Here's to Tomorrow

by Teagan Hunter

  “Rae, you’re just giving me a tour. That’s all this is. I know that. Just relax. I’m not expecting anything. Promise.”

  I nod and unlock my door. He follows me inside. Flipping on the light switch, I glance around the room, checking to make sure there aren’t any stray bras or underwear lying about. We may be girls, who are usually way more organized than men, but we aren’t saints. We Kamden girls are a messy duo.

  “Welcome to my digs. This is the living room.” I point to the couch. “That’s where I fell in love with Will Cooper.”

  “Lucky bastard,” Hudson says with that smirk of his.

  “I agree.”

  We spend the next few minutes walking through my small apartment. I point out but don’t show him the bedrooms. I feel like that would be too tempting right now.

  Apparently he notices.

  “What, not gonna show me your bedroom? Afraid I’ll talk you straight into bed, Rae?” he says with a hint of a smirk on his face.

  “So terrified,” I sarcastically reply while barely suppressing a very real shiver. He has no clue how right he is. “You’re not even close.”

  “Then what is it? Do you have some embarrassing secret you’re hiding?” The smirk is in full force now.

  “No,” I say a little too quickly, my hand flying to the doorknob in case he tries to open it. He notices.

  Hudson inches in closely, looking me in the eyes the entire way. He places his hand on top of the one I have on the doorknob. I can feel his breath on my face. His eyes are churning their usual green-blue color, captivating me more than ever before. “You’ve got me all kinds of curious now, Rae.” His voice is quiet, sexy, and dangerous because I swear my knees just tried to buckle. “You gonna show me what’s in the room?”

  Before I know what’s happening, the door is opening and I’m tumbling backward into my room. Hudson swiftly catches me with arm around my waist and righting me before I can hit the ground.

  “You’re always falling for me,” he says with a smile.

  I just gulp and nod, completely rendered speechless.

  Then I hear it, the one thing I was terrified of. Hudson is laughing. I can feel his entire body shaking against mine. I’m so embarrassed right now that I can’t even fully appreciate how good it feels to have him this close to me.

  I burry my face against his chest. He wraps his other arm around me now, continuing to laugh.

  “Stop it,” I growl. He laughs harder.

  “It’s just…I so didn’t expect this. I thought it would just be something like dirty clothes or maybe stuffed animals to the max. But this? This is good. Someone’s obsessed,” Hudson teases.

  I manage to snake my way out of his hold. I step away and cross my arms over my chest. “You are so rude.”

  “Come on, Rae. It’s a little creepy but cute as hell. You love the Winchesters. Like really love them. And Cass. It’s adorable.”

  I drop my face in my hands, groaning loudly. I don’t even want to look around my room now. Yes, it’s covered in nothing but Supernatural stuff. Posters galore, a couple throws, and even those tiny little bobble-head things. It’s embarrassing as hell but—hello—it’s Supernatural. The best show ever. It’s okay to love it a little more than a lot.

  I hear Hudson walk over to me. He tugs on my wrists, trying to pry my hands from the face. He succeeds but I refuse to look at him. “Come on, silly girl. I’ll leave you alone now. I won’t speak another word of your Winchester fever.”

  Hudson pulls me out of the room, my face still a bit red.

  We’re back in the living room now, standing in front of the couch, just looking at one another.

  “So, now that things are awkward, care for a drink? I’ve got beer—heavy on the root. No Dr. Pepper, sorry,” I ask, trying to get the attention off me some.

  “Am I that transparent?”

  I shrug, walking into the kitchen. “I’m a waitress. I notice stuff like that.”

  “Bet I can guess your drink of choice,” he calls out from the living room.

  “Doubt it!” I yell back.

  “Mountain Dew.” I walk back out holding his drink in one hand and mine behind my back so he can’t see.

  “That’s it? That’s your big guess.”

  He takes his soda and sits on the couch. He gives his head a slight shake. “Not just any Mountain Dew. Code Red. From the bottle only. No fountain or can soda for you.”

  Holy shit. He’s one hundred percent right.

  I pull the bottle of Code Red from behind my back and slowly sit down next to him, leaving enough room between us so that we’re not touching, but easily could be.

  “How in the hell did you know that? Are you inside my brain?”

