Here's to Tomorrow

by Teagan Hunter

  She moans and presses up into my face as I swirl my tongue around her folds, sucking lightly on her clit.

  “Ohmygod! Ohmyfuckinggod!” she pants.

  I chuckle around her and move downward to her opening. I push my tongue in and out quickly a few times, feeling her muscles starting to contract.

  “Fuckfuckfuck. I’m gonna come.”

  Well that was easy.

  She tries to pull away, so I grab her hips and hold her steady. I move back up, this time sucking hard on her clit once. Twice. Her hands fly to my head instantly, nails digging into my scalp as she bucks up. She inhales a strangled gasp and freezes for just a millisecond before falling heavily back down on the bed, panting hard.

  I smile and give her a few more gentle strokes before kissing my way back up to her mouth.

  “Hi,” I smirk at her.

  “Hi.” She reaches up, wiping my mouth with her hand, and then kisses me right on the lips.

  I groan and press into her.

  “Wanna get laid again?”

  I nod vigorously and roll off her to grab the condom.

  Settling back down between her legs, I line myself up and slip inside my little slice of heaven easily. We both sigh. Her hands wrap around my neck as she pulls me down for a chaste kiss. I grab her hands and bring them up above her head. I hold them there as I thrust into her slowly, maintaining eye contact with her the entire time.

  My chest tightens at the look on her face. Even though we haven’t spoken the words out loud yet, I can see the love in her eyes. It’s so intense that it’s making it hard to breathe. Or that could be from the sex.

  It’s in this moment that I realize the difference between the sex we had last night and what’s happening right now. Right now, we’re showing one another with our bodies how we feel. Last night was all about a release for us both. Not that it didn’t mean anything, I just know that this is a defining moment in our relationship.

  I continue my slow pace, grinding harder and harder with each thrust. Even though we’ve been going slow, I’m close. So fucking close. My balls tighten up.

  “Rae,” I gasp out.

  “I know. I know, Hudson,” she says, her green eyes shining brighter than I’ve ever seen. “I’m right there with you.”

  It’s something about the way she says it that lets me know she’s not just talking about our orgasms, but about us, our feelings, our love for each other.

  And at the same time, our gazes locked tightly on one another, we give in to it all.

  Rae

  Last night was everything I thought it going to be—awkward, sweet, fun.

  This morning was everything I had hoped it would be—amazing, beautiful, meaningful.

  And Hudson scored major bonus points for not trying to make me shower with him because that shit is just weird to me. I also thought he was going to have some comments about me not wearing panties with my skirt but he’s been a total gentleman so far.

  “Rae? Is that a yes? Or a no? Or maybe even a maybe?” Hudson asks.

  “What?” I didn’t hear anything he just asked me because I was too busy recounting the last twenty-four hours.

  “Your birthday weekend…me, you, Joey, the beach.”

  “Umm…yes?”

  He squints at me. “Even though that totally came out as a question, I’m taking it as an affirmative.”

  Holy crap. I just agreed to go the beach. With Hudson. And Joey. For an entire weekend.

  My problem? I’m terrified of big bodies of water. Okay, that’s a lie. I love going to Lake Q on nights I can’t sleep and just watching the water, and that place seems pretty big from the safety of the rocks. So it’s not that. It’s just beaches. Even though I know it’s just a dream, my recurring nightmare keeps me far, far away from them. But I just agreed. For Hudson.

  He has no idea of my fear. I’ve never told him about my horrible dream because I haven’t actually had one since I started seeing him officially and I haven’t thought about it in weeks. I didn’t think it was going to come back and bite me in the ass, though.

  There’s a tiny part of me that’s thrilled to go to the beach because it means a weekend away from this town. There’s also a tiny part of me that realizes how major it is that I’m willing to face this for Hudson, on my birthday of all days. But there’s a huge part of me that’s fucking scared—with good reason—as all get out.

  “Hey,” Hudson says, walking over and cupping my face in his hands. “We don’t have to. You just talked so fondly of the water before and I know how much you love Lake Q. I just thought it would be nice to have a little mini vacay for your birthday. We won’t be swimming or anything because it’ll be mid-October and probably too cold, but at least we’ll be going somewhere and it will only cost us gas. I have full access to my grandparents’ old beach house. The new owners are awesome about letting us use it.”

