Heat spikes in my chest, and I pin Theo with a glare. “You can thank your friend Heather for this mess.”
Theo flinches, his lips rolling inward, guilt flashing across his face. He knows exactly who I’m talking about.
Cullen looks at me, confused, but Archer’s face drops, turning on Theo. “Yoursisterfiled this?”
Silence slams the room, all eyes glaring daggers at Theo. “I-I didn’t know it was you she was accusing,” he stammers, voice cracking.
My eyes narrow. “You didn’t know she was accusingme?”
He blows out a breath, squirming under the scrutiny. “She never gave a name. Just said a friend encouraged her to file. We didn’t ask questions—just supported her.”
Archer steps back, his face tightening. “So you’ve known that your sister was charging one ofmyfriends with rape and didn’t think to tell me?”
“Arch, I’m sorry. Our lawyer told us not to speak about it.”
Archer stares at him, disbelief and hurt flickering across his face. Then he moves to stand beside me, jaw clenched, drawing a clear line.
Uncle Eli steps in, voice cool. “Hudson, as your attorney, I’m advising you not to engage with this young man further since he is tied to the plaintiff.”
I nod stiffly and step toward my mom as she opens her arms. She quietly steers me out of the station, our family trailing behind.
I collapse into the backseat of my dad’s car, forehead leaning against the cool window. A moment later, another door slams, Cull’s hand finding mine. He just holds it, silent.
Outside, shouting breaks out. I glance over to see Archer going off on Theo in the parking lot. I feel bad for Archer, but that isn’t my problem to fix.
“Hud, we’re staying at the cabin for tonight since it’s so late,” Dad lets me know from the driver’s seat. “It’s only half an hour away, and everyone’s coming, except Archer and his friend.”
“Fine.” I don’t care where we go. I just want a shower, a bed, and to sleep for a week.
Or to never wake up at all.
Forty
Cullen
I don’t know how many more blows Hudson can take. When we got to the cabin, Hudson went straight to a bedroom and locked himself inside. He wouldn’t even let me in. I stood in the hallway begging, pleading for him to just open the door. Mom had to pull me away, telling me that sometimes we just have to let people deal with things on their own.
His uncle laid out the case details and was encouraged when Hud’s grandparents told him about the house cameras. They made copies to take back to the police station the next morning.
It’s been a few days since the arrest, and Hudson’s been pretending he’s fine. But I know better. His voice is monotone when he speaks, and he walks around like a zombie. Last night, I watched him take two of his anxiety pills at once. My stomach twisted, but I bit my tongue. I know he’s going through hell, and I don’t want to lecture him on how to cope, but that dosage definitely isn’t good.
I’m hoping I can coax him out of the house today and take him for lunch. He didn’t answer when I called, so I’m driving over to make sure he’s alright.
When I pull up, there’s a car I don’t recognize in the driveway. With my usual spot taken, I slide up to the curb and kill the engine. As I step out of the truck, I hear heated shouting inside the house.
What now?
I don’t bother knocking. I head inside and follow the noise to the living room. Ella and her parents are in a full-onscreaming match. Hudson’s parents just stand there, stunned, angry, and hurt.
But all I can focus on is Hud, slumped in the recliner, hands clasped, staring blankly ahead. Tear tracks glisten on his cheeks, and his eyes are vacant, like he’s not even here.
“What kind of sick game are you playing at? Why would you let yourrapistof a son roam around in public?” Ella’s mom shrieks.
“This is Hudson, Amy. You know he would never force himself on anyone. Just stop and think for a second!”
Amy scoffs, stepping forward to jab a manicured finger at Mrs. Nora. “Oh, Iamthinking. I’m thinking about how you pushed him into a date with my daughter and how it could’ve been Ella instead of that poor girl.”
“Hudson hasn’t assaulted anyone, and you know it!” Mrs. Nora yells back at her.
