Chapter 40
Forty
Cullen
I don’t know how many more blows Hudson can take.
When we got to the cabin, Hudson went straight to a bedroom and locked himself inside.
He wouldn’t even let me in. I stood in the hallway begging, pleading for him to just open the door.
Mom had to pull me away, telling me that sometimes we just have to let people deal with things on their own.
His uncle laid out the case details and was encouraged when Hud’s grandparents told him about the house cameras. They made copies to take back to the police station the next morning.
It’s been a few days since the arrest, and Hudson’s been pretending he’s fine.
But I know better. His voice is monotone when he speaks, and he walks around like a zombie.
Last night, I watched him take two of his anxiety pills at once.
My stomach twisted, but I bit my tongue.
I know he’s going through hell, and I don’t want to lecture him on how to cope, but that dosage definitely isn’t good.
I’m hoping I can coax him out of the house today and take him for lunch. He didn’t answer when I called, so I’m driving over to make sure he’s alright.
When I pull up, there’s a car I don’t recognize in the driveway. With my usual spot taken, I slide up to the curb and kill the engine. As I step out of the truck, I hear heated shouting inside the house.
What now?
I don’t bother knocking. I head inside and follow the noise to the living room. Ella and her parents are in a full-on screaming match. Hudson’s parents just stand there, stunned, angry, and hurt.
But all I can focus on is Hud, slumped in the recliner, hands clasped, staring blankly ahead. Tear tracks glisten on his cheeks, and his eyes are vacant, like he’s not even here.
“What kind of sick game are you playing at? Why would you let your rapist of a son roam around in public?” Ella’s mom shrieks.
“This is Hudson, Amy. You know he would never force himself on anyone. Just stop and think for a second!”
Amy scoffs, stepping forward to jab a manicured finger at Mrs. Nora. “Oh, I am thinking. I’m thinking about how you pushed him into a date with my daughter and how it could’ve been Ella instead of that poor girl.”
“Hudson hasn’t assaulted anyone, and you know it!” Mrs. Nora yells back at her.
“Don’t raise your voice at my wife,” Ella’s dad barks.
Mr. Daniels moves between them like a wall and snarls. “Back off, Isaac.”
What the hell did I just walk into?
“It’s always the ones you least expect, isn’t it?
” Amy sneers. “The golden boy types. Straight-A student. Perfect little upbringing. Parents who play at being pillars of the community. Those are always the ones who think they’re invincible.
That poor girl had no reason to lie, so yes, I believe her. ”
“I’m gay.”
The words are quiet, but they hit like a bomb.
Every head turns to Hudson. His voice is steady, but lifeless. “I haven’t assaulted anyone. Especially not a girl. I’m gay and with Cullen. And even if I wasn’t, I never would’ve hurt Ella, or any other girl, like that.”
His tone is hollow, face blank, and it chills me to the bone.
Hudson’s gone. He’s sitting there, but it’s just a shell. He won’t even look at me. I know he knows I’m here, our invisible tether is pulled taut between us, but he won’t meet my eyes.
“What a convenient little story,” Amy snaps. “You never would’ve agreed to date Ella if you were gay.” She finger quotes the word. “Ella, you are never to go near him again. Understood?”
The audacity of this woman makes my skin crawl.
“He’s my best friend! You can’t do that!” Ella’s eyes narrow at her mom, her fists clenched at her side, and trembling.
“I can and I will. First the stalker, now this? I’m done. I can't believe we ever considered you friends.” She tosses the last word like it’s poison.
Hudson stands and walks past the arguing adults. He stops in front of Ella and takes her hand.
“I’m sorry,” he tells her, then walks by me and out of the room.
I step forward, drawing attention for the first time. The adults go quiet when they realize I’ve been standing there.
“He wasn’t lying,” I cut in. “We’re together.
And he isn’t lying about the accusations either.
Hudson is one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I’ve ever met, and it’s all because of those two amazing people right there.
” I motion to Mr. and Mrs. Daniels. “They’re too good to be associated with people like you.
