Rocky’s full attention is on Joey. “Lots! It’s gonna be so fun! I used to go there all the time with Eleanor and Pop and their old dog, Hazard. Now I get to go with you!”

  Rocky is currently on the receiving end of stories about how my parents used to take Joey and their black Lab, Hazard, to the dog park all the time. It’s making my heart swell and my eyes water because I really miss my dad. And it makes me sad to know that Joey isn’t getting the time with him like I got. It’s not fair, because the kid is missing out on a lot of good memories with Pop.

  Just like you did, I think to myself.

  Up until I was just two months shy of being seventeen, I had a flawless relationship with my father. We got along like best friends. Then I fucked up. Big time. And we were never the same after that.

  I ended up moving out for a little over three years because of a big blowout we had right after I turned seventeen. My parents could have easily made me move back in since I was still in high school, but I think they saw that I needed to leave for things to get better between my father and me.

  T
hat’s when I met Mr. Horton and started working at Jacked Up. He kind of saved me. I had no idea what I was doing and him giving me that job was the best thing I could have asked for. It kept me sane and grounded when I needed it the most. And he stepped in as a father figure of sorts since I wasn’t in the best place with mine. I can never repay him for all he did for me.

  I eventually moved back in, though. Things spiraled a bit out of control and my parents were there to help—even Pop. He welcomed me back home right away. Things weren’t perfect for us but we were getting there.

  Then, two and a half years ago, we got the phone call. Pop had a heart attack while driving. He didn’t make it.

  I’ve felt guilty for years over our fallout even though I know Pop wouldn’t want me to. He was a great guy. He was kind, patient, and all-around loving. Never got angry with my mom. All he did was fix random cars out in his garage, cater to the plants, and work for thirty years as an on-site construction manager in the city. He was an amazing guy. So humble, so free-spirited, always making people smile and laugh with the all the random stuff that came pouring out of his mouth.

  Rae would have gotten along with him so well.

  Whoa. What in the world? Where did that random thought come from? Why was I even thinking about Rae? It’s barely nine in the morning and she’s already on my mind. Not good. Not good at all.

  Before the panic can set in, I clear my throat and open the door up some. “You ready, kiddo?”

  “Yep! Just gotta throw my shoes on. Come on, Rocky!” And they go bounding downstairs.

  I take a look around Joey’s room, noting all the drawings of us together. That makes my heart swell for a whole other reason. Damn, that kid makes me proud.

  After taking one last glance around the room, making sure everything is in order, I head downstairs after them. I make quick work of my pancakes as Joey and Mom let Rocky out back to go potty. I see them start heading inside so I make my way to the front door.

  “Last one to the car is a big fat loser!” I yell, holding the door open.

  “Doesn’t matter either way! You’re always the loser!” Joey yells back, barreling through the door with Rocky right behind.

  And that’s how my Saturday begins.

  Later on, I’m sitting on the couch at my mom’s with my kid curled up next to me watching Finding Nemo. Times like these are my favorite. I ended up rescheduling the card game with the guys until next weekend after the sleepover got cancelled due to a sick kid. Plus, I’ve been trying to avoid them after my evening with Rae last night because I know those two assholes are going to question me until I’m blue in the face.

  I’ve been fighting the urge to text Rae all day. Even though I was out with the most amazing kid ever today, she’s been right in the front of my mind. I want to talk with her but I have no idea how to even approach it. I could be lame and ask for that marketing help or I can try to think up something smooth.

  Yeah right. Better stick with lame just to be safe.

  Me: Hey. So, did you still want to help with that marketing thing?

  I toss my phone onto the coffee table so I don’t stare at it until she texts back. I end up staring at the clock over the TV the entire time because I know it’ll take her five minutes to respond.

  Rae: Actually, no. I completely changed my mind. I’m soooo swamped with work right now, I’m afraid I don’t have the time. I was just being nice. Wait. Who is this?

  Um, what?

  Me: Hudson…

  Rae: Which one? I know a few.

  She’s gotta be fucking with me because I know my name isn’t that common. I’m gonna fuck with her back.

  Me: The sexy one, of course.

  Rae: Shit. That’s at least two different guys. :-p

  I laugh out loud at that one.

  “Why are you laughing? That wasn’t even funny,” Joey says.

  “Nothing, kiddo. I just thought of something funny,” I try.

  It works, so I resume texting Rae.

  Me: It’s the extra sexy one. The one you can’t stop thinking about…

  Rae: Oh. Hudson Carter? How the hell are you, dude?!

  I don’t even know how to respond to that, so I don’t. Guess she gets tired of waiting because my phone vibrates.

  Rae: Fine. I give. You caught me. Yes, I’m still willing to help you out. What do you have in mind?

  My fingers fly over my keyboard and I’ve hit send before I know what I’m truly doing.

  Me: Have coffee with me tomorrow? We can talk then.

  Rae: Sure. Where and when?

  “Holy shit.” I just asked her out. And she said yes!

