Fuuuuuck.That was sexy as hell. My brain short-circuits, instantly detouring to filthy thoughts. None hit harder than the image of Hudson treating my dick like that ice cream cone.
Hud catches me staring like a creep and gives me a questioning look. I blink hard and jerk my eyes away, heat rising up my neck.
“Do I have ice cream on my face or something?”
“Uh, no,” I rasp. I clear my throat and try to discreetly adjust the semi in my shorts, hoping he doesn’t notice. I focus on my own ice cream while we sit in a comfortable silence.
After a minute, he speaks again. “Listen, I’m sorry for being a dick yesterday. You know I’ve always been close with Ella, and what you said hit a nerve.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have walked out like that.” I fiddle with the wrapper on my cone. “I guess Iama little jealous of Ella… don’t want to lose my best friend to a girl,” I add half-heartedly. “I know how selfish that sounds, especially since I’ve been with Hads for so long.” I give him a playful nudge with my shoulder, and he smiles.
“It’s all good, man. And you're not going to lose me to a girl—or anyone for that matter. It’s you and me, Cull. Always.”
Sincerity pours off him, hitting me square in the chest. My heart thunders. I’m so close to opening my mouth and inserting my foot, but I occupy it with more ice cream instead.
How do I explain that I’ve done a one-eighty on the sexuality scale? Or would it be three-sixty since I’m still into girls? Who knows. Figures of speech aren’t my thing.
I wish I could spill my soul to Hud. I’ve never kept anything from him, and doing it now feels like some kind of betrayal. I don’t want to freak him out or accidentally push him away. Coming out is risky. What if it changes everything between us?
I don’t realize I’ve zoned out until he nudges my knee. The simple touch sends a zing down my spine, and his nearness leaves behind a lingering, smoky-sweet scent. I breathe his cologne in deeply but discreetly, just trying to savor this small piece of Hudson the universe handed me.
“Did I get too serious for you?” He looks nervous, like maybe he said something he shouldn’t have.
“Of course not. You and me, Hud. Always.” I echo his words back to him.
A flicker of something—sadness, maybe—passes across his face, but he smooths it over, then finishes his waffle cone.
“Oh, by the way,” he says, wiping his hands on a napkin. “Hadley is on the warpath. She came home pissed, saying she needs to talk to you about Friday night.”
“Wonderful,” I grumble, voice flat. “I tried calling and texting her, but she ignored me all day yesterday.”
“Well, I just wanted you to know so you can gird your loins.”
I bust out laughing. “What are you, eighty? Who even says that?”
Hud shrugs but gives me a serious look. “Blame my SAT prep. I devoured every English word and phrase from every prep book I could get my hands on.”
I can’t help but rib the brainiac further. “Was it worth it to now sound like your grandfather?”
“Hey, my grandpa is awesome. Did you know he wears an American flag Speedo to his senior water aerobics class?” He makes a face. “He does it to get a rise out of my grandma, but jokes on him, because she secretly loves it.” He shudders. “So yes, it was worth it. My fourteen-fifty score would agree.” He shoots me a self-satisfied smirk.
“Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, Mr. Highest Score in the class. I get it, you’re smart. Us average peasants bow down to you,” I joke, my eyes rolling.
“Dude, you got a twelve-ninety. That’s better than, like, ninety percent of the class, and at least you weren’t like Hads who had to take it twice,” he grimaces.
“True,” I agree.
“Okay, man, I’m gonna run. Ella and her parents are coming over for dinner tonight, and Dad asked me to grab some steaks on the way home.”
My jaw clenches. I hate that she’s getting time with him while I’m stuck here, choking on feelings I can’t admit out loud. I’m still a jealous bastard, and I don’t want her anywhere near Hud.
It’s not much, but the fact that they’ve been friends forever without crossing that line is the only thing keeping me sane.
“Alright, have fun.” I smile, trying to hide the green monster trying to break free.
He claps me on the back, then stands and wipes the back of his black shorts, drawing my eyes right where they shouldn’t be.
Fucking fuck.I’m in the second circle of Hell.
