Rae: Oh, awesome! Can’t wait for Wednesday either. :-)
Rae: Much better.
At this point, I’m laughing so loud and hard that someone bangs on the office door.
“Yo, what’s so funny? We can hear you out here, ya know,” Tucker says, opening my door. Over his shoulder, I see Gaige and Liam, another mechanic and friend, with shit-eating grins on their faces.
I’m still laughing when I hand Tucker my phone so he can read what Rae sent. Probably not the nicest thing I’ve ever done, but that whole exchange was too hilarious not to share. He holds it up for the guys to read along. They all burst into laughter too.
“Nice job on that one, Hudson,” Liam says. “She seems fun.”
“She’s a spitfire, that’s for sure,” I agree.
Before I realize what he’s doing, Tucker types something into my phone.
“Tuck, man!” I snatch the phone out of his hands. “What the fuck did you send?”
Me: ;-)
I laugh. “Okay, that was a good one.”
My phone beeps right away.
“What did she say?” Tucker sounds as excited as me to get a response from her.
I flip the phone up so he can read her text.
Rae: LMAO!!
“You’re welcome,” he says, a satisfied grin on his face.
I shake my head and shove them all out the door. “Go work, assholes.”
I’m just snagging a table at our designated meeting spot when a shadow falls across the table. I look up, surprised at who I find standing there.
The guy Rae was hanging on last Monday at Clyde’s is standing right in front of me, holding a binder.
Half of me hopes he’s lost and not Perry. The other half is curious as hell how he knows Rae and why they seem so close with one another. Are they exes? Friends? More than friends? She seems into me, so I’m not banking on that, but this unexplainable surge of jealousy rages through me whenever I see the guy, and that’s solely based on the way Rae smiles when she’s around him. I want her to smile at me like that, not this doof.
“Hey. Hudson, right?” I nod. He takes a seat across from me and sticks his hand out. “I’m Perry.”
I put on my game face and shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Perry. Thanks so much for meeting me today. I know this is sort of short notice, but I’m really wanting to get things going on this.”
“No problem, I can understand that. I guess let’s just dive in. I worked a little this morning after we hung up.” He takes out a red folder and slides it my way. “I checked out your current website and logo and tried to go off that. I know it’s not much, but it’s a start.”
I flip open the folder and am pleasantly surprised by what I find. This is exactly what I was wanting, and I didn’t even know it.
As a play on the name of the shop, the lettering on Jacked Up is cracked without it being too obnoxious. It’s placed over a sleek brushed metal that is also full of cracks. The name is in a bright white, the metal a dark blue with a gold inset. Along the bottom is a slogan—something we’ve never had.
“Nothing is too jacked up for us,” I read aloud.
Perry screws his face up. “Yeah, like I said, it’s just a quick draft.”
“As lame as it—no offense—it’s damn funny and probably corny enough to work.”
“Really?”
I laugh, at his shock and at myself. I didn’t want to like the dude, but I kind of do, at least for his talent. “Yeah, man. I like the entire thing. This is perfect, exactly what I was wanting. You did a damn fine job, Perry. Is this look something that can be carried over into the website and business cards?”
His mouth snaps shut then opens again. He does this once more before words manage to make it out. “Yes! Sorry.” He clears his throat. “Yes, definitely. Easily, actually. I can start on something this week if you want?”
“Yes, please. I’m really diggin’ this. I think it’s going to help give us a little extra something. If this all goes well and you’re up for it, I may have you design a few ads. Is that something you’d be interested in?”
“Oh, yeah!” he says excitedly. “Sorry, I’m kind of amped up over this. I just graduated in the spring and I have been struggling to secure a good design position somewhere, so this is kind of my first go at things. I interned at a firm for a few months but I don’t think the office thing is my strong point, so I was going to try out the freelancing thing.” He takes a deep breath. “Thanks for taking a chance on me, man. I appreciate it. I’m going to have to take Rae out to dinner for this one.”
