Make Me Yours

by Charity Ferrell

  Hudson smacks the trunk. “I’ll take the backseat. Stella, you can have the front.”

  “No,” I rush out. “I’ll take the back. You two probably have a lot to talk about.”

  “We’re going to be in the same vehicle. I can talk to her from the back,” he fires back.

  We spend the next five minutes arguing about who’s sitting where until Lauren threatens to leave our asses if we don’t get in. I lose, of course, and keep my eyes on the windshield when she takes off.

  “FYI, you look like shit, Hudson,” she says.

  Hudson smacks the back of her seat. “You’re so sweet. How are you holding up?”

  I look over at her as a tear slips down her cheek. She wipes it away like it never happened. “I’m okay. I mean, I’m glad we got to spend time together before it happened, but I still hate how soon it did. She was so damn young. It seems unfair.”

  I nod in agreement but feel too uncomfortable to join the conversation.

  “And Dallas?” Hudson asks.

  “Not good. He’s holding in the hurt, trying to be strong for Maven, but that won’t help. It’ll only hurt him in the long run. You need to talk to him, get him to open up.”

  “You know how Dallas is … how all of us Barnes men are. We don’t like talking about feelings. We feel like pussies.”

  “Don’t undermine pussies. They’re very powerful,” Lauren argues. “But if he’s going to open up to anyone, it’ll be you. Put your annoying male ego aside and talk like grownups.”

  Hudson runs his hand over his puffy face. “I’ll try.”

  Lauren looks over at me. “Did you ever meet Lucy?”

  I nod. “Her and Maven visited Dallas a few times in LA. They stayed in my home. She was always very sweet.”

  She smiles at my answer. “That was Lucy.” Her attention goes back to the road. She’s skeptical … questioning my reason for being here. Sure, Dallas worked for me for years, but I’d only met his wife and daughter a few times and never the rest of their family. It was a professional relationship, but I would’ve been here either way. At least to show my condolences to someone who’d made it their mission to make me feel safe.

  “Holy shit, you weren’t kidding when you said it’s in the middle of nowhere,” I say when I finally see the welcome sign to Bluebeech. There’s nothing here. I mean, except for cornfields, barns, and a random house every few miles.

  “Welcome to Bluebeech,” Lauren replies. “Where there’s no fancy coffee shops or anywhere to buy designer handbags.”

  Oh yeah … she’s skeptical.

  Just great.

  “Lauren,” Hudson scolds, and she rolls her eyes without saying anything back. Hudson shifts his attention to me. “There’s not much when you first get into town, but wait until you see the circle. That’s where all of the excitement is and people hang out.”

  Lauren scoffs. “It sounds like you’re trying to sell Bluebeech to her.”

  Hudson ignores her while I keep my thoughts to myself. I look out the window when I start seeing buildings and we make it to the circle. People are wandering around on the sidewalks and sitting on benches, and quaint little shops line the streets. I spot a bakery, a small boutique, a hardware shop, and a few restaurants. The people seem friendly as they wave and talk to others driving and walking by.

  The homes start to dwindle when we make it a few miles out of town, scattered trees taking over, and we pull up the driveway of a ranch style home with impeccable landscaping of bright flowers. Dozens of small gnomes are arranged between the flowers, and there’s one sitting on the top step when you get to the front door.

  “Is Dallas here?” Hudson asks when Lauren parks in the drive.

  “No,” she answers. “He’s at home with Maven.”

  "Mom and dad, this is Stella,” Hudson says, introducing me when we walk into his family home. It’s adorable inside. Cozy. Pictures of their family are everywhere. The furniture is worn but still in decent condition. “Stella, these are my parents, Rory and John.”

  I give them a shy wave. Me shy? That’s never happened before. “It’s so nice to meet you,” I say. “My condolences for your loss.”