Maybe you should pay attention to your own kid before you go throwing stones at someone else’s. ”
Ella’s eyes flash with fury, nostrils flaring at my words. I know she’s pissed I threw her under the bus, but I don’t care. Hudson might be too nice to say it, but I’m not. Her mother is out here slandering him while her own daughter uses drugs.
“Get out of our home,” Mr. Daniels snarls, his voice like steel. “Ella, you’re welcome anytime. Your parents are not.” Then he leaves the room, heading after Hudson.
I shoot Amy one last glare and go after my boyfriend. I find him at the kitchen table, rigid and unmoving. His dad is slamming cabinets and yanking out snacks like he wants to punch a hole through the pantry.
“I’m sorry about that, Hud.” Mr. Daniels’ voice is gravelly. “I never knew our friendship was so shallow on their end.”
It’s obvious the confrontation gutted him. They weren’t just anyone—they were their best friends. People who’ve been in their lives for years. The betrayal cuts deep, and I know it has to be eating them both alive.
The front door slams, then Mrs. Daniels enters the kitchen. She walks straight over to Hudson and wraps her arms around him from behind. He lifts a hand and rubs her forearm.
“When is it going to stop?” Hudson asks, his voice ragged. “Everything’s crashing down around all of us because of me.”
“None of this is your fault. This is just a moment in time, sweetheart.” She presses a kiss to the top of his head, then goes to hug her husband. “It will pass. Everything will turn out fine.”
“Hey.” I lightly brush Hud’s arm. “Let’s go grab lunch. Getting out of the house may help.”
“Go on, love,” Mrs. Nora encourages. “You’ve been cooped up for days.”
He nods and rises from the table, just as the door leading to the garage swings open, and Hadley walks in. Hudson stops mid-step, his eyes locked on his twin. There’s so much pain and longing in his expression that it hurts to witness.
I know she’s still not staying here, only coming home for a few minutes at a time. She tosses a small stack of mail onto the table, plants her hands on her hips, and narrows her eyes at Hudson.
“I thought you’d be someone’s prison bitch by now,” she snarks, swallowing hard. “Or did you manage to establish dominance before you broke out?”
“Hadley Grace Daniels, that is enough!” Mrs. Nora’s voice cracks like a whip through the kitchen.
“This little tour of bitterness and anger you’re on?
It ends now. You’ve been hateful and cold to your brother for weeks.
He’s tried to explain, to apologize, and you’ve done nothing but shut him out.
Stop being so self-centered. Hudson has been punished enough. ”
The sound of her shouting lingers. Everyone is staring, mouths open.
Mrs. Nora’s hand flies to her mouth, her eyes going wide with shock. “Hadley, sweetheart… I'm so sorry,” she breathes out, horrified by her own words.
But Hadley’s already shaking her head. “It’s always going to be Hudson first, isn’t it? Will I ever matter?” It comes out thin, strained—broken.
“Hads—” Hudson starts, reaching toward her.
She spins on her heel and bolts from the kitchen, the sounds of her crying echoing behind her.
“Give her some time to cool off.” Mr. Daniels’ tired voice cuts through the tension. “We can try talking to her later. She knows things have been stressful lately. She’ll come around.”
Hudson drops back into the chair like his legs won’t hold him any longer. “She’s never going to forgive me,” he mutters. His hands shake as he shoves his hair off his forehead. He starts thumbing through the pile of mail, like it’ll hide his anxiety.
He pauses over a white envelope with a gold-embossed emblem in the corner. He turns it over and starts tearing it open.
“What’s that?” his mom asks.
“It’s from Ashbridge State. Probably the official letter for my scholarship.”
“Perfect timing,” she exhales, sliding into the seat across from him. “We could use some good news right now.”
Hudson unfolds the crisp white paper and starts reading, his face falling.
“Well?” I ask, my stomach twisting. He doesn’t answer, just hands the letter to me with a blank expression.
I take it from him and begin reading aloud.