He laughs at his own joke, but all I can muster is a strangled chuckle because he’s talking about taking the girl I’m way too interested in out to dinner.
My inner Logical Hudson tries to reason with me: They’re just close friends. Chill.
But the more inappropriate No-Bullshit Hudson sitting in the forefront of my mind disagrees: Nope, dude. They’re fucking or they have fucked. They were way too chummy for anything else.
And then there’s the Hudson who can’t keep his mouth shut: “Yeah, that Rae sure is something.”
Once my voice hits my ears, I know I sound like a total prick. My tone is angry, annoyed. I have no right to be either. An odd expression passes over Perry’s face but it’s gone before I can read into it more.
“You’re preaching to the choir. She’s a handful, that’s for sure.”
I hate how he says it, full of love and familiarity. I want to reach over and slap the love-stricken look right off his face, and it’s become clear that No-Bullshit Hudson has taken over my brain.
Somehow, I contain my violent urges and force out more polite laughter. “So, did you have anything for me to sign? Anything I need to fill out?”
He pulls a packet of papers from the binder. “I do. I have a questionnaire you can fill out. It gives me an idea of what extra stuff you’re wanting on your website, that kind of stuff. Then I have a contract for you to sign. Most designers require a down payment of sorts, and you’ll see in the contract that I put down twenty-five percent for starters and then the rest when the project is complete. If you’re okay with that, we can do that today so I can get started on things.”
I glance over the questionnaire and contract. It all seems legit to me. “You say you’re just getting started in this? This contract looks good for a newbie.”
“My dad is handy with the legal jargon. Plus, my uncle is an accountant at a law firm so he has the inside scoop on what makes a good contract.”
“Nice. Lucky you then.” I quickly fill out what I can of the questionnaire and sign the contract. “I’m gonna be straight with you, Perry, I’m not good with the creative stuff like this. I have no idea what works and what doesn’t. I know that in my profession, I hate when people try to tell me how to do my job, so I’m going to leave it all up to you. I filled in a few things I would like to see, but that’s it. I’m an easygoing guy and I have a feeling you’re not going to screw me over.” My gut is telling me to at least trust his artistic abilities, if nothing else. “So, I’m leaving a lot of this up to you. Now, who do I make the check out to?”
I pay Perry and we wrap up our meeting with a promise of seeing something by Thursday. I’m pumped. He seems to have solid ideas for the new look, and I’m hoping it’s going to be everything I’m wanting.
I’m also hoping that Logical Hudson is right, that they’re just close friends, or hell, even family. Either way, I want everything done as fast as possible, because I don’t know how long I can stomach working with him when he clearly has feelings for Rae, especially after that weird sudden urge to smash the guy’s pretty face in.
The worst part is that I have no right at all to have any sort of urges like that. I don’t own Rae. I don’t even know her that well. Hell, I’m not even really dating her…yet. There’s no reason for this, but I can’t help it. I have this odd feeling of protectiveness when it comes to her. I felt it the first time we locked eyes. They
looked tired and sad, and it felt like she was pleading with me for some sort of help.
I know—I know—that sounds crazy considering I just met the girl, but I swear it doesn’t feel that way. She seems familiar, like I’ve known her for years. Even though I haven’t, I feel like I have to get to know her.
My gut is screaming at me over it, and if there’s anything I’ve learned about myself over the last several years, it’s to trust my gut.
12
Rae
I have been sick to my stomach all day with nerves. I’m t-minus two hours from my date with Hudson and I have about twelve different outfits—that I didn’t even know I owned—strewn about my room, because I’ve been running in circles for the past hour in an absolute panic over what to wear.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” I mumble into my phone. I’ve been alternating between calling my sister and Maura for the last five minutes. Neither are answering because they’re both still at work.
I throw my phone onto my bed and take two steps to resume my pacing when there’s a knock on the door. I wrap my robe a little tighter around me while I pad out into the living room and check the peephole before I open the door.