  He laughs. “You had a bottle in your purse the day your car broke down. And again last night at my apartment. And then when I offered you a drink, you turned down soda in favor of apple juice. Not many grown-ups do that.”

  Hudson watching and paying attention to all things me? Catching on to little things like that? Total. Turn-on.

  “I’m impressed. Not many people know that about me. Haley doesn’t even remember half the time.”

  “Haley?”

  “I haven’t told you about Hales?” Hudson shakes his head. “She’s my older, completely crazy sister. We share the apartment, so if you’re ever over here and you see a bra or two on the floor, they’re hers.”

  Wait. Did I just indirectly invite him over here again? Oops?

  “I have to be honest, if you’re calling someone crazy, I’m terrified to meet them.”

  I laugh. “She’s me on speed. Like for real. But I love her. Surprisingly enough, she runs a daycare.” His eyes bug out. “I know, I know. Can you imagine?”

  Hudson shakes his head. “I’m really trying not to. No offense.”

  I shrug. “None taken. I suck with kids. Not my thing.”

  Now, I’m observant. I notice a lot of stuff that other people don’t. Hudson tensing up at my confession? I noticed. But what does it mean? Does it mean he likes kids? What if he wants them? I don’t. I truly mean it when I say I’m horrible with children. I feel so damn awkward around them.

  I mentally slap myself because there’s no reason I should even be thinking of kids yet. So I brush it off.

  “You don’t like kids?” he asks, taking a long drink of his soda.

  “Well…I like them. They just don’t really seem to like me. I’ve tried to babysit a few times but it never works out. It’s always so weird. I don’t connect with them on their level I guess,” I say on a shrug.

  I watch as he takes another big drink. I never thought watching a guy drinking a soda would be hot but this totally is. The way his throat moves is so sexy. And his mouth? Perfect. But his lips…they look soft. I bet they feel just as soft as they look.

  I manage to somehow drag my gaze from his mouth to see his brows slightly scrunched.

  Huh, that’s odd. Wonder what’s going through that head of his.

  “That’s…unfortunate. Kids are fun.” I guess whatever it was wasn’t important because now there’s a huge grin gracing his face and I’m dying to know what it could mean. I start to ask but Hudson speaks first.

  He clears his throat. “I think I gotta get going.” I think he sees my shoulders slump some at that because he gives a good excuse, causing me to sit up a little straighter. “Got an early morning at the shop tomorrow. We just got a rush job in before closing tonight. Need it done by nine when the shop opens.” He stands up and shakes his empty soda can at me. “Trash?”

  “Tsk, tsk. We recycle. There’s a box in the kitchen.”

  “Be right back.”

  I watch him walk away. It’s a nice walk. It’s a strong, confident walk.

  Fuck it, who am I kidding? The man has the nicest ass I’ve ever seen. Those jeans fit well.

  “Thank you,” he says.

  I blink and look up at him, confusion lining my face. “For the soda,” he says. Then he gives me that
fucking smirk again. “And for the compliment.”

  Again, confusion. “What compliment?”

  “My ass, your eyes. Thank you.” He’s still smirking.

  I cover my face because this time I’m actually a little embarrassed. “You’re welcome,” I say quietly through my hands.

  He laughs. “Walk me to the door?” He holds his hand out. I accept it with ease.

  I can see myself doing a lot of that with Hudson—just accepting things with him. Anything. Everything. It all feels so right. And fresh and exciting. I like it. I like him.

  We walk to the door, our hands still clasped.

  “So, before you rudely interrupted me earlier,” he says with a smile, “I was going to ask you if you wanted to go out again sometime. Ya know, if you aren’t too tired of me yet.”

  “Gee, I don’t know, Hudson. I know I have a few other dates lined up for this week so I’m not sure if I’ll have the time. I can give you a call, though. Oh, wait. I forgot that you don’t know how to use a phone,” I tease.

  “Ya know what? Just for that smart-ass comment, I’ll be texting you daily from now on. You’ll get at least five texts from me. All completely random questions. Be prepared.”

  “You don’t scare me, mister.”

  He just laughs and tugs me closer into him.

  He’s quick and kissing me right at the corner of my mouth before I even know what he’s doing. His lips linger for all of two seconds before he pulls back. He’s staring me straight in the eyes.

