Chapter 27
Chapter twenty-seven
Hudson
“Dude, I need a break,” I gasp, plopping down on the freshly cut grass in my backyard. My chest feels like I inhaled fire, my lungs no longer conditioned like they used to be.
Archer came over to hang out and had the bright idea to do some soccer drills. The drills were more for Archer than for me, though. He’s going to Ashbridge also, hoping to snag one of the few spots on the soccer team reserved for non-scholarship athletes.
The dream was for Archer, Cull, Matt, and me to all go to Ashbridge and make the soccer team. Our odds were decent since we all play different positions, but Matt got waitlisted, and I’m just floating in space not knowing where I’m going to land.
It sucks.
Archer saunters over, chuckling, and sits next to me, handing me my water bottle.
“Maybe we should have stuck to passing drills and not gone so hard 1v1.” He takes a long pull from his sports bottle before squeezing the cold water over his head.
“Not to mention it’s hotter than Satan’s asshole today. ”
I laugh, chugging the rest of my water. “My parents finally got the pool ready for the summer if you wanna cool off.”
“Hell yes!” He jumps up then takes a running leap into the cool water, a small tsunami crashing over the side. I’m a little more civil, using the stairs, then dunking myself.
We ditched our shirts and shoes about an hour ago, the humidity making clothes practically unbearable.
“So, Cullen is on house arrest?” Archer is floating on his back just a few feet away from me.
I post up on the side of the pool, my elbows resting outside of the water on the concrete patio. “Yeah. He’s still grounded for almost knocking out Detective Douchebag.”
Cull is only allowed to go to therapy. That’s it. Thankfully, his parents haven’t cut off all communication and he can still call me. We don’t have our second joint therapy session for another week, and that feels like forever away.
Archer swims over and leans against the side of the pool, mirroring my stance.
“He was struggling when you were in the hospital, dude. I’ve never seen him so freaked out.
Matt and I would try and get him out of the waiting room, even for just an hour, but he would refuse.
It was like his body was there but his mind…
” He shakes his head, a small frown on his face.
“You could tell the anger was brewing, even then.”
I gaze across the pool, my thoughts drifting back to the hospital room—to Cullen with dark bags under his eyes, his complexion pale.
That memory haunts me.
It probably always will.
“Sorry, man. I shouldn’t have brought that up,” Archer apologizes solemnly.
“It’s fine. I’m just mad at myself for putting everyone through that.”
Quiet wraps around us for a few minutes before I change the subject. “So… have you talked to Theo?”
Archer’s face flashes sad before he schools it. “No. I cut him off that night at the police station. He somehow heard about what happened to you and tried to reach out, but I ignored him.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugs, his shoulders tinged red from the scorching sun. “It is what it is. I felt like I couldn’t trust him, not after keeping something like that from me. I get that it was his sister, but still… I thought—it doesn’t matter.” Water droplets fly off his hair as he runs his fingers through it.
“Of course it matters, man. I could tell how much you guys liked each other.”
“Well, I hope he feels like shit knowing his sister is a liar.” Archer can’t hide the pain on his face, the situation bothering him more than he wants to admit.
“I’m sorry. Maybe in the future y’all can work it out?”
“I don’t really care. Besides, college is going to be full of dudes who are going to want to experiment, and I’m a more than willing lab partner.” He waggles his eyebrows at me. “Can’t play around if I’m tied down.”
“Wow, Archer. Didn’t know you were such a man-whore.”
He shoots me a wink. “Too bad we didn’t know about each other sooner. We could have had some fun.”
I blush, and he cackles. “I’m totally fucking with you. You’re my brother, man, and that would be weird as fuck. I’m just glad I’ve got friends in the club that aren’t hiding anymore.”
“I honestly never planned on coming out, but Cull changed all that. Well, that’s not completely true. We’d probably still be hiding if we weren’t outed at school.”
“Still haven’t figured out who did that?”
I study Archer for a moment. Ever since I realized Mason wasn’t my stalker, it got me thinking.
“No, but…”
“But what?”
“I can trust you, right?”
Archer looks offended. “Fuck you, dude. You know I’d never spill any of your secrets.”
“I know, it’s just… I’ve been thinking.”
He snorts. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
I shove a tidal wave of chlorinated water in his face and he sputters, laughing.
“Alright, alright. What have you been thinking about?”
“Whoever this person is knows a lot about Cull and me. I was thinking that maybe…” I trail off, praying I’m wrong but not feeling great about it.
“Maybe…?” Archer urges.
“What if it’s someone close to us?”
“No way, man. Our friends are solid.” He laughs, then catches my face. His expression shifts. “You’re serious?”