Dear Mr. Daniels,
We regret to inform you that the William Wells Academic Scholarship awarded to you in January of this year has been revoked due to a breach of the morality clause. Please see the attached - Article six, Section two: Matters of The Law.
You are in violation of subsection three, which states “no person will be eligible for the WWAS who is or has been accused of a violent crime. Proven innocence may be grounds for reinstatement, but may only be applied to the next academic year.”
Please note that due to the bylaws of this institution and therefore its subsidiaries within, this committee is bound and obligated to report any negative findings to the Dean of Admissions. Please see his letter on page two.
Regretfully,
Susan Finch, Director of Student Financial Services
I finish reading the first page and quickly flip to the next. A lump swells in my throat as I begin the second letter.
Dear Mr. Daniels,
It has been brought to my attention by my colleagues in the Student Financial Services department that you are in breach of the morality clause of the aforementioned scholarship.
When allegations of this serious nature are brought to light, we as an institution must review the student in question to determine if their accepted status should be overturned.
Seeing as this incident is currently based on hearsay and no legal fact, in lieu of expulsion, we as the governing body of this school have decided to suspend your position as a freshman for the upcoming fall semester, pending the legal decision of the courts.
Please feel free to contact me regarding this matter if it is resolved so we may revisit your status as an incoming freshman for this upcoming semester.
Regards,
Augustus Edwards, Dean of Admissions
My hands tighten around the paper. This is bullshit. Hud doesn’t deserve to have another thing taken from him.
When I look up, Hudson’s knee is bouncing like a jackhammer, his eyes locked on some invisible point on the kitchen wall.
“Hudson, we’ll get this figured out,” Mr. Daniels states, forcing confidence into his tone. “Screw the scholarship. Mom and I will pay your tuition. Once the detective sees the video from the cabin, you’ll be cleared. Your place at AB State will be reinstated before the semester starts.”
“It was all for nothing,” Hudson murmurs, ignoring what his dad just said.
“Son, it’s going to be alright.”
“Everything was for absolutely, fucking NOTHING!” He explodes—shoving out of his chair and flinging it across the kitchen. It slams into the wall with a sickening crack.
His hands claw through his blonde hair, gripping fistfuls of it like he’s trying to ground himself. He paces the kitchen, energy crackling off him like he’s being electrocuted.
“Hudson, calm down—” his mom starts.
He lets out a dark, bitter laugh and lets his hands fall.
His gaze shifts to his parents. “I worked my ass off at school,” he grits out, voice trembling with fury.
“I made perfect grades, crushed the SAT, played soccer, joined clubs—all of it to get that scholarship. Because I didn’t want to add to your load.
” His hands are on his hips as he stares down at the floor.
“You’re already paying for Hadley, and she deserves it, but I know you can’t afford both of us without stretching yourselves too thin.
Especially not with the college I am… was going to. ”
“You are not a burden.” Mr. Daniels white-knuckles a kitchen chair, his stubbled jaw set in a hard line. “We’ve told you that a hundred times. And you will go to AB State. You’ll get the scholarship back. Until then, your mom and I will figure out tuition, one way or another.”
“But you shouldn’t have to!” Hudson yells, his voice breaking.
“Everything was set. I did everything right. And it’s all been ripped away because some girl got her feelings hurt.
Because someone is obsessed with me and is turning everyone against me.
He’s already gotten to Hadley. Ella, too, if her mom’s meltdown was any indication. He’s even tried to scare Cullen!”
Hudson’s chest heaves as his words tumble out in a raw stream. “Instead of taking pressure off you, I’ve just added more. What’s next? At this rate, something else is bound to happen.”
He turns and storms out of the kitchen.
I drop the university letters back on the table and rush after him. “Hud, baby, wait!” I call, just as he yanks open the front door.
To my surprise, he climbs into the passenger seat of my truck and slams the door shut. I blink. He’s not shutting me out. That’s something.
I hop into the driver’s seat and start the engine. The truck roars to life, muffling the chaos we left behind.
“Where do you want to go?” I ask softly.
“The river.”