Reaching into my bag, I pull out my sunblock. Not sunscreen, but sunblock. It works like a charm. Stan and Jean move closer with the cameras. I lift a finger to my lips for them to be quiet. Taking the sunblock, I squirt a little bit into my palm and scoop a dab of it onto my index finger.
Every so gently, I slide my finger down his back. His skin is smooth and hot to the touch. I don’t use a lot of the sunblock because I don’t want it caked up on his back. After everything is said and done, I don’t want him knowing what I’ve done until it’s too late.
In big letters on his back, I trace the word badonkasnonk on his back. It takes all I have not to laugh as I’m doing it. We still have three more hours by the pool which works to my advantage. Hudson snores away while I sit back with my tequila sunrise. Good times.
6
Allison
By the time Hudson woke up, I knew my plan had worked. He apologized for sleeping during our time together, but I didn’t care. It took all I had not to laugh when I saw the words show up on his back. He put on his shirt and that was that. Judging by the way he greeted me at the door when he came to get me for dinner, I assume he hasn’t seen it. I expected to see Stan and Jean with their cameras, but then I remembered we’re to be alone for this dinner date. The producers wanted the couples to get to know each other without all the pressure.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Hudson asks, setting his fork down. “Is there something on my face?”
A snicker escapes my lips. “Not on your face.” On your back maybe.
He glances down at his shirt. “You’re giving me a complex.”
Good. “Sounds like a personal problem,” I say.
Hudson stares at me, smirking devilishly. I hate it when he does that. I don’t want him to like me, it makes hating him more difficult. It’d be so much easier if we could eat in silence. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. In high school, he was known for his big mouth.
“Tell me,” Hudson begins, his voice sounding curious, “why hasn’t someone swept you off your feet yet?”
Staring blandly at him, I take a bite of my steak. “I’m not the sweeping kind.”
He shakes his head. “You’ve lost your damn mind, Allie. Any man would be lucky to have you, even if you are a little icy around the edges.”
I bat my eyelashes. “I’m only like that with you.”
Hudson chuckles and it makes me want to smile, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I will not let him wear me down. Thankfully, we finish eating our steak, potatoes, and asparagus, and we’re each brought a huge piece of chocolate cake. I dig right into mine since it’s my favorite.
“All right, I want to try something,” he suggests. He glances down at his watch. “We have ten minutes before we have to get ready for our interview. I want you to tell me five honest to God different things about you that you feel defines you as a person and I’ll do the same. You have to promise to tell the truth.”
Not going to lie, this shocks me. It’s kind of deep for someone like him. Although I’m curious to see what he says about himself. Conceited. Jackass. Rude. Maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt; it’s just hard when all I’ve known is how he was when we were in high school.
“Same goes for you,” I say. “No lying.”
He holds out his hand. “Deal. We’ll shake on it. And if you doubt me, just remember there are no cameras around. It’s just you and me.”
The second our hands touch, I can’t deny how good it feels. I quickly pull away and clear my throat. “All right, I’ll go first.” I cut into my cake and lift up the huge piece of chocolatey goodness. “I can’t live without chocolate. You might not think it defines me, but it does. I’m literally not fun to be around without it.”
Hudson laughs. “I’ll be sure to remember that.”
I stuff the cake into my mouth. There are no cameras around to see me pig out, and I don’t care how Hudson sees me. By the smile on his face, he obviously finds it amusing.
“If we’re on the topic of food, I can’t function without peanut butter. It’s killing me not having my morning PB & J sandwiches.”
Mouth gaping, I stare at him. I eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day for lunch, but I don’t want to tell him that. “What kind of jelly?” I ask. Please don’t say strawberry.
Hudson smirks. “Strawberry. There’s no better combination.” Dammit. That’s what I would’ve said. Strawberry is what I use on my sandwiches. That’s one thing we have in common.
“Okay, moving on,” I say, trying to think of something deeper. The only thing I can think of is my work. “When I was younger, I really wanted to be a doctor, but when I got older, I realized I didn’t like the sight of blood. I loved learning about diseases and what medicines help cure them. It fascinates me.”
Sitting back in his chair, his eyes bore into mine. There’s a solemn look in his eyes that puts a ping in my chest. “My parents would’ve loved for me to go to an Ivy League college and be something more than I am, but do you want to know why I decided to be a firefighter?”
The feel of the room changes drastically. It’s like I can sense his sadness. “Why?” I ask.
He averts his gaze to
