Page 10 of None Of Your Business

A guy carrying two takeout coffees walks in next. He looks like Hudson, just with the exhausted look of a parent. He freezes, taking in my bare feet and Hudson’s half-buttoned shirt. A wide grin spreads across his face.

“Josh, don’t,” Hudson warns.

“I haven’t said a word.”

“You’re about to.”

“I’m actually exercising remarkable levels of restraint.”

The little girl points a small finger at me. “Who dat?”

“Rowan,” Hudson tells her.

“Ro-an.”

“That’s me,” I say weakly.

“This is Maya,” Hudson says. “And the guy enjoying himself too much is my brother.”

I’m barely able to meet his eyes. “Hi.”

Josh finally loses the battle against his own face and starts laughing.

Hudson gives him a flat look. “We were meeting for breakfast.”

“We were,” Josh agrees.

“So why are you in my hallway?”

“I have a key, and you didn’t answer your phone.”

“I was sleeping.”

Josh eyes my appearance. “Right. Sleeping.”

I cover my face with both hands. “This is a nightmare.”

Probably thinking I’m sad, Maya reaches her arms out toward me.

“What does she want?” I ask.

“To be held,” Hudson says.

“By me?”

“You’re the new person.”

“I look like a corpse.”

“She’s two. Her standards are low.”

I reluctantly hold out my hands as Hudson carefully transfers her over, keeping one hand on her back until I have a firm grip.

She smells like baby shampoo.

“Hi,” I whisper.

She touches a strand of my hair. “Red.”