The Road to Us

✨ Chapter Twenty | Hurricane

— Hudson —

As I pulled into the driveway of Jerry Romano's repair shop, my heart pounded like a relentless drumbeat, refusing to calm.

The neatly wrapped plant pot sat in the passenger seat, looking innocent enough, but it felt like a fragile shield against the storm I was walking into. I gripped the steering wheel for a moment, taking a deep breath before grabbing the ceramic pot and stepping out of the car.

The sun was unforgiving, bearing down with a heat that made the air feel thick and stifling. Colton had reassured me that everything would be fine, but now, standing in front of Jerry's imposing shop, I wasn't so sure.

I knocked on the side office door where Colton said he usually worked, the sound echoing loudly in the stillness of the early morning. A few moments later, the door swung open, and there he was... towering, stern, and already covered in grease despite the early hour. His tattooed arms looked as though they'd seen years of hard work, and his sharp eyes locked onto me, flicking briefly to the pot I was holding before settling back on my face.

"Hudson," he said with a curt nod, his tone neutral, giving nothing away.

"Mr. Romano, hi," I stammered, holding up the plant pot like an awkward peace offering. "I, uh, brought this for you. It's just a small token of appreciation... and, um, a gesture to show that I'm serious about Colton. It's for your shop."

His gaze lingered on the pot for a moment before he stepped aside, motioning for me to come in without a word.

I swallowed hard and entered. The office was cool but hardly comforting. It was as stern and orderly as the man himself... no clutter, no unnecessary frills, just efficiency and control. I set the pot on a table, doing my best to ignore the slight tremor in my hands.

I'd faced hard things before, challenges that tested me, but standing here, facing Jerry Romano, was a different kind of intimidating. It wasn't just about me... it was about proving myself worthy of Colton, the man I loved, and the weight of that was almost crushing.

Before I could say anything else, Chuck emerged from an adjacent room, wiping his hands on a rag. He gave me a brief nod, his expression unreadable.

"So what's this?" Jerry finally spoke, his voice low and sharp as his eyes flicked toward the plant pot.

"It's a collection of succulents," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I researched ones that would thrive in a shop environment... low-maintenance, but with a little character. Some of these are rare. I thought it might brighten up the space."

Jerry raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from the pot back to me. "And you thought this would... what? Impress me?"

My throat went dry. "No, sir, I—"

Jerry waved a hand, cutting me off. "I don't need impressing, Hudson. What I need is to know that my son is making smart decisions."

His words landed like a punch to the gut, heavy and unapologetic. My mouth opened to respond, but no words came out. 

What could I say that wouldn't make things worse?!

Chuck cleared his throat, stepping forward and tossing the rag over his shoulder. "Hey, Jerry, it's just a plant. Don't read too much into it."

Jerry shot him a withering glare. "I'm not reading into anything, Chuck. I'm stating a fact."

The silence that followed was suffocating. My stomach churned, and I wished I could vanish into thin air.

Finally, Jerry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like he was exhausted from the entire exchange.

"I appreciate the gesture, Hudson, but I'm not easily won over by gifts. If you're serious about my son, you'll need to prove it with more than just a few plants."