Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
Hudson
I stared at my phone, the screen still lit up with Presley’s last message. The words “we need to talk” seemed to hang there, taunting me. Secrets? What could she mean? I thought I’d told her everything since we’d gotten back together, every bit of the mess that had happened during our time apart.
Frustration bubbled in my chest. Tomorrow was Friday, and with my parents heading out of town for the weekend, I’d been looking forward to having her over, just the two of us. I’d planned it all out. But now, this message—it was like a ticking time bomb.
I typed a quick reply.
Are you dropping by?
The response was almost immediate.
Maybe tonight, or I’ll call you.
I frowned, feeling the tightness in my gut intensify.
What is it, Pres?
It’s better we talk in person.
When?
I waited, staring at the screen, willing it to light up with her response. But nothing. Minutes stretched into an hour, and my fingers itched to send another text, to demand answers, but something told me it wouldn’t help.
I tossed the phone aside, running a hand through my hair, and tried to ignore the sinking feeling that maybe things were slipping out of my control.
The air in Presley’s Jeep was thick, warmed by the blasting heater, but the tension between us made it hard to breathe. I slid into the passenger seat, barely glancing at her before I noticed her red-rimmed eyes. She’d been crying, and Presley wasn’t one to break down easily. A knot of worry twisted in my gut.
I leaned in to kiss her, but she jerked back, her jaw tight.
“What’s going on?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.
Her gaze dropped to her lap. “Why didn’t you tell me you were arrested for assault?”
My throat went dry. I’d hoped that part of my life would stay buried, and I couldn’t understand how she’d found out. “How… how do you know about that?”
She swallowed hard, tears pooling in her eyes again. “So, it’s true?”
I clenched my jaw and nodded slowly. “Yeah. It was a long time ago. I was protecting a neighbor. She was just a kid—twelve, maybe younger-looking even—and two boys wouldn’t leave her alone.”
“What happened?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
I looked away, memories resurfacing of the threats I’d overheard, the girl’s terrified cries. “They’d been picking on her for weeks. I tried to ignore it, thought she’d handle it. But one day I heard them through my door. They were threatening to… to cut her.” I shook my head. “I couldn’t stand by anymore.”
Presley’s face softened, the sharpness fading as understanding settled in. “You stood up for her?”
“Yeah.” I let out a bitter chuckle. “And I beat the crap out of those two until she begged me to stop.” I took a shaky breath. “But when the cops came, they found a knife in my pocket—one of theirs. They didn’t believe me. I got probation, and they sealed my record. I was supposed to keep my head down for three years, stay out of trouble, or I’d end up behind bars.”
She touched my face, her hand soft but trembling. “Hudson… that was a good thing, even if it went wrong.”
“Maybe. But it’s over now.” I squeezed her hand, feeling her warmth. “Why are we talking about this? What’s going on?”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she pressed her lips together, her face twisting with anguish.
“Evan knows everything,” she said, her voice breaking. “He knows we were at his house. He knows… about your record.”
My heart felt like it stopped, then thundered to life again, pounding in my chest. “How does he know?”
“He has a video,” she said, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “He’s using it against me, Hudson. He’s giving me a choice.”
A chill ran through me. “What choice?” I growled.
She looked away, her shoulders slumping as if she’d been defeated. “He wants me back.”
I sucked in a breath, struggling to control the rage building inside me. Presley was mine. She’d always been mine. This was a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.
“No,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “You can’t be serious.”
Her cheeks were streaked with mascara, black trails marking her tears. She took a shuddering breath. “I had to do it, Hudson. He’ll ruin everything if I don’t.”
The floor fell out from beneath me. “And where does that leave us?”
She blinked, more tears spilling down her cheeks. “Apart.”
Her words hit me like a sledgehammer, and I fought the urge to break something. I’d do anything for her, anything to protect her—even if it meant losing her to that bastard. “Did you tell him… did you tell him about his mother?”
She shook her head, her face twisted with pain. “I’d never do that, Hudson. I know it’d destroy him.”
A surge of frustration built inside me. How could she still care about Evan’s feelings after everything he’d done? “I don’t care,” I hissed. “Let him go to the cops.”
“No!” She reached out, grabbing my arm. In one swift move, I pulled her over the console, my mouth crashing onto hers. Her fingers tangled in my hair, clutching so hard it hurt. My hand slipped under her sweater, finding her warm skin, and she moaned against my lips.
“You can’t do this,” I whispered against her mouth, desperate.
Her eyes met mine, full of sadness. “I have to, Hudson. I’m doing this to protect you.”
Her words shattered me, and I pulled her closer, feeling her tears wetting my face. “And what about us?”
She rested her forehead against mine, her breaths shallow. “Until I figure this out… there is no us.”
She straddled me, pressing her body against mine, and I felt the depth of her struggle as she moved, her hips meeting mine, her warmth consuming me. I closed my eyes, fighting the realization that this might be all we had left—a stolen moment, a last goodbye.
“Pres,” I groaned, unable to stop myself.
“I need you,” she breathed, her voice heavy with longing and pain.
She opened my jeans, releasing me then fumbled with her skirt, pulling her panties aside. I felt her heat as she slid onto me, letting gravity do the work. We rocked together, her body fitting perfectly against mine. I gripped her waist, my heart pounding as we moved as one, both of us clinging to each other, to what we’d once had.
“I love you, Presley,” I whispered, my voice raw. “I’m trusting you to work this out. Because if you don’t, I’ll turn myself in. I’m not letting him take you from me.”
She let out a soft, broken sound as she came, murmuring my name like a prayer. I followed her, the intensity of it leaving me breathless, shaken. She leaned back, her body relaxing against me, and I knew this wasn’t goodbye—not in my mind, not in my heart.
“I love you, Presley. Remember us.”
