Chapter 11

Hudson

The Weekend Hookerswere making so much noise I knew the fishing was done for the day when I arrived at the little spot they'd claimed for themselves behind the old Golden Sands resort.

Ruth Marie stood with one hand braced against a ratty-looking fake palm tree, supporting her weight as she laughed gustily.

"You think Pearl would bust my chops over fish eye jam?" she wheezed.

My mother's more musical laugh joined in. "She definitely would. Jam is her territory."

"Then I got a recipe for toe jam to give her," Ruth Marie shot back.

My mother's friendship with Pearl's rival hadn't done me any favors when I tried to pitch the Dock Hop at the outdoor market. Then again, I hadn't made a lot of inroads with the locals. Not like Mom.

Luckily, Fisher had been there to save the day.

A smile spread across my face at the thought of him, which was when Mom looked up and caught sight of me. "There you are!" she crowed. "I thought I'd starve to death waitin' for you."

I scoffed. "You wouldn't have let me drag you out of here if the fish were biting."

Chester gave a rusty chuckle. "He's got your number."

Mom picked up her tackle box and fishing rod. "Oh, I've got his too. Believe you me."

While Mom gathered her gear, I folded up her lawn chair and grabbed the small cooler she brought along on fishing excursions. It was still a little strange to see her baiting her hook with worms and talking about the best spots to catch bass. While I was growing up, fishing had always been my dad's passion. Mom went along for the ride—since Dad mostly fished by boat—but it wasn't until he died and I moved her here that she'd caught the bug herself.

She said it made her feel closer to him, and I could relate. It's why I loved being out on the water. But it also helped her integrate into Swallow Cove in a way I hadn't managed. Mom had more friends than me.

I'd tried joining them once or twice, but I could tell Mom wasn't totally at ease with me there. Having your kid in the group meant you had to behave, and ever since Dad died, Mom had taken a new kind of joy in misbehaving.

"So, Hudson, what do you make of them fellows snooping around this old place?" Chester asked, sidling up to me. "I reckon you're in favor of it."

He glowered toward the defunct resort behind us. It had closed four years ago, and even then it had been on its way out. Upkeep had slid so that the pool was closed for repairs more often than it was open, and the fake beach surrounding it looked more like a scuzzy LA beach than the tropical paradise the resort had pretended to be.

But guys snooping around? I wasn't sure what Chester meant.

"In favor of what, exactly?"

"A couple of outsiders buying the place," Ruth Marie said. "What else could it be?"

Mom clucked. "I like this fishing spot."

"Well, you can say goodbye to that," Chester said gruffly. "They'll reclaim it for the resort."

It was part of the resort's property. Technically, they were trespassing even now. But I was smart enough not to point that out. Swallowers tended to get worked up over the idea of outsiders coming in to claim business opportunities—which I'd gotten to experience firsthand.

"That's a shame," Mom said. "But maybe they'll make it into something better than this eyesore."

Ruth Marie gave a mighty harumph. "I'll believe that when I see it. Couple of yuppy fools don't know what we need around here."

I exchanged a look with Mom. If we didn't get out of here, this grouch fest could go all night. I'd learned the hard way—which was why I didn't point out that the locals weren't doing Swallow Cove any favors by letting the resort rot.

"Well, we have dinner plans, and apparently I've been starving my mother. So we'd best get going before she wastes away."

Ruth Marie laughed. "That's right. You take good care of your momma. She deserves it."

"I know she does."

"Call me tomorrow, Ruth Marie. I've got a great recipe for a hot pepper jam that'll make Pearl's head spin."

We loaded Mom's gear into my small boat. "Do you have to encourage her?"

"What? Pearl's ridiculous."

"Even so. I'm trying to get this Dock Hop event organized, and I don't need an all-out war at the open market."

Mom laughed at me. "Don't be silly. They enjoy the rivalry. It keeps their lives interesting."

I must have looked dubious because she patted my cheek as she passed me to step into the boat. "Don't worry, Hud. Your event is going to be just fine."

We were most of the way to my houseboat, where I intended to grill a couple of chicken breasts I bought. Despite Mom's love of fishing, she rarely wanted to eat it. She sold most of her catches to the local cafe, Catch of the Day. Or sometimes the Red Hot Cod Pieces stand.

Once we were onboard, Mom freshened up in the bathroom and I got the grill fired up. We'd taken to doing this once a week after Mom moved to town. We'd both missed feeling like part of a family. Mom, because her husband died. Me, because I'd gotten divorced. Sadly, I'd moved some distance from my parents, and I'd missed the last few years of my father's life. When I lost him, I realized I didn't want to miss out on my time with Mom.

I'd convinced her to move to Swallow Cove, and we'd gotten closer than we'd been in years. Sometimes, those distant years hung between us though.