  I grab his hands and pull them from my face. “I know. I was just worried about getting off work for a second but then remembered that Clyde owes me still for working my birthday last year,” I lie.

  He stares at me hard for a second and I hold my breath, scared he’s going to see through all my bullshit. He either does and lets it go or doesn’t and moves on. Either is fine by me at this point.

  “Okay. Two weeks. Your birthday. Talk with your boss. We can go up on Saturday morning and come back Sunday night.”

  I fake a smile and give him a thumbs-up.

  He gives me a real smile and my heart starts to hurt a bit.

  This is so not going to end well.

  “Well, as delicious as the coffee and cereal was—which you’re welcome for because obviously my culinary skills are impeccable—I gotta hit the shop,” he announces.

  “So eager to get rid of me,” I tease, giving him a flirty smile.

  He smirks. “I’d love nothing more than to bend you over that stool you’re sitting on and I’m probably gonna be sporting a semi all day just thinking about the fact that you’re not wearing any panties right now, but I gotta run.”

  I laugh. So much for him being a gentleman.

  “Perry!” I shout as my cousin sits down at the bar in Clyde’s.

  “Well, if it isn’t my ex-girlfriend. How are you, sugar? Ready for another round?” he waggles his eyebrows at me.

  I called him first thing in the morning the night after I met Joey—even before I called Maura, but we vowed to never tell her that—so I could tell him what Hudson thought we were to each other. Now he won’t stop making fun of Hudson.

  “Ew,” I say, shivering. “Knock that shit off. It gives me the creeps.”

  “But it’s still funny as fuck. I cannot believe he actually thought that,” Perry says, still laughing about it.

  “True,” I smile. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be out—I don’t know—looking for a job or something?”

  “Hey! I’m getting close! Maybe. Why don’t you have an interview yet?” he throws back.

  “Jerk,” I mutter.

  I still haven’t had a single firm call me back since my phone interview. I’m actually not as upset as I should be. Guess I have Hudson to thank for that. He’s managed to make me see Wakefield in a whole new light, making me not want to leave as much now.

  “Why are you smiling?” Perry asks. He leans in across the bar. “Did you forget to take your crazy pills again this morning, Rae? Tsk, tsk,” he mock-whispers.

  “Ohmygod! Go bug someone else,” I yell, attempting to swat him with my wipe-down rag.

  He jumps down from the stool, his hands raised in the air. “I’m going, I’m going. Love you, crazy!” he shouts, turning away and heading back to his friend Colt, who is laughing at his antics.

  I just roll my eyes at them, knowing Perry will be getting a taste of Karma momentarily, because Clarissa is their waitress today.

  “Yo! How you doin’, girl?” Benny calls out, walking behind the bar.

  “Hey! What up, Big Ben?” I say, giving him a big high-five
and going back to filling up beers. We automatically fall into a pattern, working around one another.

  “I see you’ve requested off three days for your birthday. Big plans?” he winks.

  I can’t help the blush that creeps up my face. “Hudson’s taking me somewhere.”

  “Oh yeah? Where to? Vegas? Cause you two need to make that shit legal real quick. I ain’t ever seen two people better suited and I’ve only been around you two a few times.”

  I just laugh. “Nah. We’re waiting for our six-month anniversary for that one.”

  “Good plan,” he nods.

  Clearing my throat, I say, “It’s the beach, Benny. Hudson’s taking me to the beach.”

  Benny stops mid-stride, almost dropping the cup he’s holding.

  “Shit, Rae. Are you… I mean… Wow…,” he starts. “Are you sure?”

  I give my head a small shake. “Yep.”

  “You…you sure that’s a good idea? I mean…the date, the place. You gonna be okay?”

  I love that Benny is concerned for me. It warms my heart to know that he cares so much about it.

  “Honestly? I’m scared shitless,” I say on a sigh. “But…I have to do it. I mean I really have to. I just have this feeling that this is gonna be something big for me. I gotta see what that is, ya know?”

