A familiar gigantic bald bodyguard blocked their table from onlookers as the chair beside Jinx suddenly became occupied. “There you are. Would you please listen to me?”
Jinx swiped his hand across his eyes. “There’s nothing to say, Hudson. Please leave me alone.”
“I have a lot to say,” Hudson shot back, obviously not intending to leave.
“The man asked you to leave him alone.”
At Wrecker’s hard tone, Tito ruffled. “Stay the fuck out of this.”
Wrecker stood, going nose to nose with the Italian bodyguard—like Tito wasn’t inhuman in size. “This is my coffeehouse. I say who stays and who goes.”
Jinx wished the floor would open and swallow him whole, but this was his mess. “It’s okay, Wrecker. I’ve got it.”
Wrecker’s gaze slid his way. His features didn’t soften. “If you’re sure, I have customers.” He stared hard at Tito. “But if you need me, just shout. I’m not scared to put a man down.”
Jinx’s embarrassment doubled. “Thank you.”
Once Wrecker walked away, Hudson slung his arm across the back of Jinx’s chair. “That’s better. We need to talk, or rather, I do, so listen. I didn’t expect Rocky to do what he did, but it changes nothing. You told me you would marry me, and I bought a ring and everything. So why did you leave me? You’re supposed to be with me.”
Jinx blinked. Hudson was too animated. His every word came out twice as fast as necessary. Jinx had to fight to keep up. He tried. “Look, I lived with Rocky for months before you two met and he never made a move on me. You didn’t want a relationship with me until you got to know Rocky. It’s obvious that I’m just in the way of you two wanting each other. I’m out of the way now. Go be with the man you really want.” The words ripped and tore at Jinx’s throat, slowly killing him. But Jinx loved Hudson and Rocky enough to get out of the way. Loving them was currently killing him.
Hudson shot to his feet and climbed on top of the table. Tito did an amazing job of keeping people away while looking like this was an everyday occurrence. Jinx grabbed Hudson’s ankles, scared he would fall.
“What are you doing?”
Hudson dug a ring from his pocket and held it out. “You’re supposed to marry me.”
Jinx worked hard to keep his jaw from hitting the floor. The ring was fucking amazing and Hudson was yelling at the top of his lungs.
“Get off Wrecker’s table and we’ll talk about it.”
Hudson shook his head. “Not until you say you’ll marry me.” Hudson glanced around. He pointed at Jinx and yelled at the other customers. “This is the man I want. This one. He said he would marry me when I retired. I’m retiring and now he’s trying to take it back.” Hudson did a little dance move as he met Jinx’s stare again. “I’m not coming down until you agree.”
He was ridiculous, and it scared Jinx. Jinx rubbed Hudson’s legs. “Please come down before you fall, and I end up on the news as the guy who ruined Hudson Vincent’s career.”
“I have no career. I told you, I’m retiring. So now it’s time to uphold your end of the deal.”
Jinx ran his thumbs up Hudson’s shins. “Baby, you’re going to crash really hard soon. When was the last time you had your meds?”
Hudson didn’t budge. “Say you’ll marry me, and you can take me home.”
Jinx looked Tito’s way. “When did he stop his meds?” Jinx tried to keep their conversation as private as possible.
“Halfway through the tour. He claims they interfere with his performance.”
Hudson bounced on the table, pulling Jinx’s attention back his way. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
Jinx’s chest hurt. He loved Hudson. Likely he always would. Even though Hudson was obviously having one of his over-the-top manic episodes, he wasn’t out of his head. He was just at the crest right before the fall. Jinx had been too hurt to notice earlier. Likely, by tomorrow, Hudson would be crippled by depression or not. Hudson didn’t always crash, but he might. Jinx had to get him back on his meds. “If I say yes, will you go home and take your medication?”
“If you go with me.”
Jinx nodded. He loved Hudson too much to let this go on. “Then yes. I’ll marry you.”
Hudson let out a loud shout and leaped from the table. Thankfully, Tito obviously anticipated Hudson’s jump and kept him from getting hurt. Several people clapped when Hudson slipped the ring on Jinx’s finger before kissing him. Jinx’s heart melted as their lips met. He fought the urge to cry again. The night had been awful and heartbreaking. He didn’t know how to feel. Jinx wanted to marry Hudson. He wasn’t scared of Hudson’s issues, but things were still a mess. It was supposed to be the three of them. They were supposed to be convincing Rocky to live with them. Jinx didn’t know if Hudson’s marriage proposal was real or part of his uncontrolled disorder. Nothing felt right, but he believed in love. Right now, Hudson needed Jinx. Tomorrow, he would likely need Jinx even more. Jinx would have to figure out the future later. He didn’t belong to himself. Jinx had always belonged to Hudson. It was time to go to his new home.
The mind was a terrifying thing. Hudson’s most especially. It was a prison with no windows or bars. Sometimes, his brain and mood turned against him, making everything a horrible nightmare he couldn’t escape. Despite that, he wasn’t crazy or dumb. He also wasn’t blind or deaf. Hudson saw and heard everything he did and said. He just couldn’t stop. After Rocky had left, Hudson’s mind had fixated on marrying Jinx. He had convinced himself that if he could achieve that, then he had found the holy grail of happiness. If he could marry Jinx, then maybe he