  “Ummm! You just said a bad word! Pay up!” Joe exclaims next to me. Apparently I said that out loud.

  “Dang, kid. I can’t catch a break with you.” I dig out a quarter and hand it over.

  Me: 10 tomorrow morning? We can meet at Perk.

  Rae: Done. See you then.

  “YES!” I do a fist pump, bouncing around a few times.

  “You’re so weird,” Joey says, giving me the side-eye.

  “Whatever. Where do you think you get it from?” I stick my tongue out.

  “True.”

  I’m on cloud nine as I put Joey to bed and head to the room I lived in just a month ago. I still can’t believe that any day now I’ll be living in my own house. I’ve been out on my own before so that part is nothing new. It’s the actual owning the house part. I’m beyond excited to say I’m a homeowner. I’m twenty-four and I own my own business, so there’s no reason I should still be living at home part-time. I should be out on my own, taking care of my own priorities and not relying on my mom so much. I don’t overload her or anything, but it’s about time she moved on with her life and lived for herself for once—not looking after me and Joey all the time.

  I grab a quick shower and settle into bed. I’m so close to being asleep when light spills over my face. I crack open one eye to find Joey standing in my doorway.

  “What’s up, bug? Bad dream?”

  “No. I just missed you.” My heart skips a beat.

  “Well, come on then. Hop in,” I say, lifting up the blanket and scooting over what little I can. Joey’s only seven, so needing lots of space isn’t an issue. Good thing, too, because this bed is only a twin.

  “Thanks, dude,” Joey yawns, climbing into bed, curling up into a ball and snuggling up close to me.

  “I love you, kiddo.”

  “I love you more.”

  I smile. “You little liar.”

  “You big liar.”

  And we fall asleep.

  Rae

  BANG! BANG! BANG!

  “Hurry the fuck up, Hales! I’ve got shit to do!” I yell through the bathroom door.

  I’m running late and Haley’s been in the bathroom for the last thirty minutes doing God knows what. It’s pissing me off big time because I’m supposed to be meeting Hudson in twenty minutes. At a coffee shop that’s almost ten minutes away. I haven’t even showered yet.

  “Calm your lady bits, little girl! I’m finishing up now!” she yells back. I roll my eyes because “finishing up now” probably means about ten more minutes for her.

  And I’m right, because eight minutes later she’s finally coming out. I glare at her as I rush inside to brush my teeth and run a brush through my hair, pulling it back into a tight ponytail. I swab on some mascara and decide I look decent enough in my plain white t-shirt and jeans. It’s obviously not going to get any better since I have to leave in about two minutes if I want to make it on time.

  Even speeding a little, I’m still about four minutes late. I rush inside and frantically start looking around for Hudson. My hopes dash a little. I don’t see him.

  I take a seat at an open table and take out some of the notes I managed to make last night after work and check my phone as I’m looking over everything. He’s ten minutes late. He’s got another five before I leave.

  My phone buzzes. I grab it up quickly, hoping it’s
Hudson with a good excuse. It’s Maura, who I made the mistake of telling I was meeting Hudson this morning.

  Bestie (NOT PERRY): Well?

  I laugh because the fact that it says “Not Perry” next to Maura’s number means she got ahold of my phone and changed her name in it. Again. She and Perry have this little war going when it comes to who gets to be my best friend. I’ll never tell Maura this, but Perry wins. Slightly.

  Me: Can’t talk right now. We’re about to have coffee. Call you soon. x

  I turn my phone to silent just as the door to Perk flies open.

  “I am so damn sorry, Rae! I had to take care of something at home. I swear I’m usually on time. I promise,” Hudson rushes out, throwing himself down into the chair across from me.

  He’s looking at me with those beautiful ocean-colored eyes. They’re still perfect. He’s still perfect.

  Hold the phone, Rae. He’s just a guy. Just a possible client. You’ve been on one accidental date, that’s it.

  “You’re mad,” he frowns.

  It’s just then that I realize I haven’t said a word to him since he sat down at the table. I’ve just been staring.

  “I’m not. Really. It’s totally fine. I was actually four minutes late myself. I’m usually not late. There’s no reason I should hold it against you.”

  Hudson visibly relaxes. “Thank God. I thought you were gonna be so pissed and refuse to work with me and I actually really do need your help.”

  “Oh, so this isn’t a date?” I put on the best innocent face I have and bat my eyelashes at him.

  He instantly pales.

  If he’s gonna be late, I’m gonna have some fun with it. I let my eyes water up just a bit and bite my lip, making it seem like I’m holding in some serious tears. “I just…I thought…nevermind,” I say, turning my attention to the window briefly to gain some sort of composure. Once I’m sure I’m not going to lose it, I turn back to a still overly pale Hudson.

  “Uh, I…umm…shit. Rae, listen…I…,” he trails off in state of complete confusion. He’s got the fish thing going with his mouth. He clears his throat and starts trying to form an actual sentence.