"How's it going back there?" he asked.
"We're fine, Tollie," Elle said, sounding bored. "All the introductions have been made. Can we go now?"
"We have to wait for Hudson." Tolliver threw me an apologetic glance. "He texted to say he's on his way. Freya, you still good to wait?"
I nodded. "Of course."
"Awesome," Elle said, and it was impossible to miss the sarcasm. "Think he'll have a girl attached to his face this time?"
"Let's hope not," Tolliver muttered.
"He's so gross sometimes."
"I like Hudson," Eli said. "He takes me out go-carting."
"That's cool," I said.
"It would be cooler if he wasn't doing it to hit on the girls who work at the park," Elle said.
"He likes hanging out with me," Eli insisted.
"No, I like hanging out with you."
"Hudson does too."
"I'm sure he does," I said. "I've only known you for a little while, but I like you already."
"Thanks, Freya."
He got out and hopped in the backseat with us, and I scooted closer to Elle to make room. His sister gave him a look.
"I thought you called shotgun," she said.
Eli sniffed. "I want to sit by Freya."
"Can't blame him for that," Tolliver said and threw me a smile. "Okay, if Hudson's not here in five minutes, we're leaving without him."
Elle grinned at that. "I'll start the clock."
Literally seconds later, Eli said, "There he is!"
And we all watched as a boy who looked a lot like Tolliver but with a ton more swagger walked towards the SUV, only stopping when he spotted Hazel. He detoured to her then. I could've sworn I heard Tolliver say, "Just keep walking," but his brother didn't heed the warning. The window was down, and we were close enough to hear every word that was spoken.
"Hey," he said with a self-assured smile. "You waiting for me?"
Hazel didn't even look up. "Does it look like I'm waiting for you?"
"Kind of."
Hudson shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. The move was a good one, possibly even practiced, with the way his dark strands caught the light, his jaw held at just the right angle to show its sharpness, his biceps seeming to flex, and the look he hit her with from beneath his lashes at the end.
Unfortunately, Hazel missed it all because she was still ignoring him.
"So, you want to hang out sometime?" he asked.
"No thanks," she replied, and he blinked.
"Huh?"
