Chapter Thirty-Five
Thirty-Five
Hudson
It’s been a rough twenty-four hours since we got outed in the lunch room, mainly because Hadley switches between ignoring me and throwing insults.
Honestly, I can’t blame her. I don’t know what I expected to happen when she found out about Cull and me.
Maybe some yelling, or a dramatic door slam, but I guess I was naive enough to think she’d sit down and talk it out.
I’m such a fucking idiot.
If I put myself in her shoes, I’m not sure I’d react much differently.
The tension in our house is so thick, I don’t think even a machete could cut through it. We’re all just moving around each other, making bland small talk to smother the awkward silence.
Cull’s truck is going to the mechanic today to have something checked out, so I told him I’d pick him up for school. I made the mistake of saying that out loud. Hadley blew a gasket, calling me a boyfriend thief and a son-of-a-bitch.
When Mom tried to reprimand her, Hadley went in on Mom, screaming about betraying her. She stomped out of the house, crying and shouting her regret for not staying at Maggie’s like she originally planned.
But not before she said I made her sick.
I tried to apologize to my parents for the mess I’ve made, but they were quick to shut it down.
They said this isn’t ideal, but it’s going to be okay.
That, as unfair as this is for Hadley, it would’ve been just as unfair to Cull and me to keep our relationship a secret. Someone was always going to get hurt.
Still doesn’t take away the guilt.
I’m just finishing up the last exam of my high school career when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Thankfully, Mr. Bowman gave us permission to slip out once we turned in our AP Chem final. I quietly shut the door behind me and slide out my phone.
I pull up my text thread with Cull and shoot off a message.
ME: Officially done! Bowman let us leave once we finished. I’ll be waiting in the Bronco.
I doubt he’ll respond right away, so I swing by my locker to clean it out. Next week is all senior celebrations, so I won’t need my notebooks, and I just need to return a couple of textbooks to teachers.
I toss the books I don’t need into my backpack, slam my locker shut, and head out to the parking lot. As I fiddle with my key fob, my phone buzzes again. I slide into the driver’s seat, crank the A/C, and check the other messages.
Three texts. All from the same unknown number.
UNKNOWN: One down. One to go.
UNKNOWN: We’ll be together soon.
My stomach drops.
I’ve never responded before, but this time my thumbs move before I can stop them.
ME: Who is this?
UNKNOWN: You’d know if you’d just SEE me.
See them? How am I supposed to see them if I have no clue who it is?
ME: Please leave us alone.
UNKNOWN: Not until you’re mine.
I nearly drop my phone when there’s a knock on my window.
Heart still racing, I turn and see Ella standing there.
I haven’t seen her all day, and I just assumed she was avoiding me because of our phone call last night.
Sleep was hardly a thing because I felt like shit for flaking on Ella.
Not to mention, she was outed just as much as Cull and I were.
We never talked about telling everyone we broke up, just letting it quietly die out.
I should have made sure she was okay, but as usual, I was blinded by my own shit.
Opening the door, I climb out of my Bronco and wait for what may be another verbal lashing, but she surprises me.
“I’m sorry,” she rushes out. “I was running off anger and hurt last night. It was a bigger deal for you and Cull, what happened, and it was wrong of me to make it about myself.”
We both exhale our relief, and I pull her into a strong hug.
“I feel like I’m losing my best friend,” she mumbles into my chest, her arms tight around my waist. “I’m happy for you and Cullen, I swear. But I also feel like I’m going to be forgotten. Please don’t forget about me.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing, Ella,” I admit, speaking into her dark hair.
“I’ve never been in a relationship before.
I won’t lie, Cull kind of blinds me sometimes.
I’ve wanted him for so long that now that I have him, it’s hard to see anything else.
But I’ll try to be better, if you can be patient with me while I figure it all out. ”
She hugs me tighter. “Deal.”
We pull apart, and I feel lighter. One less person mad at me. “How’d your calculus exam go? You finished fast if you’re already out here.”
She steps to the side and leans against my SUV. “It wasn’t too bad. A couple of equations went over my head, but I think I did alright.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you last night.” Remorse about it is still churning in my stomach.
“It’s okay. We’re done now, right?”
“Hell yes. Matt is throwing a party tonight. Want to come with Cull and me?”
She smiles sheepishly and shakes her head. “I’m going to go with Hadley…”
Guess Hadley is over Ella’s part in all of this. That gives me some relief. “That’s fine. I’m glad she’s not mad at you for this mess I’ve made.”
The bell rings, signaling the end of the day. Students start pouring out of the building, buzzing for the weekend.
