For one devastating second, he looks completely shattered.
“I just wanted somebody to choose me,” he says weakly.
Then he runs.
“Matt!”
Cullen lurches forward beside me, Archer reaching too late as Matt bolts off the bridge and disappears into the trees.
Branches snap, a crow caws somewhere overhead.
Then—
BANG.
The world stops.
Cullen gasps.
Archer collapses forward, hands braced on his knees.
I can’t breathe.
And deep in the woods, birds explode into flight.
Chapter thirty-one
Cullen
The hammock gently sways beneath the two oaks in Hud’s backyard, my head resting on his shoulder. We’ve both just been lying here, listening to the birds singing and the breeze rustling the trees.
It’s the first day in this circus of a week that we’ve really had a moment to breathe. To just… be.
Between the police investigation and statements, we have hardly had time to come to terms with what happened at the river. I broke down with Maria in my session earlier today, the weight of everything mingling with relief coming to a head.
Hopefully now we can finally move on.
“What are you thinking so hard about over there?” Hud nudges me with his knee, jolting me out of my thoughts.
I curl into his side, tucking my face against his neck. “Everything. Nothing.”
“Mmm,” he hums, his lips brushing my forehead.
“What are you thinking about?” I volley back.
“Matt.”
My arm tightens around his stomach, holding him close.
Hud takes a deep breath, exhaling a few beats later.
“Wanna talk about it?” I ask, recognizing his breathing exercise.
He sighs, his hand skimming my thigh. “I already unloaded on Maria today.”
“Same, but if there is more on your mind, you know I’ll listen.”
Hud contemplates for a long time before he speaks. “I feel bad for Matt.”