  Rory gives me a small smile. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing a lot of these here. No one wants to be rude, but they also aren’t in the mood to celebrate anything. “Thank you. We appreciate you coming and how helpful you’ve been with Dallas and Lucy.” She’s an average-height and slender woman that you can tell is a nice person just by looking at her. Her brown hair is pulled back in a chignon, and she’s wearing a purple tunic and black leggings.

  John resembles an older version of Dallas and Hudson. He’s tall, his hair similar to their color with speckles of gray brushed through the strands. There’s no doubt that he was just as handsome as them growing up.

  You can tell he was as handsome as them growing up.

  “I was happy to help,” I answer.

  My financial advisor questioned me repeatedly when I told him I wanted to help with Lucy’s medical bills. Yes, I make decent money, but I’m not loaded. Maybe to other people I am, but in the world I live in, I’m just living comfortably. But I have plenty, and even though I paid Dallas a decent salary, I knew he’d be off work for a while to take care of Lucy. I didn’t want him worrying about money because he never made me question my safety.

  “Sleeping arrangements?” Rory asks.

  Hudson and I exchange a look. We made a plan on the plane. “We’re going to stay with Dallas,” he answers.

  “Both of you?” Lauren questions.

  “I wasn’t sure how much privacy she’d get at the bed and breakfast, and she’s comfortable with Dallas and me, so yes, the both of us.” He arches a brow. “Unless you want to give up your bed? I wouldn’t mind sleeping in your apartment.”

  “You can have the couch,” she fires back.

  “I think it’ll be good for your brother to have company around,” John tells us. He shakes his head, wrinkles creasing in his forehead as he frowns. “I hope that boy doesn’t take it as hard as I think he’s going to. There’s no coming back from losing the woman you love. I pray to God I go before your mother does.”

  Rory reaches down and grabs his hand.

  Oh, hell. I’m witnessing a love story.

  People really act like this in real life?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Hudson

  The front door is unlocked.

  Stella stayed at my parents’ while I took the eight-minute drive to Dallas’ place. I need to find out what’s going on in his head before I bring Stella over. I want to make sure he’s okay and isn’t close to losing it.

  I walk into the living room to find him sitting on the edge of the dark leather couch with his head down. He doesn’t look up until he hears the sound of my boots scuffing against the wood floor. His shoulders are drooped as he stares at me blankly, his eyes red and underlined with dark circles. He’s been waiting for this moment – the chance to release his pain while in a moment of privacy. He’s been keeping it all in and waiting for the right time to break down.

  I feel like shit for interrupting.

  “Where’s Maven?” I ask.

  He rubs one eye and then the other. “She’s taking a nap.”

  “Have you told her?”

  He nods. “This morning. We’ve been in here all day watching her favorite movies.” He squeezes his eyes shut. “The ones her and Lucy loved. It’s helped take her mind off everything, at least momentarily, but nothing is going to fix it.” His voice cracks. “My girl lost her mother, and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to raise her on my own.”

  I move further into the room. “You know all of us will be here to help you every step of the way. You’re an amazing father.” I sit down next to him and wrap my arm around his shoulders. “I know Lucy will never be replaceable, but mom and Lauren will do everything they can to help with that maternal void.”

  “You … you don’t understand.” His voice falls
into a sob. “I thought I’d prepared myself for losing her, but I was so damn wrong. I could’ve never been ready for this bomb. Nothing can stop the pain of losing the woman you cherished more than your own life.”

  I pat him on the back while fighting my own tears. “None of us were. Lucy was one of the most amazing women I knew.” I pull away to scrub my hands over my face. “She’ll be missed by not only our family but by everyone she knew, everyone in Bluebeech. They’ll be here for you, too. You have the whole town behind you.”

  “Lauren was working at the hospital when it happened,” he whispers.

  “Were you there?”

  He nods. “I was there all night. Mom has been watching Maven for me. Without my family, I don’t think we could’ve even made it this far.”

  “And we’ll always be here, no matter what. You call, I’ll come running.”

  He glances over at me with his shoulders still slumped. “You staying here while you’re home?”

