I Don't Mix Business with Pleasure

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓿𝓮

𝓕𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮

I'm dreading being home. Just knowing I have to face my mother is driving me mad. I don't know if I can do it. The second I see her and my brothers, I'm going to break down- I just know it. My brothers got me a last-minute flight tonight. I have less than an hour to pack and leave for the airport to head to Oregon. My dad's funeral is tomorrow afternoon. I will also officially make my decision the two days I'm there whether I'm going to stay with my mom or come back to New York.

"Hudson is already waiting outside to pick us up," Landon says as we stop to grab our luggage at the baggage claim.

I follow him outside and spot Hudson opening up the back hatch on his SUV. He stops what he's doing as soon as he sees me. He gives me a sympathetic smile before opening his arms and walking towards me.

"Oh, Flo, come here."

He pulls me into an embrace. I rest my head on his chest and start to cry, reaching my hand up to hide my face from the public. Landon is giving Hudson one of the dirtiest looks known to man.

"Ah, Flo. Are you okay?" he asks, gripping my arms and pulling me away from him.

"No." I shake my head, my bottom lip beginning to quiver.

"Oh, please don't cry. I don't like seeing you cry." he coos, reaching his hand up and brushing away my tears.

Landon loudly clears his throat, getting into the backseat.

"Shall we go?" Hudson asks, opening the passenger door for me.

"Yeah, I don't have much time. I have to hurry and re-pack."

"You need a ride back to the airport?" Hudson asks me.

"I mean- yeah, I do." I'm going to learn to accept help when it's offered.

"I'll take you." Landon chimes in.

Hudson shoots me a look that screams, 'Color me surprised'.

"We're home now. You don't have to help me anymore," I mutter.

"Help you? He helped you?" Hudson asks.

"Yeah- just forget it." I look out the window. I don't want to start an argument between the two of them.

"I can take you. I'm coming back this way anyways." he shrugs his shoulders.

"The club I'm guessing?" Hudson asks.

"Yeah- why?" Landon asks.

I know why he goes to clubs. One reason and one reason only. And for some reason, I'm bothered by the idea of it. I need to get out of this car.

"Shocker." Hudson retorts.

"You didn't get laid in Paris?"

"Sadly, no."

"Sadly?" I ask, turning to look at him in the backseat and raising a brow at him. I immediately smirk at him to hide the fact that I didn't mean to say that out loud.

"Yeah- sadly."

I'm so over-emotional dealing with the loss of my dad that I've found it hard to control any of my emotions. I bite down on my bottom lip to keep myself from crying. I have to get away from him.

"So- anyways," Hudson says, giving me a knowing look. I think he knows. "What's the plan then?"

"I can just take her. It's pointless for you to take her if I'm already coming this way anyway."

"Is that okay with you?" Hudson asks me.

"Sure," I say, flatly.

Hudson drops me off and Landon lets me know he will be back with his car after he gets dropped off at his apartment. When I'm about halfway through my packing, there's a knock on my door. When I look in the peephole, it's Landon.