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“No,” he said, his voice turning to ice. “This is over. Leave me alone.”
He walked away from me then. I knew there were tears streaming down my cheeks, but I couldn’t feel them. I couldn’t feel anything at all. My body was numb, in shock over what had just happened.
I couldn’t have lost Hudson. I couldn’t have been that monumentally stupid.
You were, and you did.
Last night everything had seemed so dire, what I stood to lose too important, but this?
This was the biggest mistake of my life.
24
HUDSON
THE BLOOD RUSHING in my ears was so loud that I could barely think.
Drew never told me any of that. I could feel the desperation at his dad’s ultimatum, and though I knew he’d always put a little pressure on his son, I didn’t know the extent to which he’d pushed him. I’d only seen his fun side at game nights, and the little Drew had shared about his dad’s wishes for him to follow in his footsteps.
It made me feel for him, and though it didn’t excuse what he did, or my valid reaction, I could better understand why. I thought I hadn’t needed to hear it. That it didn’t matter the reasons, that nothing could justify the betrayal. But it wasn’t a malicious act or a continued breach of trust, just a single act of desperation. I understood it.
If he’d only come to me, asked me for help… I would’ve done anything for him. Hell, I may have evengivenhim the damn essay. He’d been that important to me, and that was what had hurt the most. That I didn’t think he felt the same way.
“So,” Viper said, breaking the silence as he reached for his glass again. “Where’s this guy now?”
Drew swallowed, focusing intently on the ground. “Better off without me. The smart choice, don’t you think?”
“Well, I don’t know. Seems like you broke the guy’s heart with that stunt, but people have a way of finding their way back together despite fuck-ups if it’s real.” Viper reared back suddenly like he’d been slapped. “What the hell, did I just spew some Hallmark card shit? My fuckin’ Angel, he’s made me soft. Well, not soft. I mean, have you seen the guy? He walks in a room and everyone gets hard. But what I mean is, he’s made me realize fuck-ups don’t automatically mean it’s over. Not if you’re meant to be together.”
“Sorry,” Drew said, getting to his feet so fast he knocked into the table. “I need some air.” Before any of us had time to react, he bolted out the door.
“Drew,” I called out, jumping up from my seat, but he was already gone.
In that moment, watching him leave, I wasn’t thinking about Viper or the deal or any of it. My only thought was of Drew and everything he’d just said, and I found myself running after him.
“Drew.” I quickened my pace, determined to catch up with him. “Drew, wait.”
He kept moving, striding through the corridor, widening the distance. With my longer legs, I closed the gap between us, heart pounding as I grabbed his arm and forced him to face me.
He wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“What the hell was that?” I demanded.
“Just let me go—”
“You tell a story like that and don’t think I’ll have anything to say?”
Drew bit the inside of his cheek as he looked out over the dozen-strong staff getting things ready for the party below. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Like hell it doesn’t.”
He shook his head and went to walk away, but I refused to let him go.
“What, suddenly you’re all out of words? Was any of that even the truth, or was it for Viper’s benefit?”
Drew finally looked at me, his eyes flashing in anger. “Of course it’s the fucking truth. Isn’t that bad enough?”
“Yes.”
