“Oomph,” Cull grunts, clearly caught off guard.
My sister wraps her dainty arms around his neck and starts covering his face in kisses, blocking his view of the screen. I look away, my stomach twisting. It sucks watching her claim him like that.
“Hey, Culley!” she chirps, her voice so sweet it makes my teeth hurt.
Cullen doesn’t smile. “Hey, Hads. Thought you were out with your girls today.” His jaw tightens, a muscle flexing beneath his cheek.
She flips her hair over her shoulder, her blonde locks smacking Cull’s cheek. “Plans change, Culley.”
I fake a gag at the nickname. Cullen shoots me a glare, but I just grin.
“As much as I love seeing you, you should go. I’m hanging with Hud today.”
Her whole posture shifts, spine straightening, and hackles raised. “Why don’t you want to spend time with me?” she snaps. “I'm your girlfriend, for goodness’ sake! You’ve already had most of the afternoon with Hudson.”
Cullen tries to lift her off his lap, but she tightens down like a koala. He growls, clearly fed up.
“We went out last night, remember? But you had your bitch squad tag along.” He flinches the second it leaves his mouth. It's no secret that he isn't a fan of Hadley's friends, but calling thembitches?Yeah… cardinal sin.
Hadley stares at him, outraged. “Cullen Andrew Anderson!”
Oh, shit. She pulled out the full government name. Cull just dug his grave.Good luck, my dude. I sink into the couch, preparing to watch the shit show unfold.
Hadley shoves off Cullen's lap and slaps him hard across the face. The crack of her hand against his cheek is deafening in the otherwise silent room.
Cullen stares up at her, slack-jawed, hand to his cheek.
Hell, my chin is on the floor, too.
Did that really just happen?
Anger surges through me. I rise from the couch, ready to defend Cull, but Hadley cuts her sharp blue gaze my way and throws a hand up at me to stop. Her eyes say it all—do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars.
I sit, but stay perched on the edge, knee bouncing, that familiar static buzz growing beneath my skin.
“What the fuck, Hads! Are youcrazy?” Cullen explodes, breaking out of his shock.
Oh look. He thought his grave wasn’t deep enough. Even I know you never call a woman crazy.
“You disrespected my two best friends and then have the audacity to call me crazy?” she shrieks, voice climbing straight into headache territory.
I rip open a bag of Skittles, my unease needing an outlet. Anything to keep from clawing at the pinpricks on my skin. This isn’t even my circus or my monkeys, but waves of anxiety tighten my chest regardless.
The drama is overwhelming, so before someone throws something, I speak up.
“Ok, let’s all just settle down.” I toss the Skittles back down and stand, my hands up in a peacemaking gesture. “Hadley, I’m sure Cullen didn’t mean to call them bitches. And the ‘crazy’ thing was just… a poor choice of words. Heat of themoment, right, Cull?” I glance at him, silently begging him just to let it go.
“Of course I fucking meant it,” he snaps.
Jesus, man. No self-preservation instincts at all. I throw my hands up and fall back on the couch. So much for a chill Sunday.
Hadley is seething, arms crossed tight. “First, you blow me off. Then you insult my friends. Now me?” Her chin quivers, her famous crocodile tears brewing. Cullen drags his hands down his face like he already regrets this entire conversation.
“Hads,” he sighs out. “You had plans, so I made my own with Hud. It’s not like I don’t want to see you, but I’m not going to ditch my friend. And yeah… I shouldn’t have said what I did. I lost my temper. I’m sorry.”
He tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear, then pulls her into a hug, whispering something that makes her smile.
I scoff to myself. It’s always the same cycle. She manipulates, he gives in, and nothing ever changes.
