I take a step to shield Cullen.
Matt laughs under his breath, his head shaking back and forth like he’s trying to clear it.
My hands rise carefully, my pulse pounding so hard I can hear it. “M-matt… you don’t need the gun, man.”
“Yes, I do,” he bites out. “This is the only way now.”
“No, you don’t. W-we can talk.”
“The time for talking is over!” His voice jumps louder, making me flinch. He jabs the gun toward Cullen, then back to me. “Months, Hudson. Months I tried to get you to listen.”
Behind me, Cull sucks in a shaky breath.
“No one else has to get hurt,” I say quickly. “Okay? Just calm down.”
“Don’t.” Matt’s face twists. “Don’t tell me to calm down.”
The gun trembles violently.
He drags his free hand through his hair, pacing frantically. “I tried—I tried so hard, but everyone kept ruining it.”
His eyes snap to Cullen, hate flashing so fast it makes my blood run cold.
“Healways ruins it.”
Cull shifts behind me. “Hud—”
“Shut the fuck up!” Matt screams, the sound echoing off the pine trees.
He jerks the gun at Cullen so fast my heart stops.
I take another step to block Cull.
Matt laughs again, breathless. “It’s always him.”
“Matt,” I say carefully, fighting to keep my voice steady while adrenaline claws through my chest. “Why are you doing this?’
For a second, he just stares at me. Then his expression softens, turning almost dreamy.
It makes my stomach churn.
“Because you were there for me.”
He points the gun vaguely toward me again, arm loose and careless.
“That game against Pine View? My parents didn’t come. Again.” He lets out a cracked laugh before his words dissolve into fragmented mumbling. “Self-absorbed. Divorce. Invisible…”
He starts pacing. Fast. Agitated.
“I was stranded there and you—you just told me to get in your car.” He shakes his head hard. “Like I mattered.”
His eyes lock onto mine.
“You were nice to me.”
My chest clinches.
“Then you kept doing shit.” His breaths are harsh, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “Inviting me places. Talking to me. Sharing your water bottle at practice—fuck.” He presses the gun briefly to his forehead before swinging it back down. “Nobody does that unless it means something.”
