Page 73 of One Quick Obsession

But it wasn’t the same.

And as Hudson refused to look back, to turn towards me, I realized that this could be the end. All of this could be the end.

So he would walk away now, because he didn’t think he was good enough.

It was funny, because I had been the one to think that for so long. That I wasn’t good enough. That I made terrible choices.

I had fallen in love with him and there was no going back.

But if he didn’t turn around, I knew he would walk away.

So I reached out and pressed my palm to his back. His shoulders stiffened, flinching, and I nearly pulled away.

“Hudson.”

“I forgot it was her birthday today. It’s been how many years? And I forgot. I didn’t even think about her today.”

He turned then, and the ravaged anguish on his face nearly undid me.

“I’m so sorry. I have no idea what to say other than I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t even realize they knew where I lived. Silly, because it’s not like I hide it. I hide from the world, but not from everyone. It’s pretty easy to find me.”

“Do you want to go inside? Let me make you some coffee.”

“I don’t need coffee, Scarlett,” he snapped. My hand dropped and he cursed under his breath before reaching for it.

“I’m sorry. I’m not angry with you, I’m not anything. I just can’t think right now.”

“Then let’s talk it out.” Please, anything. Just talk to me, Hudson.

Though I didn’t say those words out loud.

“What has talking ever done?”

“Maybe it’s doing something. I don’t know. But you’ve told me so much, and yet there has to be something I’m missing. About why they’re here to begin with. It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t hurt her.”

“But I wasn’t there. I didn’t kill him when I had a chance.”

My hand went to my mouth and I shook my head.

“You wouldn’t have killed him.” Though I wasn’t quite sure if that was the case. Because if somebody had hurt someone that I loved, I wasn’t sure what I would do. If my father came after my mother again, I was afraid I would be the one to end him. What did that make me? Maybe the person that I needed to be, but then again, this wasn’t about me. Not right now.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I didn’t tell you everything. About Michelle.”

Chills slid up my spine and I nodded. “Okay. You can tell me now. You can tell me anything.” I love you.

But it wasn’t the right time to say that. And I was worried that there would never be a time.

“When I found out that Jefferson killed her, and got off on a technicality, I was livid. I was still in a damn sling from being shot, and Flynn couldn’t even hold me back. So I found him, and I beat him. I tried to kill him, and in the end, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t kill him. I wanted to. I held his life in my hands, threatening to choke him until he quit breathing, just like he had done to Michelle, but it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t do that.”

“Because you’re not a murderer, Hudson. You’re not the darkness that you think you are.”

“I could have though. One quick movement and he would’ve been dead. But I let him go.”

“Hudson.”