Page 65 of One Quick Obsession

“We’ve given you plenty of time as just the two of you, without encroaching, but you do realize you have to come to the next Cage family dinner,” Sophia put in solemnly.

“What? Oh. But he didn’t invite me.”

“Of course Hudson won’t invite you,” Isabella said with a roll of her eyes.

It felt as if someone had kicked me in the chest, and I tried to keep my smile on my face. “Oh. I mean I’m not surprised. We’re just not there yet.”

The blood drained from Isabella’s face, and she held up both hands. “I meant, he would just assume you’re going. Because that’s the Hudson that we’ve gotten to know over the past few years. I honestly think he’s a little surprised that we’ve given him this much space. But this is the final Cage dinner, and the entire family’s going to be there. And you’re coming too. Sorry.”

My mind whirled, trying to catch up. “Final? You guys aren’t having dinner together again?”

“She means this is the final one proposed by the will. At least for this segment. For all we know there’s a whole other segment coming because that’s the type of games Dad liked to play. However, this is the final one of the three-year mark. I still can’t believe Dad’s been gone for three years.”

Isabella reached out and squeezed Sophia’s hand, and I swallowed hard, trying to catch my breath, and wondered why they thought Hudson would want me there.

“You’re coming. And this way you can get all of the ‘what’s it like dating our recluse brother’ questions out of the way.”

“I don’t know if we’re dating or not. We’re just,” I blew out a breath and pinched the bridge of my nose, “I have no idea what we are because we purposely don’t talk about things like that. But we’re doing fine. I don’t really want to, you know, hurt things.”

“You won’t. I promise.” Sophia smiled brightly. “We want to hear all about it. You look so happy, if not stressed out that we’re here, but that’s neither here nor there.”

I just let out a laugh and stared at the two women who had become so close to me, and yet I felt like a chasm separated us in this moment.

It had nothing to do with them though, and all to do with the fact that I was falling in love with their brother and couldn’t tell anyone. Because everybody that I would tell was somehow connected to him. I could talk to Ivy and Luna. Yes, I would go to that group chat.

But how was I supposed to put that into a group chat? In a text. No. It had to be in person. But neither one of them were here. What the hell was I doing?

“And you’re spiraling.” Isabella nodded while Sophia didn’t let go of my other hand. “We love you. You’re coming to dinner because you’re our friend. We love you. You’re doing an amazing job with the resort. So stop stressing.”

“I thought you said you were my friend.”

Both women gave me an odd look.

“Stress is how I breathe. I don’t know how to do anything other than that.”

Sophia just smiled as Isabella rolled her eyes.

“We love you. Seriously. You’re doing amazing. This place has never run as efficiently as it has since you’ve become manager. And I’m a forensic accountant. I should know. Now, we get to do the personal things. And you can’t get out of it.”

Before I could say anything, the girls’ phones buzzed, and they were called off to go get their manicures. I tried to look as if I wasn’t having a panic attack, as I waved them off and told myself that I could do this.

Everything was just fun.

My phone buzzed then and I looked down at it as I walked to my office, knowing I had to get a few things done before I came back out.

Hudson

I have family dinner tomorrow. Want to come?

I froze where I stood right by my desk and swallowed hard.

Tears pricked my eyes, and I licked my lips. He’d asked.

He’d asked.

I let out a shaky breath, ready to reply.

Someone tugged my ponytail, and my phone dropped to the floor, as a scream was nearly ripped from my mouth.