I got out the meat and was most of the way through prepping a salad when Mom emerged. She took the knife from me. "I'll finish this."

I got the chicken going, and Mom joined me on deck when she finished with the salad. She carried a beer and a glass of pink lemonade with her.

She handed me the lemonade.

"You only had one beer left, and I'm claiming it."

I laughed. "Fair enough."

"Can't expect a lady to fish all day and come home to lemonade," she said in a disgusted voice.

"No, ma'am," I said with a chuckle. "That would be wrong."

She nodded her head. "How's your week been? You're in a good mood tonight."

"Am I?" My heart skipped as a reel of memories of my night with Fisher unspooled in my mind.

"You sure are. Spill it, kiddo."

I floundered to give my mom a reason that wasn't sex with a guy half my age. "Well, I guess my talks over in Bubble Butte went well. The Dock Hop is coming along."

"I don't really understand why you're so invested in creating this event."

I used tongs to turn the chicken over. "You do realize my business relies on tourists?"

She waved a hand. "Sure, sure, but you stay busy enough. How many more hours a day can you work?"

She wasn't entirely wrong. I worked hard with the amount of business we had now, but the numbers weren't always what they should be. To stay fully booked, we often had to travel to do pickups at busier spots in the lake, sometimes quite far from our base of operations. That extra fuel and time ate into our profits.

"It's not just for me," I said. "All the businesses in Swallow Cove could use a boost."

"Not everyone sees it that way."

"I know. Most of your friends like it this way," I said. "But what about their grandkids?"

Mom took a sip from her beer. "You think the town won't survive? It's been here a long time."

"I think it'll shrink as it loses young people looking for more opportunity."

"That's the nature of most small towns."

"Yeah, but it's even more pronounced here."

She sighed as she gazed out on the horizon. It was dark now, the sky a velvety purple, the moon casting a glimmering reflection on the gently rippling water. Boat motors purred in the distance, but there was less traffic in this spot. It felt…peaceful. Something I think Mom and I had both needed when we came to Swallow Cove.

I understood if she didn't want more tourists cluttering it up. This was her retirement, her chance to live life for only herself.

"It sure is a beautiful place," she said. "I hope it always stays that way."

"Swallowers would never allow anything less."

She smiled and nodded. "You're probably right about that."

"Food's done." I turned off the grill and piled the chicken on a couple of plates, and we went inside to eat at the small table.

"I don't know how you live in this tiny place," Mom complained. "You're not a small man, Hudson. I don't know if you've noticed."

I laughed. This was a common refrain from her. "I know. I spend most my time on the deck unless I'm sleeping or eating."

"Hmm." She finished her bite. "I suppose the view is nice."

"Yeah. It's peaceful."

Her thoughtful look turned concerned, a crease forming between her brows. "I hate to ruin that peace, but I should probably tell you that Karen called me."

I tensed up at the mention of my ex-wife's name. "Why would she do that?"

"She said she's been trying to reach you."

My happy buzz in my veins since my hookup with Fisher fizzled out. "I might have noticed a missed call or two, but I'm sure it can wait."

Mom raised an eyebrow. "So you're dodging her."

It wasn't a question. I squirmed in my seat, like a little boy caught out for misbehaving. "Maybe," I mumbled finally.

"Honey…"

I set down my fork, no longer hungry. Thankfully, I'd finished most of my food already. "I don't like revisiting that chapter of my life."

Mom's expression softened. "Well, I can understand that."

I made a skeptical noise. "Except your marriage was happy."

She nodded. "It was, but that doesn't mean I don't have regrets in life. My marriage to your father wasn't perfect."

"I tried," I said thickly. "I did, but—"

"Hudson, listen up," she said, her voice taking on the sharpness of a mother who wouldn't be ignored.

I glanced up, braced for a scolding.

"I don't know much about that time in your life," she said. "We lived too far apart, and you worked even more than you do now."

I winced, guilt making my uneasy gut roll over.

"That's not a criticism, sweetie. It's just facts."

"I know."

"But I know you're a good man," she went on. "I never did think Karen was right for you."

I huffed. "I loved her."

"I know you did," she said. "Sometimes we love people who aren't any good for us." At my scowl, she added, "And sometimes we have to close one chapter in order to open another, don't we?"

"I suppose."

"You don't have to talk to her, Hudson. Ever again."

I could already hear the but coming.

"But," she said, "I feel like you're stuck on the wrong chapter of your life. You're still at the end of it, beating yourself up, instead of turning the page."

"I changed my whole life. I moved here and started fresh."

"All good steps," she said. "But you haven't really come to terms with your divorce and how it made you feel."

"I know how it made me feel. Shitty."

She gave a wry laugh. "No doubt. But I think you know what I mean."

"I guess I can't avoid her forever."

