Long ago, my grandparents had converted one of their old gardening sheds in the backyard into a hang out spot for Hudson and I.
Over the years, we'd accumulated stuff from local garage sales and repurposed ratty furniture left out on front lawns, until it was so perfectly ours. In one corner sat an old box tv and DVD player, and in another sat a retro orange suede sofa with a tear on one of the arm rests.
We'd scored a fairly decent rug and side table outside of Tiffani Chambers' house, and Hudson had even saved up, scoring us a window air conditioning unit from Ace Hardware last summer.
"I don't really feel like watching a movie." I groaned as he pulled me up to the door.
He finally had to let go of my hand as he twisted one of our two small keys into the padlock. We were the only two people with complete access, so it kind of felt like just ours in a way.
"Stop pouting." He laughed. "And come inside."
My eyes went wide as soon as I walked in behind him. Wow. This was kind of...sweet.
Hudson had transformed the tiny space with string lights and my favorite kind of red licorice adorning every table. The Taylor Swift album he positively loathed even played on the turntable in the corner.
"What...what is this?"
"I knew you'd be kinda bummed out, so while you showered I set some stuff up."
"I love it. Thank you." I held both of his hands and smiled up into his face that suddenly looked more than a little uncomfortable.
I took my cue and stepped back, dropping his hands. Hudson and I usually didn't do serious. We were much better at the teasing and bickering aspect of our friendship, rather than the hearts and roses crap.
Still, as I walked around the space, I couldn't help but feel my own heart flip a little bit. It felt like I was part of some romantic comedy. One where the girl fell for the guy that had always been there for her. Sure, he was a little rough around the edges, but then again so was she...
What the fuck?! I shook my head and wished I could shake my brain out right along with it. I wondered if I was ovulating, counting the days in my head as I bit into some licorice. That had to be it. The medical explanation as to why my nipples were still hard, and why my panties stuck to me a little.
"Do you have your vape on you?" I asked suddenly, and Hudson choked on his own licorice.
"What?!"
"Tonight's fucking sucked, and I want to try it." I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Very funny." He rolled his eyes, but his fingers still touched a line in the front pocket of his black skinny jeans. Bingo!
I stalked over to him and shoved my hand deep into his pocket, brushing his thigh, and something else, before grabbing his black vape pen.
"Hey!" He wiggled away from me, but it was too late.
"Ah ha!" I held the pen out in my hand like it was the answer to all of my problems, and Hudson stared at me like I'd grown three heads.
Over the years, he'd smoked from the thing, but never offered me a hit. He knew drugs were off limits to me...given my mom. Like I knew alcohol was off limits to him...given his dad. But tonight, I wanted to try something new, and this shiny metal stick of THC-laced carbon was my ticket.
I plopped down onto the couch and a few minutes later, he sat slowly next to me.
"How do you work this thing?" I flipped it upside down a few times.
YOU ARE READING
The Impact of Intimacy
Romance***ONGOING*** Being the only virgin left in small town, Texas was a major fucking buzz kill. Bailey Sawyers didn't get invited to parties, she didn't get to gossip with the girls, and Bryce Hall certainly never looked in her direction. Which was wh...