  Benny thinks on it for a second before he agrees. “I get it. But only if you’re sure you’re gonna be okay.”

  “I really don’t know if I will be, but I promise to be extra careful. Deal?”

  We shake on it and Benny pulls me into a brief hug. “You’re brave, kiddo. I admire that. It’s gonna be fine. I’m sure of it.”

  That makes one of us.

  Rae

  “You really don’t need to be here for this, Dad.”

  He gives me a “don’t go there” look, letting me know he’s staying.

  We’re waiting on Hudson to get here with Joey. It’s my birthday weekend, which means it’s time for my big trip to the beach.

  I turn to my sister. “Haley, you definitely don’t have to be here.”

  “What? And miss Dad meeting your boyfriend? Nope. So not happening.” There’s a special little twinkle in her eye because she knows something my dad doesn’t. She knows about Joey. “You’re gonna love him, Dad. You two have so much in common.”

  I flip her off just before my dad turns back to me.

  “This is the same guy that fixed your car, right?” I nod. “Well, he gets bonus points for that already.”

  Good, because he’s going to need them.

  I’ve spent the last two weeks just…floating. I’ve been over at Hudson’s just about every day I’ve had off, spending countless hours playing with Joey or snuggling and making love quietly with Hudson. It’s been nothing short of amazing.

  And now here I am, waiting for him to meet my father and unknowingly help me face my biggest fear. But I’ve got it all backasswards, because I’m excited for him to meet my dad but so damn nervous for the beach.

  You make so much sense, Rae.

  The doorbell rings. We all freeze.

  “I’ll get it!” Haley and I shout at the same time.

  We both take off racing toward the door, reverting back to our childhood years and shoving one another the entire way. She beats me. Barely.

  “Hudson! Hello, hello. Come on in!” Haley says, moving out of way.

  He looks at me over her shoulder, fear written all over his face. Joey follows him inside.

  “I’m Haley, Rae’s sister.” She shakes Hudson’s hand.

  “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard great things,” he says with small smile, because I tell him almost daily how crazy my sister is.

  Haley bends down and sticks her hand out to Joey next. “And you must be Joey. Such a pleasure to meet you.”

  Joey stands up tall and takes Haley’s hand, shaking it once before dropping it. “Hi.” Then she spots me and makes a beeline into my waiting arms. “Rae! I am so excited to go to the beach! Dad says that even though we can’t swim, we can still stick our feet in. Right, Daddy?”

  “That’s right, bug.”

  “Daddy?” my father says, standing in the kitchen doorway. He’s rocking his “dad stance” too.

  I clear my throat and set Joey down. “Dad, this is Hudson, my boyfriend. Hudson, this is my father, Ted.” They exchange an awkward handshake. “And this is Joey, Hudson’s daughter.”

  My dad looks at Joey and scrunches his nose up. Joey mimics him.

  “You’re short,” my dad tells her.

  Joey shrugs. “At least I’m not old.”

  Hudson, Haley, and I are frozen, not sure how to react and not sure how my father’s going to react.

  Then my Dad bursts into laughter and holds his fist out to her. Joey bumps it. “Nice job, kiddo.”

  “Thanks. My dad,” she says, pointing the accusing finger right at Hudson, “says I get my smarts from him.”

  Hudson groans and I stifle a laugh, because damn. She just totally unknowingly threw Hudson under the bus.

  “Thanks, bug,” he mutters.

  “So, Hudson, Rae tells me you fixed her car for her? It gonna last longer this time?” my dad asks.

  “DAD!” I hiss. “That’s so not even kind of okay.”

  Hudson gives a nervous chuckle. “I sure hope so, sir.”

  “Right,” I say before my dad can chime in with anything else. “We had better get going, huh? Got a nice little drive. And I’m sure Joey’s just dying to get there.”

  “It’s true. I’m close to death. Can we go now, Daddy?” Joey says dramatically.

  “We can.” Hudson grabs my bag and walks over to my dad. Using his free hand, he shakes my dad’s again. “It was great to meet you, Ted. I hope our next meeting is a little longer.”

