“I forgive you, Culley,” she croons, leaning into Cullen. “Why don’t you come to my room and show me how sorry you are?”
Gross.
Cullen pulls back, ignoring her come-on. “And you’re sorry for...?”
She stiffens. “I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong. Keep acting like an ass, and it’ll be just you and your right hand for the foreseeable future.”
I'd offer him a hand. Or a mouth.If only.
She tosses her hair and storms out. A door slams upstairs, silence settling like dust. Cullen sinks into the bean bag chair, sighs, and runs a hand through his hair.
“You okay, dude?” I ask, softly.
“Yeah,” he mutters. He grabs the controller and presses start.
I stare at the screen, not seeing anything. Hadley doesn’t know what she has, and Cullen doesn’t realize what he deserves. Something’s gotta give. I just hope it happens soon.
***
Cullen
“Well, that's four games in a row that you’ve annihilated me. I deserve pizza for the trauma you inflicted,” Hud gripes, tossing his controller on the coffee table.
I snort and toss my own controller down next to his. We managed to enjoy the rest of the afternoon Hadley-free, but I wasn’t able to focus much. My mind is a swirling clusterfuck of thoughts.
“Fine. I can wine and dine the shit out of you, just don't ask for any late-night sexual favors to end the date,” I quip, making myself chuckle.
Hudson tenses, his cheeks turning bright red.
“Chill, man. It was a joke.”
He visibly relaxes. “Well, you’re missing out on what would be one hell of a BJ, but since cock isn't my favorite flavor, I'd say you’re safe from any unwanted advances.” He waggles his blonde eyebrows playfully and turns away from me, folding a blanket to throw back over the couch where he dragged it from.
I wonder what head from Hud would feel like.
The thought hits out of nowhere, and my eyebrows lift before I can stop them.
Well, that was… unexpected.
I give myself a little shake and turn away, reaching for a soda can like the idea of my best friend blowing me didn’t just float through my brain uninvited.
The fight with Hadley takes its place. Lately, things have been tense, with so much push and pull that it makes my head spin. With Hud, it’s easy. Effortless. A stark contrast to how Hadley and I revolve around each other.
Half the time, I don’t know why she keeps me around. Or why I stay.
We finish cleaning our mess, then head into the foyer to grab our shoes for dinner. I glance up the stairs toward Hadley's room, a flicker of guilt crawling in.
“Hey man, I'm going to run up and check on Hads, try and smooth things over a little more. Give me five minutes.” I’m already halfway up the wooden staircase.
“Keep it in your pants so five doesn't turn into twenty. I’m starving.”
I wink at him. “No promises.”
“Just… hurry.” His voice is tight, clipped.
Hudson makes a weird face, something I can’t quite read, but it’s gone before I can make sense of it. He’s still a virgin, and I know sex talk makes him uneasy sometimes. Well, sex talk when it involves his sister, at least.
“Yes, mom,” I grumble, sarcasm dripping from my tone.
