Thirty

Jack

A weight had been lifted from me I didn't realize was even there. Once Hudson figured out why Jonas wanted him to take over it all made sense. I'd been so worried about the store closing or being sold, but I didn't really understand why Jonas would want to give up on what he'd been building for most of his life. Once I knew he was being pushed out the door, I was both relieved and pissed the fuck off that I hadn't seen it sooner for myself.

"Did you decide if you're going to buy?" I asked Hudson for what had to be the hundredth time since Gibbons had been run out of town. He smiled at me like he did every single time and cupped my cheek.

"Not yet. But I'll decide by the time Dad gets back."

"Well, you've only got a week left now. Or maybe we only have a week left," I said to him as he leaned on the front counter, no longer worried about getting dirty like he had been that first day. It hurt to imagine that we wouldn't be working together anymore, and I forced a smile on my face and shoved that thought out of my mind. He stood up straight and walked around to my side of the counter and cradled my face in his hands.

"I have loved every second we've spent together, and I'm not ready for it to end. I just want to make sure that living here is the best thing for everyone. I want to see if Dad really is ready to give up the store now that he won't need to worry about being pushed out. Plus, I love what we have going, and I don't want to ruin it by working together."

"It won't ruin it. We work really well together," I said and tried to avoid begging him to stay.

"I told you before, no matter what, we'll figure it out. Just please, give me this last week to decide." Hudson's eyes begged for understanding I wasn't sure I was capable of. The pull I felt to him had only gotten stronger, and where I might have questioned it at the beginning, now I questioned if he felt it the way I did. But then I remembered he wasn't just worried about us, he was also trying to decide if he should uproot his life and take over the business.

"Whatever you need," I said, and leaned in close to him. I'd miss his warmth and the way he held me when he knew I needed it if he left.

"Baby, I swear I'm all in with you, I just want to be sure about the business," he whispered just as the door burst open and two kids came in and rushed over to the fishing section. He smiled as he watched them before turning back to me for a quick kiss. "We'll talk later.

He hurried over to where they were discussing if they should use bait or lures to fish and I couldn't help but smile as I thought of how different he was since he'd been here. He still wore the shirts Jonas had given him and a pair of jeans that were starting to look like he'd had them for years, unlike the clothes he'd arrived in that looked brand new. He was changing from a country boy who lived in the city, to a city boy who was going back to his small town.

"Is that all you need?" Hudson asked as he led them back to the cash register.

"Yeah," one of the kids said, and after paying the two of them hurried out the door.

"I want to take you out tonight," Hudson said.

"What do you mean?"

"Can we go to dinner? Together I mean," Hudson said and for once he was full of nerves.

"I'd like that, where do you want to go?" I smiled at the idea. I'd never been on a date before and to me this felt a lot like it could be one.

"I'm going to surprise you. I'll pick you up, how is seven tonight?"

"Is this a date?" I finally asked because I needed to know.

"Yes, I want it to be. Is that okay?"

"It's more than okay," I said and kissed him. We both stared at each other like saps with silly grins on our faces but I couldn't look away from him.

He cleared his throat making both of us laugh. "Let's maybe work on organizing—"

"The paint section?" I asked, making him laugh again.

"That would be great," he said as he walked back to the office he'd been hardcore organizing the past week.

The rest of the day passed slow as fuck as I imagined all the things we could do for dinner. Then I worried about what I should wear, or if I should get him something. Were gifts required on a date? Oh my god I was being ridiculous. Hudson and I had spent nearly every night together since he'd come to town, this wouldn't be any different. Except that it was. It was a date. And now I was back to worrying.

"So, what should I wear for this date?" I asked when it was fifteen minutes to closing time.

"Whatever you want. Just wear something comfortable," he said. Which didn't really help me at all.

"Are we going to be inside or out?" I asked.

"Yes." He laughed and slid out from the desk to where I sat on it. "It's outside, so dress accordingly," he finally said. "But no matter what you want to wear it's perfect."

"Should I bring anything?" I asked because I needed to know.

"Nope, only your handsome self."

"Well okay then. I guess I'll clock out so I can go get ready for this date that I have no clue about," I said, and he laughed again.

"I promise it'll be fun, and you'll love it. Now go relax a little bit before I pick you up."

"See you later," I said and as I drove away from work, I couldn't have wiped the smile off my face if I wanted to. Hudson Carter was taking me on a date, and it was going to be fabulous.