  “Looking forward to it.” Having just met my dad, Hudson has no idea of his meaning behind it. My dad is so gonna grill his ass next time. Even though he’s actually a really nice, easygoing guy, he’s super protective of Haley and me. Hudson will definitely be limping away from that encounter.

  “It was great meeting you finally, Hudson. You have to come over for dinner sometime. I’ll cook,” Haley offers.

  “NO!” Dad and I yell at the same time.

  “You two are so rude!” Haley pouts.

  Hudson just shakes his head and laughs. “Joe, say bye. We’re heading out since you’re dying and all.”

  “Bye, Rae’s sister. Bye, Old Guy.”

  We all laugh at that one.

  As we’re walking out the door, I catch my dad’s eye. He doesn’t look too happy with me right now. I give him my best “I’m sorry” look and he gives me a nod in return, letting me know we are so discussing this later.

  Oops?

  We pull off into a gas station right on the edge of town. Hudson turns to face Joey and Rocky in the backseat.

  “You gotta go pee?” he asks, eyeing Joey, daring her to say no.

  She gets the hint and bobs her head up and down. She opens up the door some before turning back to me. “Will you go with me, Rae?”

  “Of course,” I say, unbuckling my seatbelt and getting out of the car with her.

  “I’ll let Rocky out,” Hudson says, meeting us around the front.

  “Sounds like a plan, Stan.”

  Joey looks up at me with a serious expression. “His name isn’t Stan. It’s Hudson.”

  I hear Not Stan laugh as we walk away. Asshat.

  I’m looking out the window, waiting on Joey to finish up and watching Hudson as he tries to settle Rocky down some, when I see a woman in a pair of bright-pink high heels attempt to sashay over to him. I say attempt because instead of looking sexy, she just looks drunk.

  Even from a distance, I can see how Hudson’s body shifts away from her. She lays her hand on his arm. Hudson leans down to say something to her.

  I stiffen. Whoever this girl is, Hudson knows her.

  She leans up into him again. He moves away again.

&nb
sp; Don’t freak out. You’re not that girl. There’s gotta be a reason for this.

  Joey finally comes out and I’ll be damned if I don’t practically drag her out of the station. So much for not freaking out.

  As we approach them, Hudson looks at me briefly over the woman’s shoulder, then his eyes dart to Joey. He looks angry and annoyed and worried all at once.

  “Hey, Daddy! Who’s your friend?”

  The moment she turns around, I know who she is. Jess. Joey’s mother.

  If her eyes weren’t caked in old makeup and she didn’t look she hadn’t showered properly in days, she’d be a dead ringer for what Joey would look like fifteen years from now.

  “Daddy?” Joey asks again. I’m sure even at her young age she can see the resemblance. She’s staring hard at her mother. “Mommy?”

  I hear a strangled gasp leave Hudson. Holy shit. Not good.

  Hudson recovers and clears his throat. “She was just looking for directions, Joey,” he says, stepping over in front of Joey, blocking her from Jess, who scoffs at his move. “Can you take Rocky for a second? Just go right over there.” He points to a patch of grass far enough away from us so that Joey won’t hear whatever is about to go down.

  Joey seems to take that answer at face value and take Rocky, leaving me alone with Jess and Hudson.

  Hudson turns to Jess, his eyes shining with anger. “You need to leave now. I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but you need to go.”

  Jess huffs. “I’m not trying to see Joey, Hudson. I couldn’t care less about her,” she says, then motions to me. “Or your little bitch here. Warning to you, dear: he’ll ruin you. He’ll get you pregnant, make you move away from your family, and then leave you alone all day to take care of a baby by yourself while he goes off and plays.”

  Someone’s angry. It’s evident in the way she thinks calling me a bitch and talking shit on Hudson is going to intimidate me. It won’t even come close to working.

  “Goddammit, Jess. Just fucking leave already,” Hudson growls lowly.

  Jess bats her eyes, attempting that sexy thing again. “Come on, Hudson. You were fun. Once. Now you’re just some boring dad.”