“Yay!” She squeals and claps her hands.
“But,” I interrupt, giving her a serious look. “I have some ground rules.”
“Of course. Lay them on me.” She’s practically vibrating with excitement.
“I’m okay with holding hands or hugging in front of everyone, but not in excess. And nothing further. No kissing, except on the cheek, and no getting touchy-feely like Hadley and Cull.” I almost choke on his name.
My heart squeezes, but I ignore it.
Ella’s jaw tenses before she smiles and salutes me. “I can do that.”
I chuckle, her enthusiasm infectious.
“So… I guess I’ll tell my mom everything went great tonight?” Ella asks.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll have to tell my mom the same.”
“This will be great. Just wait and see, Hudson.” She leans over the console and wraps her small arms tightly around my neck. I return the hug, more out of reflex than anything.
She climbs out of the Bronco and heads up to her door. Once she’s inside, I shift into drive and start toward home.
Anxiety settles in my bones, and I try to breathe through it. A little voice in the back of my mind keeps whispering that this is a bad idea, but I shove it into a box and lock it tight. At least it’ll get my mom off my back, but I can already feel the fallout coming with Cullen. He’s still pissed I wasn’t honest about the date, and now I’ve got more lies to juggle.
But at this point, what’s one more?
Eleven
Cullen
I turn away from the ocean-blue eyes that have been starring in my dreams lately and lead Hadley out to my truck. I feel sick. Not because Hudson’s on a date with Ella, but because I thought I could make him jealous by rubbing his sister in his face.
I’m so stupid.
I’m sure he’s immune to it by now. It’s not like he hasn’t had to sit and witness Hadley and me make out for the past three years.
What is he even supposed to be jealous of? His sister?
That’s laughable.
There’s still some lingering anger from earlier today that fueled my immature move.
And a whole lot of jealousy.
If it were any other girl, I’d be so damn happy for Hudson. He deserves to do all the teenage relationship stuff I’ve been doing for years. The stuff he’s put off for one reason or another. But there is something about Ella, and the fact that she literally wedged herself between us today, that had me seeing red.
What stings most is that he didn’t tell me about the date.
The only thing I can’t figure out is why he’s been so pissed off this week.
My mix of emotions is heavy, and I just want to drop Hadley off so I can go home and relax. Maybe wallow in my misery a bit.
“Culley, are you even listening to me?”
I tune back into Hadley sitting in the passenger seat, arms crossed and scowling. I glance outside and realize we’re already in her driveway.
Damn. I must’ve really been in la-la land not to remember getting us here.
“I’m sorry, I zoned out for a sec. What did you say?”
