Beautiful Collide (Saints Of Redville #3)

Chapter 12

12

Molly

Okay, maybe I’m an asshole, but I really couldn’t wait for him. He was fully on the other side of the parking lot. If I had stopped, I’d have been late, and Dane needed his tape.

I mean, granted, he probably could have borrowed tape from someone else, but whatever, Hudson doesn’t need to know that . . .

And the truth is, he deserves it.

He’s a menace. A cheater.

And the worst part is a piece of me bigger than I want to admit, secretly likes Hudson Wilde. There I said it, sue me. Maybe I don’t like him; perhaps I’m just jealous. I’m envious of the fact that he can be so unburdened by his past that he can have fun.

I wish I could be like that, and I find that every time I see him smile, I want to cry. Because deep down inside, I’m constantly pretending.

I pretend to be happy and put together when I’m a mess.

“Molly.” My brother’s voice is sharp and commanding.

I turn, finding Dane striding over to me with his usual no-nonsense expression. His brow is furrowed like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“What?” I ask, crossing my arms.

“I need a favor.” He stops in front of me.

My eyebrows rise. “Depends on what it is.”

“You won’t like it.”

“Dear brother, I’ll be fine. This is my job.”

Dane sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Now I’m intrigued.” I lean against the wall. “I’m not fired again, am I?”

He fixes me with a serious look. “I need you to go find Hudson and let him in. Apparently, he got himself locked out.”

Shit.

My stomach twists, but I force myself to stay calm. If Dane found out this was my fault . . . well, let’s just say it wouldn’t end well.

Well, that’s if I let him fire me.

I wrinkle my nose, hoping to cover the flicker of guilt. “Why me?”

“Let’s be honest.” His voice dips. “He’s probably wandering around outside like an idiot, and someone needs to let him in before Coach notices.”

“That didn’t answer my question.” I narrow my eyes. “Why me?”

“Because I asked you,” he says flatly, giving me that familiar older brother glare that says he won’t take no for an answer. “And because you’re fired if you don’t.”

“You don’t pay me enough.” I push off the wall.

Dane smirks. “Don’t I know it.”

With a long-drawn-out exhale, I turn to walk back to the arena’s exit.

It’s like a maze to get here, through long hallways, but apparently, rescuing Hudson is now my job.

He’s rescued you.

I make my way to the side entrance, glancing outside the large windows. It’s a beautiful day, so different from last year.

Don’t think about last year, girl.

Too late.

My cheeks feel warm. Dammit. Why did he have to be so talented with his . . . ?

Nope.

Not going there.

Do not think about Hudson and how skilled he was. Of his touch.

Think of something else.

Dirty sock.

Chest hair.

A mullet.

Much better.

When I’m standing in front of the door, I push it open and head outside. I start to walk a few feet when I see a crowd of people. They look like they’re having fun, all laughing and milling about.

One day, maybe I’ll have that.

But for real, not just hanging with the team and pretending.

I pass the group, and as soon as I do, I spot him.

Hudson is pacing, his head tilted down, typing on his phone.

No one else notices him, which makes sense since his hoodie is pulled up. He doesn’t look like a star hockey player.

He looks more like a sulky teen.

One who’s been grounded and can’t go to the party of the century. I’m about to get him when a group of people crosses my path.

The man in the group makes my stomach flip. At first, I think my mind is playing tricks on me. It has to be, right? There’s no way he’s here. But as I blink and stare harder, the figure becomes unmistakable.

It can’t be him .

I tilt my head down. Don’t see me. Please don’t see me.

My chest tightens, and the air seems to grow heavier around me. The walls feel like they’re closing in, and I instinctively back up into the corner of the lobby. He’s here. He’s really here.

My first instinct is to run, but my legs won’t move. My second is to hide, but he’s already walking this way, his eyes scanning the crowd.

Oh my God.

A group of teenage girls near the entrance are chatting loudly, and suddenly, I have an idea. A terrible, wonderful, reckless idea.

“It’s Hudson Wilde!” I yell, my voice cutting through the noise.

Every head in the area snaps in my direction, and before I can think twice, I point toward the doors where Hudson stands, blissfully unaware of what’s about to happen.

“It’s Hudson Wilde!” I yell again, louder this time, and the crowd of girls erupts like I’ve thrown gasoline on a fire.

They don’t hesitate.

In seconds, they’re stampeding toward him, squealing his name and waving their phones in the air.

Hudson’s head jerks up, his expression going from relaxed to panicked in a heartbeat. “What the—”

“Hudson! Hudson, over here!” one of the girls yells, and the rest of the group surges forward, their excitement turning into a full-blown mob.

I press myself further into the corner, watching the crowd swallow Hudson. A wave of guilt flickers through me, but it’s quickly smothered by relief because he is nowhere to be seen.

Five minutes later, the entrance doors fly open, and Coach Robert storms outside with two members of the team’s security staff in tow.

“Wilde!” he bellows, his voice loud enough to make everyone freeze.

The mob parts just enough for me to see Hudson, who looks thoroughly disheveled and more than a little pissed.

“Coach, I didn’t—” Hudson starts, but Coach cuts him off.

“I don’t want to hear it! Get inside, now!”

That isn’t at all what I wanted to happen. I just wanted to be left alone.

Hudson glares at the crowd of girls, his gaze darting around like he’s searching for the person who caused this chaos.

I duck further into the shadows, holding my breath.

As the doors close behind Hudson and the security team, I finally exhale, my pulse still racing. He’s gone, and for the first time since I spotted him, I feel like I can breathe again.

I glance toward the entrance one last time before slipping away, my heart heavy with guilt. I owe Hudson for this. Big time.

But for now, I’m just grateful to be safe.