  “You know it.” I look down at the floor I helped him put in a few years ago. “Stella is also here.”

  He flinches. “She couldn’t find someone to cover?”

  I shake my head. “We didn’t even bother trying. As soon as I got the news, I was ready to leave, and Stella said she wanted to come along.”

  He tilts his head to the side. “That’s nice of her. I know Lucy appreciated everything she did for her and our family.”

  “Do you want me to have her stay at mom and dad’s?”

  “Does she want to be with you?” he asks, raising a brow.

  I shrug. “I’m sure she’d feel more comfortable with one of us since we’ve been around her more, but if you don’t want to, we can figure something else out. Mom and dad won’t mind her crashing in their guest room.”

  “No, have her come here. Maven likes her. She thinks she’s a big shot hanging out with a movie star. Maybe it’ll even help her. I’ll give her the guest room and you’ll have to either crash on the couch in the basement or up here.”

  “You know I’m a gentleman.”

  He scoffs. “That’s not what Grady has been saying about you since your little run in with him in the alley.”

  “He deserved that and more.”

  “I hear ya.”

  My mom brings Stella over an hour later, and Dallas was right about it helping Maven. She spent the evening showing Stella her bedroom and doll collection. Stella watched TV with her until Maven crashed out on the couch and Dallas had to carry her to her room.

  “You okay?” I ask, guiding her down the stairs to the basement. I got the guest room together for her earlier, changing the sheets and putting her bag in there so she’ll have everything she needs to be comfortable.

  She looks back at me and sighs. “Yeah, I just hate how bad I am with people. I feel shy around your family, kind of like an outsider, and I don’t want them to think I’m this big bitch.”

  “Don’t think that. It takes a lot for my family to hate someone, let alone call them a bitch. They appreciate what you’ve done for our family. They liked you even before you got here.”

  “Your mom asked me to help her bake for the reception.” She giggles. “I’ve never baked anything in my life. I’m sure I’ll be the joke of the town when she tells people I don’t know the difference between flour and sugar. She’ll tell you to kick me to the curb.”

  I pull her in closer by the waist. “My ex couldn’t cook for shit. As long as you keep riding my dick like you do, I can give two fucks if you know how to bake me a casserole. You don’t have to be anyone else to get the approval of my family or me.”

  “Except your sister seems a little … not my biggest fan.” I guess I’m not the only one who noticed. I remind myself to tell Lauren to calm her ass down and be cool. She means well, she just isn’t trusting with women going for her brothers’ hearts.

  “Lauren doesn’t want to see me get hurt again, that’s all.”

  “I won’t hurt you,” she whispers. “So please do the same for me.”

  I grab her chin in my palm. “Stella, I have no idea what the fuck is going on between us. I’m not sure where this will go, but I do know one thing, I’ll do everything in my power to never hurt you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Stella

  It’s the day of Lucy’s showing.

  I’ve never been to a showing or funeral before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It took me a good thirty minutes to decide what to wear. I’d still be staring back and forth between the three dress choices if Hudson hadn’t pulled one from the hanger and told me we had to leave in fifteen minutes.

  I want to make a good impression.

  I want the people of Bluebeech to like me.

  I want Hudson’s family to be happy if they ever find out about us.

  I’m standing next to Hudson in the funeral home and getting every odd look known to man. Nosy stares. Dirty looks. Friendly smiles. I introduce myself to everyone as Dallas’ friend. A few parents have scolded their daughters for asking for my autograph. I don’t mind it. The only time people piss me off when asking for my autograph is if they sell it on eBay and make a good chunk of change.

  Dallas has been standing next to Lucy’s casket with Maven at his side all day. My heart breaks for him. You can see the love he had for his wife everywhere. He’s broken … a shell of a man who’d once been happy.

  “Just to give you a heads up,” Hudson says. “That’s my ex.” He tilts his head towards a blonde walking in with a man behind her.

