Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
Cullen
The last few days have been amazing. We’ve been out on the boat, swimming, or going to the west side where you can rent jet skis or go parasailing. By the time night rolls around, we’re crashing into bed sunburned and exhausted, only to wake up ready to do it all again.
But my nights? They belong to Hudson.
No matter how tired we are, we take time for each other and our “research” as we’ve named it.
Mostly, it’s us fumbling our way through the steep learning curve, but the lessons have been fun nonetheless.
And Hud is a quick study. He has learned how to make my body sing.
But what comes after is truly my favorite—lying in the dark, just talking.
I thought I already knew everything about Hud.
We’ve been best friends forever, but he’s been letting me in deeper, letting me into parts he usually hides.
He’s always worried he’s too much, that he’s a burden to his family—and now to me.
I’ve had to stop him from apologizing more than once.
I tell him every time that his brain isn’t broken.
It’s beautiful.
With everything I’ve learned and experienced this week with Hud, one thing has become abundantly clear.
I’ve fallen for him—hard and fast.
I already loved him as my best friend. It was a solid, unshakeable bond.
But this? This love is something else entirely.
It’s in my bloodstream. It makes the world brighter, more alive.
That’s what Hudson does, he turns everything to color.
He pulled me out of the gray numbness I didn’t even realize I was living in.
So, yeah. I love Hudson. That’s for damn sure.
Hud steps out of the bathroom, drawing my eyes to the towel slung low on his hips. His skin is still damp, and his glowing golden tan is making my throat go dry. His deeply cut V lines point like an arrow to the prize that’s all for me.
He stops at the small table, digging through his suitcase, unaware of the effect he’s having on me. I walk up behind him, close enough to feel the heat radiating off his skin.
“You can’t walk around the bedroom looking like that,” I growl into the crook of his neck.
“Dirty things will happen.” I nip where his neck meets his shoulder.
He shivers, then tilts his head to the side, an invitation I’m more than happy to take.
I drag my tongue along his warm skin, sucking and leaving my mark.
“I forgot to grab clothes before I went in,” he rasps.
“Uh huh. Likely story.”
I trace my finger along the edge of his towel, finding the spot where it’s tucked. I tug, unhurried, until the towel slips to the floor. His cock bounces free, and I don’t waste a second. I turn him to face me and sink to my knees on the soft carpet.
My mouth gets the smallest taste of his soft skin before the most annoying voice in the entire house blasts through the bedroom speakers.
“Hudson, everyone will be here soon. I’m tired of waiting for you to come down.”
Fucking Ella.
I drop my head onto Hudson’s thigh with a groan. It’s like she has a sixth sense for when we’re about to get busy. This has to be at least the fifth time she’s cockblocked us.
Hudson growls, then snatches the towel off the floor. He wraps it around his waist and stomps over to the intercom, slamming the call button.
“What do you want, Ella? I just got out of the shower.”
He’s not even trying to hide his irritation, and I don’t blame him. I was ready to have an afternoon Hudson snack, and now I’ll have to wait until late tonight.
I’m ravenous for him, so the wait is going to suck.
“I already told you,” she snaps. “That group from the lake will be here soon, and I’m tired of watching Matt and Katie dry-hump on the couch. Let me in.”
Right. The party.
We invited a group that we met out on the lake yesterday. We’d pulled our boats up to a floating restaurant, started talking, and hit it off. It didn’t take long before we were making plans to hang out again.
Hudson grunts and stomps over to the bedroom door and yanks it open. From the floor, I can see Ella standing just outside, eyes instantly locking on me.
“What are you doing down there, Cullen?” she asks, voice clipped and suspicious. Her gaze darts from me to the towel clinging to Hud’s hips, then back to me.
“I dropped something,” I lie smoothly, pretending to search the carpet.
I make a show of looking under the dresser, thanking the heavens when I spot a pen and snag it.
I get up from the carpet, showing her what I found.
“Oh, Okay.” Her chipper sing-song voice sets my teeth on edge, but I keep my cool.
She strolls in, completely disregarding the lack of invitation, and flops down on our unmade bed with a dramatic sigh.
“Ugh, this mattress is way better than the brick I’ve been sleeping on all week.”
