“Don’t raise your voice at my wife,” Ella’s dad barks.
Mr. Daniels moves between them like a wall and snarls. “Back off, Isaac.”
What the hell did I just walk into?
“It’s always the ones you least expect, isn’t it?” Amy sneers. “The golden boy types. Straight-A student. Perfect little upbringing. Parents who play at being pillars of the community. Those are always the ones who think they’re invincible. That poor girl had no reason to lie, so yes, I believe her.”
“I’m gay.”
The words are quiet, but they hit like a bomb.
Every head turns to Hudson. His voice is steady, but lifeless. “I haven’t assaulted anyone. Especially not a girl. I’m gay and with Cullen. And even if I wasn’t, I never would’ve hurt Ella, or any other girl, like that.”
His tone is hollow, face blank, and it chills me to the bone.
Hudson’s gone. He’s sitting there, but it’s just a shell. He won’t even look at me. I know he knows I’m here, our invisible tether is pulled taut between us, but he won’t meet my eyes.
“What a convenient little story,” Amy snaps. “You never would’ve agreed to date Ella if you weregay.” She finger quotes the word. “Ella, you are never to go near him again. Understood?”
The audacity of this woman makes my skin crawl.
“He’s my best friend! You can’t do that!” Ella’s eyes narrow at her mom, her fists clenched at her side, and trembling.
“I can and I will. First the stalker, now this? I’m done. I can't believe we ever considered you friends.” She tosses the last word like it’s poison.
Hudson stands and walks past the arguing adults. He stops in front of Ella and takes her hand.
“I’m sorry,” he tells her, then walks by me and out of the room.
I step forward, drawing attention for the first time. The adults go quiet when they realize I’ve been standing there.
“He wasn’t lying,” I cut in. “We’re together. And he isn’t lying about the accusations either. Hudson is one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I’ve ever met, and it’s all because of those two amazing people right there.” I motion to Mr. and Mrs. Daniels. “They’re too good to be associated with people like you. Maybe you should pay attention to your own kid before you go throwing stones at someone else’s.”
Ella’s eyes flash with fury, nostrils flaring at my words. I know she’s pissed I threw her under the bus, but I don’t care. Hudson might be too nice to say it, but I’m not. Her mother is out here slandering him while her own daughter uses drugs.
“Get out of our home,” Mr. Daniels snarls, his voice like steel. “Ella, you’re welcome anytime. Your parents are not.” Then he leaves the room, heading after Hudson.
I shoot Amy one last glare and go after my boyfriend. I find him at the kitchen table, rigid and unmoving. His dad is slamming cabinets and yanking out snacks like he wants to punch a hole through the pantry.
“I’m sorry about that, Hud.” Mr. Daniels’ voice is gravelly. “I never knew our friendship was so shallow on their end.”
It’s obvious the confrontation gutted him. They weren’t just anyone—they were their best friends. People who’ve been in their lives for years. The betrayal cuts deep, and I know it has to be eating them both alive.
The front door slams, then Mrs. Daniels enters the kitchen. She walks straight over to Hudson and wraps her arms around him from behind. He lifts a hand and rubs her forearm.
“When is it going to stop?” Hudson asks, his voice ragged. “Everything’s crashing down around all of us because of me.”
“None of this is your fault. This is just a moment in time, sweetheart.” She presses a kiss to the top of his head, then goes to hug her husband. “It will pass. Everything will turn out fine.”
“Hey.” I lightly brush Hud’s arm. “Let’s go grab lunch. Getting out of the house may help.”
“Go on, love,” Mrs. Nora encourages. “You’ve been cooped up for days.”
He nods and rises from the table, just as the door leading to the garage swings open, and Hadley walks in. Hudson stops mid-step, his eyes locked on his twin. There’s so much pain and longing in his expression that it hurts to witness.
I know she’s still not staying here, only coming home for a few minutes at a time. She tosses a small stack of mail onto the table, plants her hands on her hips, and narrows her eyes at Hudson.
“I thought you’d be someone’s prison bitch by now,” she snarks, swallowing hard. “Or did you manage to establish dominance before you broke out?”
