Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
The kid huffed and got to his feet. “Fuck that. I’m out. Tell me when the hell he’ll be back.”
Heavenly watched Beck processing the same thoughts still racing through her head. Did they dare tell Hudson that Seth wouldn’t be back until tomorrow? He’d disappear to God knew where. She didn’t want to lie, not when the teen possessed Seth’s stubborn streak. And he’d probably see right through them. But since he was carrying luggage, he was probably far from home. Did he have anywhere to sleep tonight?
“Here’s the deal: Seth is visiting family. He’ll be back soon.” Beck slowly approached Hudson with careful, non-threatening movements. “How do you know him?”
“How do you?”
“We’re friends.”
“Like her, huh? The naked kind.” Hudson sneered. “So he’ll fuck anything with a pulse.”
Beck’s jaw clenched. “Watch your mouth. You talk like that in front of your mom?”
Hudson snorted. “All the time, and Blondie there is not my mom.”
Heavenly tried to jump in and diffuse the situation. “Why are you looking for Seth?”
The kid hesitated, both wary and determined to control the situation. “That’s between me and him.”
So he didn’t want to admit the obvious. Unless he did, she and Beck couldn’t either.
Her stomach twisted anxiously. Until Seth returned, how were they supposed to handle this? And how could they possibly prepare him for finding a son who looked exactly like him?
As if sensing her spiraling thoughts, Beck caught her eye and sent her the slightest nod. We’ll figure this out.
“Well…” Beck turned his attention back to the teenager. “Since we’re waiting for Seth, tell us where you’re from.”
“Connecticut.” Hudson’s answer was clipped, but at least he was talking.
“You’ve come a long way. How did you know where to find Seth?”
“Called the office in New York. Some guy named Matt told me he was working out of the LA branch.” Hudson shrugged like it was no big deal, but Heavenly could see the tension in his shoulders.
“Matt is Seth’s younger brother,” Heavenly volunteered. “He has four of them, actually.” She wondered how much he knew about the Cooper family.
Hudson’s laugh was bitter. “Why should I care?”
Oh, this poor kid. He must think Seth didn’t want him—had never wanted him. No wonder he was so angry.
“Just making small talk. I thought you might be interested to know that Seth is really close to his family.”
Hudson’s expression flickered—surprise, maybe?—before the mask of anger slammed back into place. “Good for him.”
Beck moved in closer, eyes fixed on Hudson. “Let’s cut the shit and address the elephant in the room. You’re here to meet Seth because he’s your dad, right?”
Hudson’s shoulders went rigid, his expression belligerent. Heavenly feared he would bolt.
“I never said he was my dad.”
“You don’t have to,” Beck drawled. “You look—”
“Exactly like him. So I’ve gathered.” Hudson rolled his eyes with the practiced disdain only teenagers could master.
“You do,” Beck confirmed.
“So much,” Heavenly seconded softly. “How old are you, Hudson?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Sixteen.”
That meant… No. Impossible.
But Hudson standing in front of her proved it wasn’t.
She bit back a gasp. Beck, now beside her, didn’t look any less shocked.
“When’s your birthday?” she managed, her voice shaking.
“April twentieth. You mathing, Blondie? I’ll save you the calculation. He was fifteen when he knocked my mom up.”
Seth had been a child when this boy was born. After losing Tristan so tragically, how would he feel about having an almost-grown son? Would it be more than he could take?
Another glance at Beck told her he was wondering the same thing.
Beck frowned. “Is your mother…Mary Jo Bartkowicz?”
Hudson frowned. “Who?”
Heavenly shot Beck a quelling stare. It was logical to wonder if the first girl Seth had ever had sex with had been the one to bear this child. But she was grateful that Hudson seemingly hadn’t been conceived in the men’s room at the White Castle.
“No one important,” she supplied.
“Look, I’m going to shoot straight with you,” Beck jumped in. “Seth is in New York. He’ll be back in LA tomorrow. Do you have someplace to stay tonight?”
Hudson cursed under his breath. “Not your problem. I’ll figure it out.”
“Stay with us,” Heavenly offered. “We have a guest room, and it’s free. You won’t have to find a hotel—”
“Us? You live together?” He looked between them speculatively. “You banging Blondie, too?”
“That’s none of your business. And watch your fucking mouth. If you don’t have family to go to, you’re staying with us.”
“Why?” Hudson’s tone suggested the idea was ridiculous. “You don’t give a shit.”
“We do,” Heavenly insisted. She hated him thinking that no one cared.
“And you’re a minor,” Beck added. “So you’re coming home with us. End of conversation.”
“You can’t make me.”
“Me? No, but I can call the cops, have them track down your mother, and send you home tonight.”
Hudson cursed again, uglier this time.
Heavenly sent Beck a reproachful stare, then softened when she looked Hudson’s way. “Seth would want us to keep you safe.”