There is still so much left that we don’t know, and with our only suspect out of the picture, we have to keep watching our backs.
But, for now, I’m going to take Maria’s advice and move on. If Hudson can overcome what he’s been through, then there is no reason I can’t either.
Chapter twenty-seven
Hudson
“Dude, I need a break,” I gasp, plopping down on the freshly cut grass in my backyard. My chest feels like I inhaled fire, my lungs no longer conditioned like they used to be.
Archer came over to hang out and had the bright idea to do some soccer drills. The drills were more for Archer than for me, though. He’s going to Ashbridge also, hoping to snag one of the few spots on the soccer team reserved for non-scholarship athletes.
The dream was for Archer, Cull, Matt, and me to all go to Ashbridge and make the soccer team. Our odds were decent since we all play different positions, but Matt got waitlisted, and I’m just floating in space not knowing where I’m going to land.
It sucks.
Archer saunters over, chuckling, and sits next to me, handing me my water bottle. “Maybe we should have stuck to passing drills and not gone so hard 1v1.” He takes a long pull from hissports bottle before squeezing the cold water over his head. “Not to mention it’s hotter than Satan’s asshole today.”
I laugh, chugging the rest of my water. “My parents finally got the pool ready for the summer if you wanna cool off.”
“Hell yes!” He jumps up then takes a running leap into the cool water, a small tsunami crashing over the side. I’m a little more civil, using the stairs, then dunking myself.
We ditched our shirts and shoes about an hour ago, the humidity making clothes practically unbearable.
“So, Cullen is on house arrest?” Archer is floating on his back just a few feet away from me.
I post up on the side of the pool, my elbows resting outside of the water on the concrete patio. “Yeah. He’s still grounded for almost knocking out Detective Douchebag.”
Cull is only allowed to go to therapy. That’s it. Thankfully, his parents haven’t cut off all communication and he can still call me. We don’t have our second joint therapy session for another week, and that feels like forever away.
Archer swims over and leans against the side of the pool, mirroring my stance. “He was struggling when you were in the hospital, dude. I’ve never seen him so freaked out. Matt and I would try and get him out of the waiting room, even for just an hour, but he would refuse. It was like his body was there but his mind…” He shakes his head, a small frown on his face. “You could tell the anger was brewing, even then.”
I gaze across the pool, my thoughts drifting back to the hospital room—to Cullen with dark bags under his eyes, his complexion pale.
That memory haunts me.
It probably always will.
“Sorry, man. I shouldn’t have brought that up,” Archer apologizes solemnly.
“It’s fine. I’m just mad at myself for putting everyone through that.”
Quiet wraps around us for a few minutes before I change the subject. “So… have you talked to Theo?”
Archer’s face flashes sad before he schools it. “No. I cut him off that night at the police station. He somehow heard about what happened to you and tried to reach out, but I ignored him.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugs, his shoulders tinged red from the scorching sun. “It is what it is. I felt like I couldn’t trust him, not after keeping something like that from me. I get that it was his sister, but still… I thought—it doesn’t matter.” Water droplets fly off his hair as he runs his fingers through it.
“Of course it matters, man. I could tell how much you guys liked each other.”
“Well, I hope he feels like shit knowing his sister is a liar.” Archer can’t hide the pain on his face, the situation bothering him more than he wants to admit.
“I’m sorry. Maybe in the future y’all can work it out?”
“I don’t really care. Besides, college is going to be full of dudes who are going to want to experiment, and I’m a more than willing lab partner.” He waggles his eyebrows at me. “Can’t play around if I’m tied down.”
“Wow, Archer. Didn’t know you were such a man-whore.”
