Hadley comes around the corner, phone to her ear. “Where are you off to?” she asks, pulling the phone away from her face.
“Melvin's to hang with the guys. I’ll text Mom and Dad to let them know where I’ll be.”
Hadley leans up and kisses Hud on the cheek. “Have fun. Don’t take any shit from Cullen.”
I balk at her, my eyes going wide. “I don’t give Hud shit for anything.”
The twins give me identicalyeah, rightlooks, and I quickly tuck my tail between my legs.
A few months ago, I was helping Hudson pick up the pieces after she broke his heart. So it’s strange seeing Hadley go to bat for him.
I’m grateful for it, but some memories are harder to forgive than others.
I take a breath and force myself to let it go.
“Forgive me for being an invested partner in this relationship,” I grumble.
Hud chuckles and grabs my hand, pulling me towards the front door. “You give me shit on occasion, and I give it rightback.” He tosses a wave to his sister over his shoulder and leads us to my truck, opening the driver door for me. He jogs around and climbs in, quickly finding my hand and lacing our fingers together.
His words make me smile as I back us out of the driveway. “Well, I guess that makes us equal opportunity shit givers.”
Hud laughs. “It makes us perfect for each other.”
And damn, if he isn’t right.
Chapter seventeen
Hudson
Ihaven’t laughed to the point of my stomach hurting in a long time.
Archer and Matt were arguing over who won the bet they made— who could chug their milkshake first. They’d slammed their glasses down at the same time, hence the argument. In the middle of his explanation for why he won, Archer burped and up came part of his milkshake, splattering Matt’s lap. Red-faced, Archer dug a twenty from his pocket and shoved it at Matt’s chest.
Matt has just come back from the bathroom after cleaning himself up, a scowl marring his face. “Can’t believe you barfed on me,” he grumbles, scooting his chair further away from Archer.
“It’s your fault! You made the bet, dude,” Archer argues back.
Matt rolls his eyes and shoves a fry in his mouth.
Archer sighs, pushing his empty burger basket aside. “Anyway, any updates on the stalker front?”
The laughter around the table dies down.
Matt wipes his mouth with his napkin and leans forward. “Yeah, have the cops figured anything out yet?”
Cull and I exchange a glance, his jaw set hard.
“Yeah, they found a camper on the other side of the tree line at the river.” I tell them.
“A camper?” Matt asks, brow scrunched.
“Yeah. It was filled with random photos and unsent letters to Hudson.” There is a hard edge to Cullen’s voice, so I rub my hand down his thigh to try and soothe him.
He exhales and brings his arm around the back of my chai,"
“Apparently, it’s only a few hundred yards from Mason Keller’s backyard. They made the connection and went to question him, but the fucker claims to not know anything.” Cullen slouches in his seat, frowning. I squeeze his knee beneath the table, and some of the tension leaves his face.
“That sucks, dudes. Any other leads?” Archer asks.
