The Man Next Door by Ashley Zakrzewski
Author:Ashley Zakrzewski [Zakrzewski, Ashley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-07-10T18:30:00+00:00
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
LAUREL
Maybe itâs just wishful thinking, but Hudson didnât have to invite me over for dinner with his family tonight. Does this mean he is finally understanding that he deserves someone in his life, whether it be me or someone else? He needs someone to be able to open up too, besides just a friend.
Things seem to go better at dinner, and he even opens up to others around the table. Hudson is acting like a new man and it is nice to see. Happiness looks great on him. Hopefully, he doesnât clam back up, and only gets better from this point. His familyâs reaction tonight shows how much change has happened in the last couple of weeks. Maybe his motherâs right; he just needs someone to push him outside his comfort zone and force him to open up.
I havenât seen my sister in a week, and itâs time to fill her in on this new stuff with Hudson. Her course load has been hectic, and itâs honestly probably a good decision that she left the company. Iâm not sure she would have been able to keep it up with working full time, too. Sheâs so close to graduating and nothing needs to deter her away from that.
I knock, and she opens the door with glasses on her nose and her hair up in a high bun, ushering me inside quickly.
âCome on, Iâm trying to write this paper. Iâm on deadline and canât seem to write a damn thing.â Her hands are flying all over the place.
âI can come back another time.â
I turn to leave.
âNo.â She takes off her glasses, grabs a bottle of wine and two glasses, and sits down on the couch. âPlease talk to me about something besides school. It might actually help me be able to focus later. I can take a half an hour break.â
I didnât even know where to start. Lacey did make it clear when I moved in down the hall that she didnât want me to be in her business. So, Iâve kept my distance and havenât really been checking in on her as often as I want to. âWell, some things have happened.â
She crosses her legs and turns her body toward me. âOkay, like what? Did you meet someone?â
âYeah, my boss.â
âNo - you cannot be serious. Hudson? Heâs not the type of guy to date the women he works with. Not sure that will ever amount to anything.â
Lacey did know him pretty well. âWell, maybe things have changed. We kissed. More than once. And tonight he invited me over to dinner with his parents.â
She looks a little flustered. âYou mean to tell me youâve been seeing Hudson and havenât mentioned it to me? What the hell? Iâm not mad, just surprised. Heâs so⦠brooding and uptight.â
âWhatever. Point is, do you think I should just step away and forget it? I really like him, and think we can work if we both put in the effort. He has changed, and his personality is coming out a bit more now that Iâve pushed him out of his comfort zone, I think.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
Elite Ops - 01 - Wild Card by Lora Leigh(4540)
The Woman Left Behind: A Novel by Linda Howard(4484)
Beloved (The Salvation Series Book 1) by Corinne Michaels(4259)
A Game Of Chance by Linda Howard(3807)
Protecting Alabama (SEAL of Protection Book 2) by Susan Stoker(3108)
Love Me by Piper Scott(3098)
Beloved (The Belonging Series) by Michaels Corinne(3060)
CLAM JAM by RC Boldt(2946)
Off Base by Annabeth Albert(2438)
Stepbrothers Stepping Out: Ultimate Collection by Delilah Devlin(2289)
Jet Blue (WeHo Book 5) by Sherryl D. Hancock(2279)
HOT SEAL Rescue (HOT SEAL Team - Book 3) by Lynn Raye Harris(2260)
1941002110 (R) by Lynn Raye Harris(2125)
Beyond Reality Box Set by Susan Stoker(2107)
Dirty Scoundrel: Roughneck Billionaires 2 by Jessica Clare(2095)
Wish You Were Mine by Tara Sivec(2005)
Marine Under the Mistletoe by Heather Long(2004)
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith(2003)
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini(1991)