Hadley leans over to kiss his cheek, and Mom blows me a kiss as we pull out of the driveway.
We arrive at Ella’s house just a few minutes later. She’s already on the front steps, luggage beside her like she’s been waiting for hours. I hardly have time to open my door before she’s swinging open the tailgate and struggling to get her massive rolling suitcase over the bumper.
“Need some help?”
“No, I want to stand here and struggle,” she snaps, eyes rolling.
“You’re the one who flew out here like the house was on fire,” I mutter.
“Sorry. Mornings suck.” She plasters on a big grin.
“I get it. Watch out,” I direct, bumping her hip. I lift the suitcase, fitting it beside Hadley’s. I reach for her overnight bag, but she tosses it in herself. She goes around the side of the bronco and slides in the backseat.
Hadley and Ella are already chatting about lake plans when I climb back into the car, ignoring my presence as I drive us over to Cull’s house. When I pull into his driveway, Hadley nearly blows a gasket.
“What are we doing here? Hudson, you did not tell me he was riding with us. I refuse to be anywhere near that asshole!”
“It was your idea for us all to ride together,” I remind her calmly.
“That wasbeforeI got dumped. You should’ve told him he needed to drive himself. Do not let him in this car.”
“Hadley,” I drawl, trying to hold my eye roll, “get over yourself. It’s ten minutes to the diner. Ride with your girls after that. You’ll survive just a few minutes in the same car.”
I don’t give her time to retort, hopping out of the Bronco and bounding up Cullen’s front steps. The door swings open after I ring the bell, revealing a familiar pair of eyes in a softer face. “Morning, Mrs. Eliza.” I lean in for a tight hug, which she returns happily.
“Morning, sweetie. He’ll be down in a minute. Left most of his packing for this morning,” she grouses with a roll of her eyes.
I chuckle. “That sounds like Cull. Does he need help?”
“He might. Go light a fire under his butt. I couldn’t get him to move faster than a snail.”
I flash her a smile and jog up the stairs two at a time. His bedroom door is open, so I stop in the doorway to admire the view.
The view that’s officially mine now.
Cull’s got his back to me, bare and criminally beautiful, muscles flexing as he crams clothes into a black duffel. My heart thunders in my chest.
I clear my throat. He jumps, letting out a startled yip before spinning around.
“Holy crap, I didn’t hear you come up.”
“Didn’t mean to scare you.”
He looks past me toward the hallway and smirks. With two fingers, he motions to me. “Come here.”
I cross the room, and he grabs my hand, tugging me into his ensuite bathroom. Before I can utter a word, he pins me roughly to the wall, knocking an “oof” out of me, then crashes his lips to mine.
It’s hot and hungry, making me weak in the knees.
I kiss him back, grinning into it. I’ve wanted this exact moment every second since I was thirteen, and I can’t believe I get to finally have it.
This still feels like a fever dream.
I grip his hips to steady myself, lightheaded from the way kissing him makes everything else vanish.
He pulls back just enough to smile. “I’ve been dying to do that again.”
“I’ve been dying for you to do it again.”