Hudson grits his teeth, nostrils flaring at her intrusion. “Ella, I didn’t say you could come in. Please leave so I can get dressed. I’ll be down in a few.” His jaw is tight, molars grinding, trying not to yell at her.
He’s always had this big brother-type relationship with Ella, and he feels obligated to make sure she is included and having fun. But right now, it looks like he regrets every bit of it.
“Just let me hang for a few minutes,” she says, picking up a sweaty t-shirt from the bed and tossing it on the floor, her nose scrunched. Pretty sure that has old cum on it. I smirk.
“It’s awkward down there. Hadley’s sweet, but the rest of the girls are still the same twats they’ve always been, and the guys are ignoring me like I’m invisible.” She looks up at him with big, pleading eyes.
I already know he’s going to cave before he even opens his mouth. “Fine. But stay put and don’t go snooping.”
She smiles wide and sprawls out across the bed.
I don’t want to stay and be forced into an awkward conversation with Ella, so I decide to head down.
“I’m gonna go on down, see if everything’s ready.”
Hudson doesn’t answer. He just grabs the clothes he picked out before I mauled him and stalks into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
I turn to leave, but Ella’s voice cuts through the air behind me.
“Hadley’s really excited about that guy coming to the party. She’s bragging about getting laid by a college guy tonight.”
I stop cold and turn on my heel. “Why the hell would I want to know that?”
She shrugs, picking at the chipped pink polish on her fingers like we’re talking about the weather. “Just thought you’d want to know she’s moved on. I heard that girl Heather was eyeing you up earlier, maybe you should do the same. There’s no one else here for you, Cullen.”
“I’m good, thanks.”
She just hums and continues chipping away at her nails. I turn on my heel and walk out the door.
The thumping music grows from the surround sound speakers as I make my way down to the living room. The smell of greasy pizza hits me next, then the sight of liquor bottles lined up on the counter. Katie’s cousin hooked us up with enough alcohol to drown a small army.
Speaking of Katie, she and Matt are fully dry-humping on the couch like no one else is here. I walk over and knock Matt’s foot off the coffee table, which causes Katie to tumble off his lap and onto the floor. Oops.
“Yo, take it behind closed doors.”
Matt hops up and grinds his teeth, before plastering on a smile. He adjusts his boner, and shoots me a wink. “Sorry, bro. Got carried away.” He reaches down to help Katie up, who glares at me. I roll my eyes and head to the kitchen.
I don’t know what’s got me so on edge tonight, but something feels off. Maybe inviting strangers we’ve known for all of twenty-four hours wasn’t our best idea.
Grabbing the first open liquor bottle I see, I take a long pull straight from it without even checking the label. The hairspray burn that hits my throat confirms it’s cheap vodka, but it does its job, loosening the tension in my chest instantly.
“No shot glass?”
I fumble the bottle as a sing-song voice materializes in the kitchen.
I glance up to see one of the girls we invited smiling wide in a vampire red, skintight mini dress.
Her light brown hair is pulled into a tight ponytail, with minimal makeup except for a bold red lip.
She’s pretty, and in another life, I’d be interested.
But the only person I want is upstairs.
Doesn’t mean I can’t be polite, though.
I smile, then look down at the vodka bottle still in my hand. “Just taking one shot. Didn’t want to mess up a glass for that.”
I offer her the bottle and nudge a clean glass in her direction. Her hazel eyes sparkle as she drinks straight from the bottle like I just did.
“No need to mess up a glass, right?” She lifts a flirty eyebrow.
I huff out a small laugh. She sets the bottle down and holds out her hand to me. I glance at her small fingers, then give her a quick shake.
“I’m Heather.”
Ah. So this is who Ella was talking about. I’ve seen her the past couple of days while our groups mingled, but we haven’t spoken until now.
“Cullen,” I reply.
“You’re cute, Cullen. Here with anyone?”
Ah, shit. Wasn’t expecting her to be so bold right out of the gate. I can’t exactly tell her my boyfriend’s upstairs, so I go with the next best truth I have.
“Does my ex-girlfriend count?”
“You came here with your ex?” she asks, cocking her head to the side.
“Not like that. Her twin brother’s my best friend, so technically, I came with him. This is their grandparents’ lake house.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes sparkle. “Are you heartbroken, Cullen?”
