“He didn’t sound upset on the phone earlier. What happened?” I ask.
Hadley lets out a tired breath. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels come over, completing a loose circle.
“He was actually in good spirits this morning and was excited to come home. The nurses even gave him a little parade as we left, which he seemed to really appreciate,” Mrs. Nora tells me.
“Then we got to the car…” Hadley trails off.
“And?” I push.
Mr. Daniels sighs, rubbing his fingers over his brow. “There was a photo with a note under the wiper blade.”
He pulls a folded piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to me. I unfold the paper, heat rushing through me, and my heart racing. It’s a blurry photo of Hudson being carried on the backboard to the ambulance. Across the picture, words are scrawled in that all too familiar handwriting.
I’m the one who saved you. Not him. ME!
“What the hell does that mean?” I growl, shoving the picture back at Mr. Daniels. The note that was left with his flowers basically said the same thing.
“We don’t know, but we reported it to the detective. He’s going to retrieve the parking deck cameras to see if they can find out who left it,” Mrs. Nora says.
“I know y'all are talking about my future corpse bride over there. We can make burial arrangements later. So if it’s not too much hassle for anyone, I’d like to go inside,” Hudson yells from the front porch.
I cut my eyes in his direction, hoping he sees that I don’t find that shit the least bit funny.
“Yeah… the dark humor has been nonstop,” Hadley says under her breath.
“Awesome,” I grumble.
We all file into the house, and Hudson goes straight to the media room, Ella right on his heels. We all follow behind him, taking seats throughout the space.
“Why don’t I order lunch and we can all just relax?” Mrs. Nora says to the room.
“Whatever you want to do, Mom. I’m not hungry.” Hud picks up the TV remote and starts scrolling through the streaming apps. Mrs. Nora looks a little defeated, much like we all have at various times these last few weeks.
“I can go grab it if you want.” I need to get out and let off some of this anger. Hud doesn’t need to see me lose it.
She smiles fondly at me. “That would be great, Cullen. Thank you.” She walks off, phone in hand, Mr. Daniels right behind her.
A stilted silence falls over the room. Everyone keeps glancing at Hudson, like we don’t know how to act now that he’s home.
“I’m not going to kill myself with the TV remote, so y’all can relax,” he comments, voice flat.
“That’s not funny, Hudson,” I snap.
He just shrugs, eyes fixed on the screen. The air feels suffocating, and I can’t take it anymore.
Too on edge to sit, I storm out of the room and pace the front porch.
I’m only outside for a couple of minutes before I hear the front door close with a soft click. Hadley comes over to where I’m wearing a hole in the wood and sits on the porch swing.
“My mom said the food should be ready in about fifteen minutes, but I can go get it if you need a moment.”
I drop onto the swing next to her, elbows on my knees, and head in my hands.
I’m still so pissed at Hadley for the part she played, but I can’t help it as my words spill out rough, unable to choke them down any longer. “I get that Hudson has to deal in his own way, but I can’t handle the jokes. And that asshole is still out there, claiming him, threatening—” I swipe a hand over my face. “What if Hud breaks again?”
Hadley swallows hard, blinking rapidly as she turns her face away.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I shouldn’t have dumped that on you.”