  That look? The one he’s giving me right now? It’s saying I want you.

  My breath catches just briefly from the intensity I see in them. Hudson notices. His hand, the one that isn’t still holding mine, moves slowly upward. Then it stops.

  Hudson reaches out, placing his hand on my chest, slightly above my breast. My chest is heaving at this point. Up, down. Up down. Updownupdownupdown. I know he can feel my rapid heartbeat. Hell, he can probably see it. That’s how hard and fast it’s going right now.

  He mutters something but I can’t hear it over the pressure in my head right now.

  His hand is traveling now. Slowly, ever so slowly. I close my eyes. I do my best to control my breathing as his hand creeps higher and higher, gently moving my heavy hair off my neck. Then it stops, cradling my neck with just the right amount of pressure.

  I can feel him move in closer, feel his breath on my face. His lips connect at the corner of my mouth again, moving toward my ear, just barely grazing my cheeks.

  “Goodnight, Rae,” he whispers.

  And then he’s gone. Completely.

  Again? Are you fucking kidding me?

  I begin pacing my apartment. I have never been so sexually frustrated from simple cheek-kisses in my entire life!

  Does my breath stink? I check. Nope. Smells breathy. Maybe he’s just a psycho that gets off on baiting women because it seems he’s got an MO or some shit. Sexy cheek-kiss, whispering in the ear, disa-fucking-ppearing.

  I pull my phone out to call the one person that I know will know what’s going on.

  “Miss me already?”

  “Perry!” I shout. He winces.

  “Ow. Yes?”

  “I have a problem…,” I begin. I spend the next five minutes telling him about my dates with Hudson and how he’s left me hanging with a cheek-kiss every damn time.

  “Hmm…I don’t know, Rae.”

  Dammit. There goes that.

  “I don’t either. I mean I know he likes me and this was date two-point-five so I just don’t understand. I mean, there’s no way he doesn’t know I want him to kiss me.”

  “Maybe he’s waiting for you to make the first move? Or maybe waiting for lucky date number three?” Perry tries to reason.

  I shrug even though he can’t see me. “Maybe. I don’t know. This dating shit sucks.”

  Perry laughs. “Tell me about it. Why do you think I don’t ever do it?”

  “Thanks for the warning,” I mumble.

  I hear Perry quietly talking to someone in the background. I’m not certain who exactly it is but I know it’s a girl. He chuckles at something she says.

  “Are you fucking flirting while I’m in the middle of a crisis? You’re a terrible person, Perry Hartman!”

  “I love you too, sweet girl,” he says, laying the charm on thick.

  I huff even though I can’t help but smile at the idiot. “Love you too. Wear a condom.”

  “Always. Night, dear.” I can hear the smile in his voice.

  “Later, gator.” I hang up, still as confused as I was before I called him.

  I pace my apartment for about ten more minutes until I decide to call it a night.

  I’m crawling into bed when I hear the front door open. Then I hear giggling. I can tell it’s Haley.

  “Hales?” I call out.

  “Shh…be quiet,” she says to whomever made her giggle. “Rae! Don’t come out. I’ve brought home a man!”

  Is she drunk? “Are you drunk?”

  “No. Yes. Kind of. We went to Clyde’s and I ended up having a good time after all. And I met a man. A really sexy man. He’s going to take care of me,” she yells dramatically. I hear more giggling and footsteps as they go into Haley’s room.

  I just roll my eyes and put my pillow over my head.

  I’m almost asleep so I barely hear my phone vibrate against my bedside table. Grabbing it, I check the screen. It’s Hudson. I put in my headphones, just in case Haley decides that now is a good time to start having sex.

  FMK: What’s your favorite color?

  I smile. He wasn’t kidding about the random texts.

  Me: If we’re going to do this, then you have to answer every question you ask. Deal?

  He takes a minute to respond.

  FMK: Deal. Dark blue. Your turn.

  Me: Orange.

  FMK What’s your middle name?

  Me: Rae Bethany Kamden. Yours?

  FMK: Hudson Michael Tamell. Why the name Rae? No offense or anything. It’s just different.

  Me: I don’t know. Ask my dad. He picked it. I hate it.