She slinks around the counter, fingers trailing lightly across the marble surface. She stops just inches away from me, then draws a single finger up my sternum. I instinctively step back and give her an apologetic look.
“Yeah. We just broke up last weekend. I’m not ready to be with anyone else.”
“That’s too bad. You look like you’d be fun,” she remarks, eyeing me up and down. “Is your best friend single?”
I work hard to keep my reaction off my face. I want to scream that he’s mine, but that would open a door that I can’t walk through yet. I’m suddenly begrudgingly grateful that Hudson has a cover in Ella.
“No. He’s here with his girlfriend.”
“You don’t like her,” she says matter-of-factly.
“How can you tell?”
“The scowl on your face speaks volumes.”
So much for hiding how I feel. “I’m just protective.”
She gives me an assessing look but doesn’t push it further.
Footsteps creak nearby. Hudson rounds the corner with Ella right on his heels. Heather’s attention shifts from me to him, and I see a gleam spark in her eyes.
Oh, hell no.
“Hey guys, this is Heather. Heather, this is my best friend, Hudson, and his girlfriend, Ella,” I announce, so this chick knows to back the fuck up.
Hudson gives her a tight smile and a nod.
“Hi,” Ella chirps, linking her arm through Hudson’s, her grin wide.
“Aren’t you two an odd couple?” Heather’s eyes flick between them, a sly smile on her face. “If either of you boys wants a good time later, come find me. I’m great at sharing.”
She saunters off, hips swaying, joining a few people from her own group.
“She seems… nice?” Hudson’s voice is dry, amused, and it has me cracking up.
Ella isn’t impressed, scoffing. “She’s a slut.”
She scans her eyes over the bottles of alcohol. “Where’s the vodka?”
She peels herself off Hudson and begins rifling through the bottles on the counter.
After a few seconds, she finds what she wants and pours a heavy splash into a red Solo cup, adds a dash of orange juice, then downs it like it’s water.
Without missing a beat, she fills the cup again and disappears into the crowd.
“Seriously, Hud. What’s her deal?” I look him in the eyes. His gaze is unfocused, lids heavy. I make sure we’re alone before stepping closer. “Are you high?” I try to whisper, but it comes out harsher than I mean it to.
He flinches and steps back like I slapped him.
Shit. That stings. I move toward him, but he holds up a hand, stopping me cold, his face etched with hurt.
“I was anxious and on edge,” he snarls, low. “So, I took one of the prescribed medications your dad gave me, but thanks for assuming the worst.”
“Hud—”
“Lay off of Ella,” he snaps. “Stop acting like she’s going to have me snorting lines.”
“That’s not—”
“Then what is it, Cullen?”
Fuck.
I don’t want to fight, so I swallow hard and discreetly take his hand. “I’m sorry. It didn’t occur to me that you’d need your meds.”
He shakes his head, still upset with my accusation, and snatches an open bottle of tequila off the counter. Walking over to where Ella is sitting on the couch, he drops down beside her, slinging an arm over her shoulders. She snuggles into him, her hand landing high on his thigh.
He doesn’t move it. Just chugs.
Matt plops down next to him, Katie on his lap, and starts talking animatedly to the group.
Heather is standing near the fireplace, eyes locked on Hudson like a predator. I made it clear he was off-limits, but she clearly doesn’t give a single fuck.
I’ve resigned myself to staying sober tonight.
Someone has to make sure Hudson doesn’t end up face-down in the lake.
He seems determined to get trashed, and I’m powerless to stop him.
All I can do is watch from a distance and hope that, come morning, we can talk about what happened here in the kitchen.
I’m a crap friend, and an even shittier boyfriend for questioning him the way I did. He hates being treated like he can’t handle his shit, and I basically jumped on him for doing what he needed to stay calm and present.
It dawns on me that I don’t think I’ve ever seen Hudson take one of his pills, and if that’s the case, what if that is why he was so trashed at Katie’s party? Can’t imagine his pills mix too well with alcohol.
The urgency to fix what I just fucked up hits me like a Mack truck. I head toward the couch where he and Ella were sitting, only to find they’re both gone.
And so is Heather.