"You came to Swallow Cove for peace," she said. "Make peace with Karen too. You'll feel a whole lot better."

I nodded, but I wasn't so sure making peace was possible with my ex. I didn't know if Mom was right, and we were just a match made in hell, or if our relationship had gone sideways because of me.

I'd failed to recognize the warning signs when things started to go bad. I'd ignored Karen's needs on more than one occasion. By the end, I'd avoiding spending as much time as possible at home. Our marriage had been falling apart, and I'd done nothing to stop it.

The truth was, I avoided Karen because I didn't like reminders of the biggest failure in my life. I'd rather focus on Fisher, on dreaming up plans for what we could do when I brought him back here tomorrow night.

"Hudson?" Mom prompted.

"I'll call her back later this week," I promised.

It wouldn't be fun, but Karen wouldn't stop calling if she really wanted something. I'd been postponing the inevitable.

But I'd do it after my night with Fisher. Karen was likely to get into my head, and I didn't want anything to spoil our night together, even a reality check that I was the last person Fisher should be doing this with.

It's justsex, I reminded myself for the fiftieth time. You'll make it good for him. You'll make it everything he deserves, even if he deserves better than you.

Fisher

Sawyer had a nice little setup in the RV park down by the water. His little teardrop-sized trailer was built for one, but he had rolled out the awning, strung some blue lights to keep the bugs away, and laid out a rug with some boss loungers and a picnic table.

A heavy-duty citronella candle burned on the table. Mosquitos could be fierce in this lake climate.

Sawyer rarely got nights off, so he'd invited us over for a little cookout-and-chill. I'd snacked on some veggies and dip, avoiding the greasy burgers and dogs the rest of my friends were wolfing down.

"So, what's the special occasion?" Poppy asked. "You've never invited us over before."

Cash grinned. "She's right. You're usually too busy for us lazy bums."

"Speak for yourself," I said. "I work and go to school."

"Want a cookie?"

I flipped him the bird, which was practically a confession of love between us. Good friends were nice to each other. Great friends? They dealt out some shit because they knew you could take it.

Sawyer grinned. "It's the first time I've had Friday night off in a long time. Figured I should commemorate it."

"That's really…sad," Cash said. "We need to get you a life."

"Yeah, I wish. I don't have time for a life. I got bills to pay, dude."

"Come with me to the pub. I'll teach you another way."

"Tempting, Yoda."

"That'd be Obi Wan, wouldn't it?" Poppy corrected, showing her geek stripes.

"Whatever. You want to make a living without busting your ass, I can help you out."

A voice called out from the distance. "Unfortunately, he doesn't have a daddy to take care of him like you do."

Brooks emerged from the darkness, and besides him was…the pretty blond guy I'd seen around town.

"Who's that?" Poppy whispered.

I shook my head. "He's been hanging at the pub. Remember, I tried to flirt with him?"

Cash snickered. "Who could forget it?" He raised his voice. "Yo, Brooks, I didn't know you were bringing arm candy!"

Brooks shot him a warning look. "This is Skylar. Be cool. He doesn't know many people in town."

Cash stood up and fake stretched to display his annoyingly perfect body. "Well, if you need anyone to teach you to be a proper Swallower—"

A collective groan went up.

"Stop embarrassing yourself," Brooks said, a smile on his face but a hint of steel just beneath it.

"No wonder your attempts to teach me to flirt failed," I joked.

"Pretty sure you're too guileless to flirt," Poppy said.

"Guileless?"

"It means you're transparent," Skylar said. "But honesty isn't such a bad trait."

We all fell silent and looked at him. He raised his hand in an awkward wave. "Hi."

There was a round of confused greetings, no one seeming to understand why Brooks had brought Skylar along. He wasn't normally the type to become friendly with tourists, and Skylar had rich guy written all over his designer clothes.

"Well, being guileless is better than being shameless like Cash, I guess," I joked to break the ice.

It worked. My friends busted up, and Cash shrugged, unbothered by the roasting.

"It works when I need it to. I guess you all are just immune to the Cash charm."

Brooks grabbed a plate and started dishing up food, then to everyone's shock, slid it across the table to Skylar. "Sit. Eat something."

Skylar looked just as surprised as the rest of us. "Thanks."

I looked at Sawyer and Poppy, and they looked back, all of us wondering what twilight zone this was. Brooks was standoffish even with his friends and family. Who was this guy to inspire him to wait on him?

I pushed my plate across the table before Brooks served himself. "Take mine. I'm not that hungry."

"Since when?" Poppy asked, sounding astonished.

"You're usually a bottomless pit," Brooks said. "You sure?"

"Yeah, yeah. I've got to take off soon anyway."

