know, before Bishop and I had our first date, he told me he wanted to build something together. I know he meant a relationship, but it feels like we’re all building new lives for ourselves. We’re leaving behind the things that were holding us back and making a whole new future all together.”
“I like that,” he says sounding peaceful as he leans back in his seat, turning his face toward the window to watch scenery pass. “So, where are you taking me for our first date?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“All right, but this whole wanting to date me thing had better not be a ruse to take me out into the woods and drop me off,” he jokes. “Because I’m pretty sure Riot and Bishop would be pissed.”
“Good point. I guess I’ll just have to make it look like an accident when I off you,” I tease, and he laughs. The sound is deep and rich as it washes over me and fills me with happiness.
I pull into the same abandoned skate park Bishop brought me to months ago when I first moved back. It’s incredible to realize how much has changed in that time. With all the memories Hudson and I shared at this place as teenagers, I couldn’t think of a more perfect place for our first date.
“Holy shit, this is our date?” he asks, realizing where we are as I stop the car.
“Yup and I have something in the trunk.”
We get out, and I pop the trunk, grabbing the two skateboards I picked up this afternoon, handing one of them to him.
“It’s missing the badass stickers I put all over mine, but it’ll do,” he says, dropping it on the ground and stepping onto it with one foot. His brain may still think he’s fourteen, but his body has other ideas. His reflexes don’t quite seem to hold up as the skateboard rolls out from under him, his arms wind milling as he falls backward, letting out a loud oomph as he hits the ground.
“Fuck, are you okay?” I check.
Hudson groans. “I’m cool,” he assures me, and I let out the laugh that threatened as soon as he went down. “Sure, it’s funny now, just wait until you’re the one on the ground.”
“Unlike you, I work out regularly, so my reflexes are still cat-like,” I taunt, stepping onto my own skateboard and immediately wobbling as it sails out from under me just like Hudson’s did, leaving me flailing as I fall backward as well. I can hear Hudson laughing as I suck in a sharp breath and cough.
“I can see what you mean. That was positively feline.”
“Fuck you.”
“Okay, but not until I can manage to get my ass up off the ground,” he jokes.
We both manage to get up eventually, although something tells me we’re going to have bruised asses tomorrow. Our second attempts go better, both of us managing to stay upright as we roll a few feet. Of course, Hudson gets cocky and attempts to flip his board which ends with him on the ground again.
It feels like we’re back in middle school attempting tricks way outside of our skill level and racking up the bruises we’ll have to ice later. The only thing missing is Bishop sitting on the sidelines cheering us on.
“Alpha flip, yeah boy,” Hudson cheers when he finally manages to land one without ending up on his ass.
“Watch out Tony Hawk,” I deadpan, and he flips me off.
We laugh and tease each other until the sun starts to go down, and it becomes clear that the streetlights that used to illuminate the park no longer work.
“This was the most fun I’ve had in ages,” he says as we head back to the car with our skateboards in hand.
“Me too.” I take his board and put them back into the trunk, then I grab Hudson and drag him to me again for another kiss. His lips against mine are everything, hot and hungry, salty with a little bit of sweat and still sweet with the flavor of Hudson.
“Do you want to come stay at my place tonight?” he asks, his fingers digging into my hips.
“That sounds perfect,” I agree. “Want me to text Bishop and Riot? Or would you rather it just be us?”
Hudson hesitates, considering the question. “I think tonight I want you to myself. Why don’t we see if they want to come over early tomorrow? I’ll make pancakes, and we can spend all morning getting all cuddly together.”
“That sounds perfect,” I