“Finally! You’re not exactly who I was looking for but you’ll do. Come on,” I say, grabbing Perry and dragging him through the apartment.
“Right. Good to see you as well, Rae. How’s life?”
I glance back to see a cute little grin smeared across his face. “Shush,” I say, directing him to my room and pushing him down onto my bed. “Sit and stay,” I command. “I need help. I have no idea what to wear and I have a date tonight. Help. Please?”
He rolls his eyes and sighs. “Fine. I suck at this shit, but since I love you and owe you a lot for the Jacked Up job, I’ll help. Show me what you have.”
I squeal a bit and start holding up clothes. He shoots down all my dresses and skirts, citing the weather as his reasoning, but I think he’s just being brotherly again. I hold up a few of my more questionable tops to prove my theory, and of course I’m right, but I completely love him for it.
After four of my more modest tops, I’m just as frustrated as I was before he showed up. “You’re no help, Perry! You’re shooting everything down!”
“That’s because you’re showing me complete shit. Everything looks like club outfits so far. You’re not going to a club, are you?”
He’s right. Every outfit I’ve shown him so far has been way more appropriate for a club, not dinner at someone’s apartment. “No, I’m going to his place for dinner.”
“See? You’re going about this all wrong then. If he invited you over for dinner, then he probably wants to do more than just rub all over each other on his couch, which is what wearing those clothes will lead to. Trust me, I’m a guy, and that’s probably the only thing I’d be thinking about if a girl wore that shit to my place.”
“Fine. Help me pick something casual and cute then.”
He gets up and begins flipping through my closet like he owns the place. I’m so lucky this guy loves me like he does because I know there’s no one else he’d do this for.
He walks back over to me, holding out a pair of dark gray skinny jeans and a dark purple short-sleeved top. The top has a lacy overlay and dips low enough in the front to say I’m interested, but not too interested.
“I think he’ll appreciate this one.”
“Yeah, I think Hudson will love it.”
“Hudson? As in Jacked Up Hudson? The Hudson whose website I submitted for approval today?” Perry asks, slightly panicked.
I gulp audibly. “Yes…”
“What in the hell, Rae? Why didn’t you tell me that’s who it was? Why didn’t you mention you were dating him when you texted me about the job?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I didn’t think it was that big a deal.”
“Not a big deal? Of course it is!” he hisses. “He probably thinks I’m too stupid to get work on my own or that I begged you to throw me a bone. Dammit, Rae, I don’t want your charity cases, especially because you’re dating the guy!”
I stand there, just staring at him. Is he insane? Totally out of his fucking mind? That’s not even remotely why I suggested Perry help Hudson out. I wasn’t “throwing him bone”. I was trying to recommend a worthy client to my talented cousin.
But…I understand where he’s coming from. He’s scared, just like I am. He wants to do this on his own, prove to himself that he can do it and not fail. He doesn’t want to have to rely on everyone else like his mother did his entire life. He doesn’t want people to give him handouts or not think for one second he didn’t work his hardest to achieve something on his own. He’s always been that way, and you’d never guess it from the easygoing smile he always wears.
“Perry,” I say gently. I pull him until he’s facing me and place my hands on his shoulders. I look him directly in the eyes, so he knows I’m being serious. “What you just said? It’s not even close to being accurate. You know me, and I would never do that. I only referred you for your mad design skills. I knew you’d be able to give Jacked Up the makeover it deserves. And Hudson? This is kind of like our first date, because the first one—which was a blind date—didn’t really count. He has no idea at all that you’re my cousin, so whatever he said to you, whatever deal you two worked out, it’s all on you and your talent. It has nothing at all to do with me.” I grab his face between my hands. “Got it?”
He closes his eyes briefly. When he opens them back up, the storm brewing inside them is tamed. Typical Perry.