“It’s at least someone from school. They had access to our lockers, they knew what I wore, they have our numbers…”
Archer looks like he’s turning it over in his head.
“Please tell me I’m not crazy,” I blurt. “I had a nasty concussion from my jump and apparently some wild seizures, so there’s a real chance my brain’s just… fried.”
Archer chuckles. “I shouldn’t laugh at that.”
I grin at him, glad he gets that humor has been the best medicine for all of this.
“Okay, I think you might be on to something.” He blows out a breath and runs a hand through his wet, shaggy hair. “What do you need me to do?”
I hesitate for a second. I don’t want to get him caught in the middle.
“Just… keep your ears open, that’s all.”
“I can do that,” he agrees. “What is the detective doing now that Mason is out of the picture?”
“Probably nothing. He wasn’t happy that Cull and I dropped Mason’s charges, and practically begged us to reconsider. He tried to gaslight us with the little evidence they have, but none of it actually lines up with Mason.”
“Dad calls him Detective Whit-less.” Archer is floating on his back and chuckling, eyes scrunched closed against the bright afternoon sun.
“That tracks,” I agree.
Ella pops into my mind, and it feels like someone pressed on a bruise I forgot was there.
“I hope he’s actually looking for whoever killed Ella.
It seems like they either overlooked evidence or just wrote her off as a druggie and hoped they could use Mason as an easy out.
Either way, the investigation was sloppy as shit. ”
“Yeah, that detective is a scumbag.”
I nod and breathe in deep. I’m doing well dealing with Ella’s loss, but it still hurts to think about.
He swims over and treads water next to me, changing the subject and easing the sadness trying to creep up on me. “What did Cull say about all this? I know he was pretty set on it being Mason, too.”
“I told him about it all during our joint therapy session. He took it better than I thought, and when we talked through it, he couldn’t deny that it has to be someone else.
“That’s good,” he says simply.
Yeah, it is good. Cullen’s progress is already shining through, and I’m proud of the honest effort he is putting into his therapy sessions.
“Alright, I’m getting pruny.” I haul myself out of the pool, water dripping onto the concrete. “I’m ready for another round of 1v1, and this time, I’m going to kick your ass.”
“Dream on motherfucker,” Archer chirps, his smile returning as he climbs out of the pool and races over to the soccer ball. “Loser has to prank call Coach and ask him if his refrigerator is running.”
My laugh bounces off the fence as I chase after him, hot on his heels. “You’re fucking ridiculous, but you’re on!”
I beat him to the ball, feigning left, him falling for my fake. I sprint down the yard toward our makeshift goal, the ball alternating between my feet. I breathe in the humid summer air, letting the oxygen bolster me.
Without warning, I’m being slide tackled from behind, the ball flying out from under my feet. I trip and end up eating dirt.
“Unnecessary, dude,” I complain, though I’m laughing as I get up and swipe at my shorts.
“Couldn’t resist sliding into that ass.”
I whirl around to see Cull smirking at me.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be grounded.” I pull him into a tight hug and give him a quick kiss.
“My parents had mercy on me. They sat me down and said they could see how hard I’m trying with my therapy and gave me one last shot.”
“What happens if you fuck up again?” Archer asks, juggling the ball on his knees.
Cull shivers. “I don’t want to find out.”
Archer snorts. “Fair enough.”
We form a circle and start passing the ball between us, making small talk.
“So, Archer plans on banging half of the Ashbridge freshman class this fall,” I toss out.
“Dude, what the hell?” Archer grumbles, picking up the soccer ball and chucking it at me. He laughs when he gets me square in the gut.
“If you’re going to slut it out, go to the other dude’s room. That way I can have ours to myself to have phone sex with Hud.”
“What?” Archer looks at Cull, confused.
“That was my shitty way of asking if you’d room with me since Hud…”
“Since it’s not looking like I’ll be getting my spot back.” I smile, but it feels thin.
“Hell yeah, man. Matt never got off the wait list, and I was trying to hold out for him.”
Cull nods his head and gets back to passing the ball.
“I mean, I’m not happy that you won’t be there, Hud, but I’d rather room with Cull than some stranger.”
“I’d rather you be there with him, too,” I tell him, kicking the ball his way.
“Just so you know,” Cull says, kipping up the ball to his knee. “If Hud gets his spot back in time, I’m dropping you faster than my dignity on a dance floor.”
Archer busts out laughing. “Deal.”
I watch Cull and Archer plan a future I was supposed to be part of, and something coils tight in my chest. I smile, though, because I want them to have it, and I know I’ll get there.
Someday.