  “The cheating fiancé?” I ask. It’s a stupid question, considering he’s only had one ex, but her showing up takes me by surprise. I should’ve known I’d run into her, but I didn’t think she’d show her face today, given the circumstances.

  “Mmhmm.” I’m not sure if his response is positive or negative.

  “And the best friend?”

  “That would be him.”

  I take my time studying her, wishing jealousy wasn’t creeping through me like a bad drug. She’s in shape, and I’m sure she doesn’t have an unhealthy relationship with carbs like I do. She has that All-American girl look – the long blonde hair, the perfect bust size, tanned and toned legs that look like she’s spent her life growing up riding horses and being outside.

  I want to walk over and thank her, shake her hand, give her a pat on the back, or slip her a hundred for letting Hudson go so that we could find each other. If she hadn’t cheated on him, he would’ve never left town to work for me. She’d be here, on his arm, and getting the attention I’m growing addicted to.

  I force myself to move my focus from her to the dickhead fiancé stealer. He’s attractive – blonde hair, built, nice smile. Cute, but no Hudson. “FYI – you’re so much hotter than him,” I whisper, looping my arm through his. “Talk about a downgrade.”

  He peeks down at our connection. We’ve never touched in public like this before. He waited until everyone went to bed before getting in bed with me last night and then went back to the couch this morning before Dallas woke up so no one would suspect anything. I wait to see if he pulls away, and he doesn’t. Hudson has no problem with showing his ownership over me. He isn’t worried about people finding out who he’s getting busy with in the sack. I’m the one who’s holding this back. The loser. The chicken shit.

  “You don’t think she’s going to come over here, do you?” I ask.

  He snorts, shaking his head. “Doubt it, Princess. My hand ended up wrapped around Grady’s neck the last time they came around me.”

  “Yeah, let’s hope they stick to their side,” I mutter.

  We don’t need another death around here.

  I’m washing my hands when I hear the bathroom door shut. I glance in the mirror to see Hudson’s ex walking in.

  She gives me a smile and waves. It’s not a genuine smile, more along the lines of I want to rip you apart and hide your body somewhere in these cornfields smile.

  “Hi, Stella, isn’t it?” she asks.

>   I probably won’t make a good impression on Hudson’s family and the good people of Bluebeech if I have a girl brawl in the bathroom of the funeral home. I turn off the water, shake off my hands, and move towards the paper towels to dry them off.

  “It is,” I answer.

  “Everyone is talking about how nice it was for you to come all of this way for Dallas. I mean, with him only being an employee and all. Do you do that with everyone who’s worked for you? Must be exhausting.”

  “I like to think I care about the people that not only work for me but make sure I’m protected,” I quip. “Dallas worked for me for a long time, and I always enjoyed Lucy and Maven’s visits.”

  She straightens up her stance, her glossy lips setting in a hard line. “And how do you and Hudson know each other?”

  Chick is trying to trap me. I run my eyes down her outfit. She’s wearing a dress and heels, like me, so if she tries to kick my ass, I might have a fighting chance because I’ve managed to master living in heels. I can squat in these bad boys, run from men with cameras, and I’ve even boxed in them a few times for a commercial. I’ll be able to hold my own on this one. Hopefully.

  “Hudson is working for me now,” I answer, giving her a satisfied smile. “He took over for Dallas so he could have more time with Lucy.” Yeah, bitch, he’s in my house every night.

  “How kind of him.” She lets out a bitter laugh and moves closer towards me. “I just remembered something hilarious. He used to give Dallas so much shit for working for you and told him to quit all the time. I think I recall him calling you spoiled and a diva before. But he’s a good brother. I’m sure he’ll do the job until he finds something better here.”

  I’m thankful that she’s moved away from the door and no longer blocking it. I don’t think she did it intentionally – more to be intimidating. Who starts shit at a funeral home?

  I shrug. “I guess he changed his mind. He seems to be pretty good at it. Maybe it’s his calling.”