Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
Cullen
After nearly half an hour of searching, I found Hudson in the hot tub with Ella on his lap. He was already well and truly drunk, laughing and talking like he didn’t have a care in the world.
That girl, Heather, was perched on his other side, leaning across him to talk to Ella, who turned into a giggling mess anytime Heather said anything. I stayed in the shadow of the large outdoor fireplace, hoping to go unnoticed, but Archer caught me creeping and called me out.
Which is how I ended up in the human soup pot, wedged between Heather, who smells like roses and cheap vodka, and some guy who keeps side-eying Archer like he’s dessert. They’re sitting close together on the edge of the hot tub, having a quiet conversation, and Archer keeps blushing. Interesting.
Hudson won’t even glance my way, and everyone else is wrapped up in their own little worlds. I nudge his foot underwater with mine. He doesn't move at first, but then glances my way, cool and guarded. His eyes linger just long enough to tell me he’s not over it.
“I’m sorry,” I mouth, brushing my foot against his. I need the contact, and I need him to feel that I care, that I regret how I handled things. There were so many better ways I could’ve asked if he was okay.
Probably should’ve started with that. Hindsight, and all that.
But I’m learning.
He exhales, his smile small. The knot that’s been living in my chest loosens, and I can breathe again. I’ll talk to him properly later, but for now, it’s enough.
A few more people wander out from the house and settle around the edge of the tub.
Hadley and some guy she was flirting with earlier strip down to their swimsuits and slip into the last two open spots…
directly in front of me. They’re practically wrapped around each other.
And Hadley? She keeps glancing at me, watching to see if I’ll react.
Poor guy’s being played, and he doesn’t even know it. Or maybe he does and just doesn’t care, hoping to get laid and willing to play along if that’s the cost. I just hope Hads knows what she’s doing.
“Let’s play truth or dare,” Matt slurs from my right.
The group perks up, everyone excited, like this isn’t the exact kind of game that can get messy fast. I sigh and go with the crowd, silently praying no one calls on me.
“I’ll go first,” Hadley announces, voice calculating and sweet all at once. “Cullen…”
Damn. Should’ve seen that one coming.
“What?”
She rolls her eyes. “Truth or dare?”
I hesitate. I don’t trust her not to make me streak down the mountain or lick the side of the hot tub. “Truth,” I say, hoping it’s the safer play.
Her eyes light up.
That’s not a good sign.
“Is there anyone in this group you’d consider having sex with… besides me?”
Well, that’s not where I thought she was going, but it’s an easy answer.
“Yes.”
She shoots upright in the water, outraged. Her jaw drops, like she can’t believe I didn’t lie to protect her ego.
“Who?” she demands.
“It’s called truth or dare, Hadley. Not truth and explain yourself.” I shrug. “Now it’s my turn.”
She huffs and leans back against the dude she’s been hanging all over tonight. He pulls her closer like he doesn’t notice the tension dripping off her. Either he’s drunk, high, or just really oblivious.
I scan the group. Part of me wants to ask Ella if she’s rolling again, just to be a dick, but I’ve already pissed off Hudson once tonight. I’m not trying to double down.
I go for safer ground.
“Archer. Truth or dare?”
He pauses, eyes flicking to the guy beside him, then back to me. “Truth.”
I nod, then try to think of a question. You’d have to be blind not to notice the chemistry between him and the guy sitting next to him, but I don’t want to possibly out Archer. I’m just dying to know if anyone else in our group may be bi or guy-curious. I need to word this carefully.
“Have you found yourself unexpectedly attracted to someone here?”
His cheeks flush, but a small smile creeps in. “Yes. But the attraction wasn’t a surprise.”
Oh, that’s freaking awesome. He already knows who he is, but didn’t expect there would be someone here to pique his interest.
I shoot him a grin and a little wink, hoping he knows his secret is safe with me and there is zero judgment, just respect.
The game keeps circling, questions and dares getting bolder.
People are streaking around the house and downing mystery shots that smell like gasoline.
Someone actually dared Hadley’s guy to lick the hot tub.
Heather just finished flashing the group per her dare from Ella, then slinks right back to Hudson’s side like it’s her reward.
He’s the only one left who hasn’t gone yet, so it’s no surprise when Heather locks her gaze on him.
“Truth or dare?” she asks, her voice nauseatingly sweet.
Without missing a beat, Hudson says, “Dare.”
“I dare you to kiss either me or your BFF over there,” she slurs, thumb jabbing in my direction.
Her eyes are glossy from whatever she’s been drinking, but there’s something razor-edged gleaming underneath.
She thinks she’s being clever by cornering him.
As far as she knows, Hudson’s dating Ella, and is supposedly straight.
Hudson goes rigid. His color fades, and his eyes flick to mine, wide and uncertain, silently asking me what to do.
It’s too late to suggest he lie through a truth, so I give the tiniest tilt of my head toward Heather. She’s the obvious choice, and there will be less fallout.
“I don’t think that’s fair to Ella for me to do that at all,” he tries.
Nice try, except Ella already kissed Heather. Tongue and all without hesitation. She went in like it was her civic duty.
“It’s the rules of the game,” Heather slurs. “Besides, your girlfriend kissed me, and neither of you seemed to mind then.”
She’s not wrong. It’s going to suck watching him kiss her, but I know where his heart lives.
I just… don’t want to watch.
Hudson sighs. “You know what? Fuck it.”
Heather grins wide, licking her lips like she’s about to win something. Ella smirks too, like she’s in on the joke. Weird, considering she knows full well Hudson’s not into girls.
Hud moves fast. I turn my head, not wanting to bear witness to my boyfriend kissing that hot mess express—but then he grabs the back of my neck and crashes his mouth to mine.
I stall for just a split second, then I kiss him back. I pour everything into it, gratitude, relief, and all my affection. He could’ve taken the easy way out. Could’ve kissed Heather and kept our secret safe.
But Hudson doesn’t do betrayal. Even when I gave him permission.
The whole hot tub erupts with whistles and catcalls. There is a screeching “What the fuck?” somewhere nearby, but I ignore it
The kiss only lasts a few seconds, but it’s enough to wreck me in the best way.
Then someone’s yanking him away from me.
Ella.
She’s fuming, and Heather looks like she might break something. My neck, possibly.
“What the hell was that, Hudson?” Ella snaps. Her voice is sharp enough to slice marble, and she’s still got a death grip on his arm. My head’s spinning a little after kissing him like that in front of everyone, and I’m having a little trouble keeping up.
Hud just shrugs, sliding back into his seat like it’s no big deal. “Fulfilling a dare.”
“Why didn’t you kiss Heather like I did?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Figured Cullen’s mouth was cleaner.”
That earns a round of ohhhhhs from the peanut gallery, like we’ve suddenly entered a live taping of Jerry Springer.
Matt pipes in, unhelpfully. “You basically just kissed your sister.”
Hud frowns, and I cut Matt a look. He’s so drunk he can barely keep his eyes open.
I can feel Hadley’s burning eyes on me, but I don’t look at her. If I do, she’ll see the guilt I haven’t figured out how to hide. But not remorse. Never that. I’ll never regret anything with Hudson.
Heather stands so fast that water sloshes out of the tub, soaking the wooden deck.
“You’ll regret that, asshole,” she spits before climbing out and stomping back toward the house, dripping wet and furious.
Ella’s eyes are locked on Hudson, jaw clenched. “Can I have a word with you?” she grinds out, still clamped onto his arm.
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, her attention 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.”