“Yeah. Anyway,” Ella says, “I saw you in your car and just wanted to apologize. I know I can get a little crazy sometimes.”
I want to tell her it must be a double X chromosome trait, but I’m smart enough to keep my mouth shut. “Don’t apologize for your feelings. I’ll do better.”
“Hey, guys.” Cullen’s voice cuts in, approaching with a stormy look on his face, Matt and Archer walking with him.
“I’m gonna go. See you tonight.” Ella cuts a look at Cullen, then hurries to her car.
“Ella’s weird, dude. I can’t believe you fake dated her,” Matt jokes, watching Ella walk away.
Archer nudges him in the ribs. “That was harsh dude.”
Matt opens his mouth to retort but Cullen yanks open the door and slides into my passenger seat, derailing whatever he was going to say.
“We’ll see you guys tonight,” Archer says, yanking Matt away.
“Everything alright? Exam not go well?” I ask, getting behind the wheel.
“Test was easy,” he mutters. “But I got a text from my dad. The mechanic told him it looks like someone tried to cut my brake lines, and they don’t know how I’ve not gone careening into traffic. I’m glad I took that text seriously and had my truck looked at.”
My heart drops out of my ass. “What? I thought you just needed some basic maintenance.”
He pulls out his phone and shows me a text that the unknown number sent him last night.
It’s a clear threat.
They’re going after the ones I love.
“This is getting out of control.” I hand Cull my phone so he can see my messages, too. As much as I want to delete them so he will never see them, I promised I’d be more transparent.
“My dad is filing a police report and having a camera installed in my truck. It’s pricey, but it'll record even when the truck is off.”
That helps settle some of the fear and anxiety swirling inside me. I breathe easier as I pull out of the parking lot and head for Cull’s place.
“There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about now that we aren’t at school.” He’s popping his knuckles, knee bouncing.
“Alright.”
“So, after I got home last night, my dad brought up taking me to the gun range. He wants me to learn how to use a handgun.”
“Why?” I ask. It’s not like we’re strangers to guns. We live in the South, and here, owning one is practically a personality trait. Cull and I both hunt with our Dads. For Dad and me, it’s more for bonding than bagging a buck, but if we do, we break it down and put the meat in the deep freezer.
“He wants me to be prepared… in case things escalate.”
I pull up to his house and kill the engine. “They already have,” I sigh.
“Yeah, unfortunately. He wants me to be able to take care of myself, and you if the need arises, and I can’t say I disagree.”
“If it helps ease your mind, I’m all for it.”
He exhales, his body relaxing.
“Did you think I’d be against it? It’s not like we’ve never handled a gun before.”
“I know. I just wanted you to understand the reason.”
I don’t like it, but this is the reality we are facing.
“My hero,” I tease, gripping his chin and pulling him into a kiss.
“Want to come in?” he asks against my lips.
“I’d like to come in something, yes.”
He snorts a laugh. “And you say I’m the dirty one.”
“I’ve learned from the best.” We’re both reaching for the door handles when his mom pulls into the driveway.
“Cockblocked again,” he groans, schooling his face into a pleasant smile, watching as Mrs. Eliza climbs out with grocery bags.
“Judging your expression, you were either up to trouble or about to be. Which is it?” she asks, rounding the car.
“What makes you think I was getting into trouble?” Cull deflects, taking the bags from her hands. I remember my manners and grab a couple, too.
“Please. I’m your mother. You’ve had the same guilty face since you were three and got caught sneaking cookies from the pantry.”
We file through the door and into the kitchen. Cullen drops the bags on the white marble countertop and leans against the gray cabinets, arms crossed. “Well, I’m eighteen now,” he declares with a smirk. “Ask questions like that, and you might get more of an answer than you want.”
Mrs. Eliza laughs, cheeks coloring. Cullen’s family has always been more open than mine, especially when it comes to sex. My parents are great, but stuff like this? Definitely not dinner table material.
“Well, I’m home now.” She smiles, pointing a finger between us. “So no hanky panky.”
“Yeah, don’t worry,” Cullen mutters.
“I’m gonna go. I’ll pick you up around eight.” I give him a quick kiss, still getting used to the fact that our parents can see us like this, and head back to my car.
But as I drive home, anxiety creeps back in. The idea that things might escalate to the point Cullen would have to use a gun rattles me to my core.
Even if someone’s been harassing us, I don’t want anyone getting hurt—especially not killed. And if it ever came to that? If someone made Cullen feel like he had no choice?
I’d rather take myself out of the equation than let him carry that kind of weight.
I’ll protect Cull above everything.
Even if that means being the one who has to go.