“Got it.” He winces. “I’m sorry, Rae.” He wraps me up his arms and hugs me tightly. “I didn’t mean to overreact. It’s just…well, you know. I’m sorry.”
I pat his back. “Can’t…breathe…” I manage to choke out. He chuckles and lets me go. “We good?”
He nods. “Always.”
“Good. Now get the fuck out because I have a date to get ready for and I only have an hour to make some serious magic happen,” I say, pushing him out the door.
“Pft, yeah right. You’re always beautiful. No magic there, just good genes.” He winks at me.
“True. Now go.”
He ducks out of my room and down the hall. He’s opening the door when I realize something. “Perry?” I burst through my bedroom door as he turns around. “Why’d you stop by?”
“Just had a feeling you were needing me.” He smiles easily, but I can tell something’s up. He’s avoiding eye contact, and that’s a dead giveaway when it comes to Perry and me. He knows how I feel about that shit.
I nod and blow him a kiss, pretending everything is okay because that’s what he wants. I’ll let him have it…for now. “Love you.”
He returns the words and gesture as he closes the door, leaving me staring after him. He’s been acting off lately, and I’m not sure what’s going on. We usually talk about anything and everything; me saying Perry is my best friend is not an exaggeration. We grew up like brother and sister, only with a different bond. We’re as close as twins some days. He means the world to me, and I’m worried about him.
The last time Perry started to act like this, he ended up in therapy. It took a month to finally get him to break down and agree to attend at least ten sessions. He claimed himself “cured” after two months and has been fine ever since—until now.
I shake off my thoughts, knowing there’s not much that can be done tonight, and start getting ready for my date with Hudson.
After putting on my jeans and shirt, I add a small spritz of curling cream and hairspray to make sure my naturally curly mane doesn’t turn into a complete train wreck throughout the night. I finish up my beauty routine by applying a little more mascara than normal and some lip gloss with a faint sheen to it. The outfit gets completed with a long antique-looking silver necklace filled with several different charms, and my black leather boots that always make me feel like a badass when I wear them.
This date is either going to rock my world or be the deat
h of me.
With one final glance in the mirror, I grab my small bag and jacket and hit the road.
I don’t think I took a breath the entire drive to Hudson’s apartment—that’s the only explanation I have for the dizziness I’m feeling as I stand here staring at his door.
You can do this, Rae. Just press the damn doorbell. It won’t bite you. It can’t because it’s an inanimate object. Just press the button!
As I’m reaching out to the press the doorbell, the door is yanked open. I scream and stumble backward. I brace myself for the fall that’s probably going to bruise my ass, but it never comes. Hudson grabs me before I hit the ground.
I’m staring into his stormy eyes when something along the lines of my “my hero” comes flying out of my mouth. I can only hope Hudson didn’t hear me.
He laughs. Shit. He probably heard me.
“Yeah, I heard you. Why do you think my doorbell will bite?” Fuck! “I can still hear you, Rae. You might want to rein those thoughts in before you start talking about how ridiculously hot I am.”
Of course saying something like that is just an invitation to check him out. Who am I to deny him?
He’s right—he does look ridiculously hot in jeans and a plain gray thermal that brings out the green in his eyes. His hair is the perfect sort of messy it always is and that ever-present five o’clock shadow is gracing his tanned face.
He smiles, and since I’m so close to him, I can finally see flaw I hadn’t noticed before. His bottom front tooth has a small chip in it, and the one next to it is a bit crooked. He isn’t so perfect after all, but truthfully, it doesn’t take away from his beauty—it adds to it.
Hudson sets me upright. “So, do you want to come in?”
I straighten my top and grab my swaying necklace—a nervous habit of mine. “Sure.”
The first thing I notice when we walk inside is how small it is. It’s even smaller than the apartment I share with Haley. You can see everything but the bedroom and bathroom—which are down a narrow hallway—just by standing at the door. Despite all that, it’s cute and cozy, very homey.
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