Chapter 63

HUDSON

Istood in the doorway of my room, taking one last look around the tiny, sterile quarters. I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride rising within me. Six weeks. Six long, grueling weeks of introspection, growth, and healing. I remembered the first time I saw this place. I had been so tempted to turn around and walk right back out the door.

But now, as I surveyed the simple, sparse space that had been my home during my time in rehab, I realized just how far I had come. I was actually going to miss this place. The tiny bed that squeaked. The sheets that felt like sandpaper—all of it. It had stripped away everything. I had never had to rough it a day in my life. Not counting the stints in the drunk tank. I had lived a very spoiled, privileged life. I never had to be uncomfortable.

Getting uncomfortable was exactly what I needed to get to know myself. I surprised myself, I thought, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. For so long, I had been trapped in a cycle of self-destruction, drowning my sorrows in alcohol and running from my demons instead of facing them head on. But here I was, standing tall and sober, stronger and more resilient than I had ever been before.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt proud. Proud of the progress I had made, proud of the person I was becoming. It hadn't been easy—far from it—but I had done it. I had conquered my demons and emerged from the darkness into the light.

I owed a debt of thanks to so many people. My family most of all. The staff at the rehab facility had been amazing. They had been very patient. But there was one person in particular who deserved my gratitude.

Kameron. I owed Kameron a thank you. He was the one that had been in my face, riding my ass to get help. He was the one doling out tough love even when I pushed back. It was going to suck having to swallow my pride and tell him he was right, but it needed to be done.

I was man enough to admit he saved my life.

With a final sweep of the room, I gathered my belongings and made my way to the front desk to check out. The staff greeted me with warm smiles and well-wishes. I felt a sense of camaraderie with the other residents who had shared this journey with me. I was going to miss them.

One of them, a man in his fifties with a weathered face and a kind smile, grabbed my hand, pumping it up and down. He was one of the peer counselors. A lot older than the rest of us. "Take care of yourself out there, son," he said, his voice tinged with wisdom born of experience. "And remember, don't self-implode the next time you meet a nice girl."

I chuckled at his words, nodding in agreement. "Thanks for the advice," I replied. "I'll keep it in mind."

With heartfelt farewells and promises to stay in touch, I stepped out into the bright sunlight, shielding my eyes against the glare. The warmth of the sun on my skin felt like a warm hug. It was the first day of the rest of my life.

I made my way down the path toward the iron gate that I had seen as a containment system six weeks ago.

I walked through the gate and smiled. This was true freedom. I had no ball and chain. I was free. Yes, I had some baggage, but it wasn't holding me back.

I took a deep breath and looked up and down the road in search of Zayn. I felt a hint of disappointment that he wasn't waiting there for me. I thought he might be anxious to see me.

"Hey," I heard someone say.

I had been hearing that voice in my head for weeks. It was never real.

"Hudson."

I didn't want to look because I knew it would be a disappointment. But I looked anyway.

"Holy shit," I whispered.

There she was, leaning against a glossy black car with a casual grace that took my breath away. Diana. The sight of her sent a jolt of electricity coursing through me, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

She pushed off the car and flashed me a dazzling smile. "Hey, stranger," she greeted me, her voice warm and inviting.

I couldn't move or breathe. I thought back to the dream I had on my first night in rehab. The way the sun felt. Her smile. Could this be another dream?

She walked closer, stopping a few feet in front of me. "Hudson?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

She gestured to the flashy car. "I figured you'd need a ride."

"What?"

She smiled. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm just shocked. How? I mean, what are you doing here?" And then it hit me. "Zayn."

"You look good," she said.

"Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm just so surprised to see you. I'm speechless."

I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I owed her an apology, a proper explanation for my sudden disappearance. She deserved better than the way I had treated her.

"I'm sorry for bailing," I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips before I could stop them. "You deserved better, and I should have done right by you."

She smiled, her head tilting to the side. "You're right, I did deserve better," she admitted. "But I'm glad you decided to come here and take care of yourself. I'm proud of you, Hudson."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, a bittersweet reminder of the bond we shared. I wanted to tell her how much her support meant to me, how her belief in me had given me the strength to keep going even when things seemed hopeless. But the words caught in my throat.