That earned me another double-take. I looked away to hide my apparently guileless face, pretending interest in the view. It was a nice view, of course, once I looked beyond the scattering of RVs in various shapes, sizes, and conditions—ranging from huge swanky buses to modest campers with pop-outs for extra space to rusty tin cans that probably couldn't become mobile again even if their owners wanted them to. The moon glimmered down on the water, a weeping willow to one side of the bank, branches dripping down, and a couple of kids skipping rocks. It was a scene worthy of a painting, but I'd seen it countless times before.

"Hold up, wait a second," Poppy said.

My stomach clenched with nerves. I knew that tone. She was about to use her voodoo ability to read people on me.

I stood up. "I gotta run—"

She grabbed my arm and tugged me down. "Sit down, liar, and spill it."

I gasped. "I'm not a liar. I'm guileless. Brooks' smart friend said so."

"He's rich. No one said he was smart," Cash joked.

"Dude," Brooks said. "Watch it."

"It's fine," Skylar said with a shrug. "He's not wrong."

"Wow, could this night get any weirder?" I said, hoping to deflect. "Brooks finally makes a friend, and he's…" I waved a hand toward Skylar. "Nice."

"And you're not eating," Poppy said. "And you're leaving early."

"Well, you know, too many late nights and my mom worries."

"Nice try," Poppy said, "but you hate it when your mom treats you like a kid, and you go out of your way to assert your independence."

I groaned. "Can we stop with the psychoanalyzing?"

"When you spill your secrets."

I glanced uneasily at Skylar. I trusted my friends to keep their mouths shut, but I didn't know this guy. Skylar seemed to understand my dilemma. He picked up his phone. "I need to make a quick call. I'll just go down by the water."

Brooks stood. "I'll walk you down. I'm pretty sure I don't want to hear this secret. Some things about your cousin you just don't want to know."

Skylar huffed a quiet laugh, barely a breath of sound, then startled when his phone rang in his hand. He gazed down at it like it was a rattlesnake.

Brooks took the phone and silenced it, then handed it back. "Let's go for that walk."

As soon as they were out of earshot, Poppy turned to me. "Okay, talk."

"Seriously?" I waved an arm toward where Brooks and Skylar had disappeared. "You're not curious what the story is with that?"

"Sure, I am. I'll solve that mystery after you stop deflecting."

Sawyer groaned theatrically. "Jesus, just tell them, Fish. It's not like you're any good at hiding anything."

I shot him a glare. "Thanks a lot."

Cash nudged Sawyer. "What do you know?"

Sawyer raised an eyebrow at me, as if to say, do I have to tell them for you? Apparently Hudson and I hadn't been so subtle when we met up the other night.

"Fine." I threw up my arms. "You caught me, but guess what, your friendervention was not needed, so suck on that!"

"I knew it," Poppy exclaimed. "You're too excited to eat because Hudson finally asked you out!"

"Not exactly," I hedged.

Cash snorted. "Nah, he's not eating cuz he wants to get fucked."

"TMI," Sawyer muttered.

Poppy swung her wide, innocent eyes my way. I braced myself for some sort of shocked or horrified comment. Instead, she grinned. "Oh my god, Fish, you're finally doing the dirty with your dream man!"

I laughed, joy bubbling up. "I know, right? But you can't tell anyone."

"We won't," Sawyer said. "Right, Cash?"

Cash shook his head, looking speechless. "Nah, you know we're cool. But, uh, how are you going to break this to your dad? He hates Hudson."

"Why do you think I need you to keep this a secret?"

Sawyer looked dubious. "How long can you keep that up in this tiny town though? I mean, you couldn't even hide it from me for one day."

"I don't know," I said. "Right now, I'm just trying to live in the moment."

Poppy nudged me. "Good for you, Fishie. Go sex up your man."

Heat flooded my face, but I tried to play it cool. "Yeah, thanks. I'll catch you all later?"

"You know we'll want all the details," Cash said.

"Not all of them," Sawyer argued. "I have to work for the man."

"Fine, you can tell us when Sawyer isn't around," Cash said with a grin. "I want to know the size of your catch, man, if you catch my drift."

"Everyone catches your drift, and we all regret it," Sawyer said dryly.

I slipped away, grabbing the duffel I'd stashed behind a tree, while my friends were still dishing out shit to one another, joking and laughing.

I was glad they'd busted me. Finally being with Hudson was everything I'd wanted for so long that I would have exploded if I had to keep it a secret from my best friends.

Bad enough I couldn't tell Dad. Talk about explosions. He'd go nuclear if he found out.

I couldn't risk that unless I knew the fallout would be worth it. I really, sincerely hoped that one day it would be. But I couldn't dwell on what-if scenarios.

Like I told Poppy, it was time to live in the moment.

And at the moment, I had a hot man waiting to have his way with me.

I grinned and picked up the pace, eager to be back in his very capable hands.