  FMK: Really? I like it. I have a thing for girls with boy names. It’s unique. And Hudson was my mom’s maiden name. Guess she wanted some connection to her life pre-Rocky Tamell.

  He likes my name. That causes me to blush. A lot. Fuck, I feel like I’m a damn teenager again.

  Me: Rocky? As in your dog? You named your dog after your dad?

  FMK: Yes? Is that too weird?

  Me: Does that count as a question?

  FMK: *rolls eyes* Sure.

  Me: No, I think it’s kind of sweet. He’s always there with you.

  Guess he likes my answer because he switches back to questions.

  FMK: Favorite Transit song?

  This is too easy.

  Me: “All Your Heart”

  FMK: Nice. Mine is “Please, Head North.”

  Me: Of course it is. That’s my second favorite song of theirs.

  FMK: HA! Okay, last question and this one is extremely important. Get ready… What are you wearing?

  I die. Laughter bubbles up and out so fast I can’t keep it all down. At this point, I don’t even care if I’m being too loud.

  Me: No laughing! I’m wearing PJs with little cupids on them. And a matching shirt that says LOVE.

  FMK: You have on Valentine’s Day jammies in September? That’s hot. Flannel pants and a tee. I’m a simple guy.

  Me: That’s hot.

  And it totally is.

  FMK: That was number five. Sweet dreams, Rae.

  Me: Goodnight, Hudson. x

  I turn on “Please, Head North” by Transit and rearrange myself on my bed until I’m comfortable.

  These last few days have been good—great, even. Full of laughter and fun. My favorite part though? My nightmare has gone away again. I’m sure that actually having a full night of sleep has helped in the happy department, but I know that’s not all that it is. It’s Hudson.

 
He’s made me smile more since I met him than I have in the past few years. He’s sweet, witty, and just all-around awesome so far. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s super freakin’ hot. Like really hot.

  But that’s not even what I like most about him. It’s his heart. I have never met a guy in my life that shows their love the way Hudson does. I don’t know if he even realizes he’s doing it, but he does. I can see it in his eyes so clearly. The love he has for his friends and family when he talks about them is so amazing. So refreshing.

  As my eyes drift shut, I realize that my heart may be in a little deeper with Hudson than I realize. And that I’m perfectly okay with it.

  Hudson

  I spend the next week alternating my time between Joey, my apartment, and Rae.

  Joey’s been busy running back and forth to a school play of The Wizard of Oz. I’ve had the chance to sit in on a few rehearsals and nothing is more adorable than watching a bunch of seven-year-olds “act.” Plus, Joey makes a great Cowardly Lion.

  Every moment spent at my apartment is focused on getting this Pembrooke shit moving along. The amount of time it’s taking is ridiculous. I would have just moved back into my mom’s if I had known it was going to take a month and a half. But no, I followed my mother’s advice and got an apartment. I feel kind of bad for doing so. It was selfish. However, it’s been…nice. I’ve had a few extra hours of “me” time that I didn’t have before. I can’t help but feel a little guilty for that though.

  I do my best to push those thoughts out of my head because it’s not like I don’t still spend every free moment I have hanging out with my kid. Hell, that’s where I’m off to now.

  I notice the little notification light on my phone blinking. I rush to check it, hoping it’s Rae. No luck; it’s Tucker.

  Tucker: Yo. What goes on tonight?

  Me: Getting ready to head back to my mom’s and chill with Joey.

  Tucker: Huh, figured you’d be at C’s hitting on your little lady friend. Again.

  A big stupid grin spreads across my face just thinking about Rae. She’s perfect. Beyond perfect. She’s so amazing. That mouth of hers continues to amaze me at every turn. Each and every time we met for coffee, texted our random five questions, or had dinner this past week, which was a lot, she’s said something really weird that did nothing but give me a semi in public. Everything about her is a turn-on and I feel like a total dick because I still haven’t kissed her. But I don’t deserve to yet since I haven’t been one hundred percent honest with her about the fact that I’m a parent, even though I almost tried to tell her last weekend. And besides, I don’t really know the whole Perry situation yet. We’ve been in our little bubble every time we’re together and I haven’t wanted to ruin a single second of it by asking about Perry—someone who is potentially her ex. So I’ll continue to wait.