Instead, I offered her a grateful smile, hoping she could see the depth of my gratitude in my eyes. "Let's get the hell out of here," I said, my voice hoarse with emotion. "I don't ever want to see this place again."

Together, we climbed into her car, which smelled brand new. Before I had a chance to ask if she'd just bought it, she explained it was a rental as we left the rehab facility and the painful memories it held behind us. As she pulled away from the curb, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope stirring within me.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

I was hoping she was going to tell me she wanted me back in Cold Springs.

"Home," she said. "Zayn said you would want to go back to your penthouse."

"He did?"

She glanced over at me. "You don't want to?"

"Oh, yes." I nodded. "It's a long drive."

"I don't mind," she said.

"How are you?" I asked.

"Good." She smiled. "You really do look good. You've got good color."

"Thanks." I laughed. "I'm not knocking on death's door."

"Good to know."

"How did you know?" I asked her.

"Zayn came to see me."

"How much did he tell you?" I asked hesitantly.

The grimace on her face told me he told her everything.

"He told me you had a rough time," she said quietly.

I chuckled. "I think that's an understatement. He told you I almost went into the light."

"He did mention that," Diana replied softly, her eyes filled with concern. "But he also said you fought your way back. That you made a choice to keep fighting, no matter how hard it was."

I nodded, the memories of those dark moments still fresh in my mind. The struggle to hold on, to find a reason to stay in this world when everything seemed bleak and hopeless.

"I'm guessing he probably made it sound a lot worse than it actually was," I said.

"Hudson, he told me you were literally on the verge of death," she said. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Normally, I wouldn't want to talk about it. But that was the old me. I had to talk. I couldn't hide. And she was the one person I wanted to be completely open with. She certainly deserved some honesty.

"I wasn't in a good place," I said. "After I left you, I spiraled a bit. I was drinking too much."

"Hudson, comatose isn't exactly too much," she chided.

"You're right," I acknowledged. "I wish I could give specifics, but I honestly don't remember. I was at the club. I drank. I did some other stuff. Then I drank more. A lot more. I couldn't tell you when I passed out. I was told my so-called friends ditched me in the VIP section. If it wasn't for the security team, I would have died. Plain and simple."

"That's horrible, Hudson. I had no idea it was that bad."

I thought about it. "I didn't either. I woke up in the hospital not even knowing how I got there. It was my wake-up call, you could say. I realized how close I had come to losing everything, including my life. That's when I knew I needed to make a change. And that's why I ended up at the rehab facility."

Diana reached over and squeezed my hand, her expression a mix of sympathy and pride. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Hudson. But I'm glad you're here now, telling me about it. It takes courage to face your demons and make a change."

"I think my brother would have dragged me into rehab kicking and screaming if I didn't go." I chuckled.

"Zayn?"

"Kameron," I replied. "But his stubbornness wasn't what changed my mind. It was my dad."

"Your dad?"

I got a little choked up thinking about the look on his face that day in the hospital. I cleared my throat. "He took it the hardest. I couldn't bring him any more pain. He sat by my side in the hospital, barely leaving except for short breaks to go home and shower. He looked like a ghost of himself. His eyes were filled with worry and regret. That's when I knew I had to get better, not just for myself, but for him too. It was like a switch flipped in my mind, and suddenly, I was committed to the recovery process. I won't lie, it's been tough. There are days when all I want to do is give up and drown my sorrows in a bottle. But then I remember the look on my dad's face that day, the silent plea for me to come back to him. That's why I pushed through, one day at a time."

Diana listened intently, her empathy shining in her eyes. "Your dad is a good man."

"He is," I agreed, feeling a swell of gratitude for my father's unwavering support. "I owe him everything. He didn't give up on me even when I had given up on myself. I've never been close to him, but I think that was on me. I never really gave him a chance. I've still got a lot of work to do there, but it's a process."

"You're lucky to have such a loving family," Diana remarked, her voice filled with warmth.

"I am," I replied, squeezing her hand in return. "I want you to know, I'm changing. I won't say I've changed, but I feel like I have a new understanding about a lot of things."

"Good for you," she said. "Really good. I'm so proud of you."