Hudson suddenly doesn’t look quite so bold. He nods and follows her out of the water, and she throws a glare over her shoulder at me before disappearing inside with him.
I sigh and lean my head back against the acrylic headrest, eyes falling closed.
“Don’t worry about your friend,” someone slurs. “Heather’s just an attention seeker. She’ll lick her wounds, then find someone else to fawn over before the night’s over.”
I crack one eye open and scan the group. The guy who was flirting with Archer is grinning at me, so I assume he’s the one who spoke.
“Good to know,” I murmur.
“You just kissed my brother.” Hadley’s voice slices through the night, harsh and broken.
Yeah, I was waiting for that one. I straighten my spine and sit up, meeting her glare head-on.
“He kissed me, technically.”
“Why?”
“It was a dare. And in case you missed it, he’s drunk as shit. Nearly polished off that fifth of tequila by himself.”
She’s searching my face like she’s trying to find the truth buried beneath my skin, but before she can probe further, herattention snaps to the guy beside her.Hands,as I’ve dubbed him. He’s caressing her arm and nuzzling her ear.
“Come on, princess,” he mutters, low and eager. “All this making out and tit-flashing has made me horny.”
Hadley looks uncomfortable, hesitating just a moment before she climbs out of the hot tub, water trailing down her body as she follows him.
“You don’t have to go with him, Hads.”
She pauses mid-step, throwing her words over her shoulder. “Stop telling me what to do. We’re not together anymore, remember?” Her voice shakes.
My chest caves in a little, and I sink deeper into the hot, bubbling water. “Just… be careful.”
For a second, she just looks at me. There’s something sad in her eyes, something that twists in my gut. She gives a slight nod, then takeshand’shand and disappears into the house.
I hang for another minute before I’m done. The noise, the people, the fake laughs, it all grates. I climb out, grab a towel, and slip through the side entrance.
The house is quiet. Eerily so. The music is long gone, and the hallway feels too still. My instincts twitch.
I want to check on Hadley. The urge is persistent, but she’s free now to do whatever and whoever she wants. I’ve just always felt the need to protect the people I care about, and I don’t think that’ll ever go away. Hadley will always fall into that category, no matter how complicated things are.
I just want her to be smart and not do something out of revenge or some misguided need to rebound quickly.
Knowing I can’t do anything for Hadley, I go in search of Hud. I take the elevator to our floor and head down the hall to the room we are sharing. I push the door open, expecting emptiness.
What I get instead is Ella—screaming.
“You’regay, Hudson! The whole point of my being your cover is so peoplewon’tquestion it. Now everyone’s going to know! No one will believe I’m your girlfriend. I look like a fucking joke. What the hell is wrong with you?”
She lunges to slap him, hand arcing through the air, but I’m already moving. I bolt forward and catch her wrist before it can land.
“I’d seriously reconsider that,” I growl, shoving her hand away.
“You!” she snaps. “You just sat there and let him make a fool of himself. Some fucking friend you are. He’s gay, and you let him out himself!”
I feel Hudson press his forehead between my damp shoulder blades, his breath coming fast and shallow. I reach back on instinct, his hand latching onto mine. I pull his arm around me and press his palm to my chest, right over my heart.
Steady. Just breathe,I think to myself.
His breathing slows in an instant. The weight of his other arm wraps around my waist, pulling me tighter against him.