A few moments later, she pulled away, sliding off me and smoothing her skirt, her fingers trembling. She leaned in, pressing her lips to my cheek, the scent of her floral perfume lingering as she pulled away. I climbed out of the Jeep into the cold night air, watching her taillights fade into the darkness.
I stood there in my darkened driveway long after she was gone, feeling hollow, and more determined than ever to get her back.
To see Presley and not be able to touch her was torture. Evan made sure to rub his possession of her in my face as he kept her close, touching parts of her body that were mine. His big hand cupped her ass, gently squeezing it. Our eyes met and she asked for forgiveness. I wasn’t sure how much of this I could take.
Reagan tapped my shoulder as I exchanged my English book for calculus, shoving it into my locker. I turned, catching her gaze. She looked as tortured as I was.
“Why?” she asked.
I didn’t trust her with the truth.
“We don’t belong together.”
“You’re lying,” she whispered. “What happened?”
I shrugged. “She’s still pissed about the letters. I was a kid and I forgot her.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Stupid letters?”
I slammed my locker shut, putting my book under my arm. “If you haven’t noticed, Presley can be petty.”
Reagan clucked her tongue. “I know. She can be such a bitch,” she growled.
Not more than you.
She fell into step with me as I headed to class. “Do you want to come over after school?”
I clenched my jaw. “I can’t. Mom needs me to move some boxes. I thought you had cheerleading practice.”
She leaned next to my ear. “I would skip it for you,” she whispered.
It wasn’t going to happen. I would remain faithful to Presley until she came back to me.
“Can’t do it. Sorry. Maybe we can hang out this weekend if I’m not still grounded.”
She gave me a quick peck on the cheek as I ducked into the doorway for class. I took my seat in the back and stared out the window at the leaves blowing in the wind. It was growing colder and soon winter would be here. I couldn’t wait to go snowboarding.
“Mr. Evert?”
I looked up and the entire class was watching me.
“Yes?”
“I asked you a question. Did you read the material?” Mrs. Zabriskie asked.
I nodded, holding my copy of To Kill A Mockingbird in the air. “I did. Not that hard to comprehend,” I said smugly.
I knew I was pushing her buttons but losing Presley had me rattled. Murmuring went through the class and Mrs. Zabriskie pointed her finger toward the door.
“See the Dean please.”
I didn’t say anything further and gathered my books as everyone watched me leave the room. I didn’t go to the dean, instead ducking into the bathroom to smoke a cigarette near the window. I took my time, but the dean was waiting for me when I arrived at the front office. He ushered me inside.
“Mr. Evert, one day back and you’re already in trouble?”
I sank into one of the orange plastic chairs in front of his desk. “Not really.”
“Detention today and have some respect. The teachers are here for your benefit.”
I resisted making a snide comment, instead keeping silent. He handed me a slip of paper with my punishment and dismissed me. I needed a cigarette and dodged the hall monitors then slipped through the empty gym. There was no one outside and I lit up, taking a few drags until I heard voices.
I spent the rest of the day stewing in silence, dodging the cafeteria. No way was I about to watch Evan drape himself all over Presley like she was his prize. Instead, I ducked out to the pizza place off-campus, snagging a slice. For all the security this place flaunted, they’d yet to catch me sneaking off, or catching a smoke.
I skipped film history too. The more I thought about Presley “dating” Evan to keep him off my back, the angrier I got. She didn’t owe him that—she owed him nothing. The rain was coming down harder as I waited for the guard to swing around to the other side of the lot.
Once he did, I sprinted for my truck, the cold rain seeping through my jacket as I slipped inside and ducked low, watching the guard roll on by. The second he passed, I fired up the truck, cracked the window, and lit a cigarette, pulling deep, letting it calm the churn in my gut.
Rain beat down like crazy, the roads flooding in minutes. Typical fall storm. I kept the music loud, an old Zeppelin tape of Dad’s blasting "In the Evening" through the speakers. I sang along at the top of my lungs, letting the memory of my dad fill the cab. The ache in my chest twisted, and I wasn’t paying attention as I pulled up to the driveway.
Presley’s knock on the windshield startled me, sending my heart racing. I glanced out, and there she was, soaked through, her hair plastered to her face as I lowered the window.
"Skipping class, huh?" Her voice had an edge, her brows drawn tight. "I could ask you the same thing."
"Couldn’t watch you with him, Pres." My jaw clenched as I looked away, the words laced with anger and something else—something raw.
She reached in, her cold hand finding mine. “I’m protecting you, Hudson.”
I shook her off, pushing the door open and stepping out, grabbing her by the elbow.
“Come inside.” She didn’t argue, just followed as I led her down to my room, the silence heavy between us. Once the door shut, her hand reached up, pulling my jacket from my shoulders. She made quick work of my shirt, tugging it over my head, her wet fingers cool against my skin. I kissed her, fierce and desperate, as her hands moved to my belt.
Her lips hovered at my ear. "He doesn’t know I’m gone,” she murmured, her fingers pressing into my back. “I told him I felt sick and got a note.”
“Just left,” I muttered into her neck, the heat from her skin melting through the chill in me. “Got detention for it. Won’t be there, either.”
“Hudson.” Her eyes flashed as she pulled back. “You can’t just keep bailing.”
“I’ll figure it out tomorrow. They can think I got my days mixed up.” I crushed her to me, breathing her in, letting her warmth bleed into me. "But you don’t have to keep this up, Pres. The deal with him—he’s not worth it.”
Her gaze dropped, voice barely a whisper. “I don’t want to.”
“Then don’t.” I held her close, refusing to let go. “You’re not really dating him. Not in here.”
Her arms tightened around me, but I felt her hesitation. “Hudson, I don’t want you getting into trouble. I’m doing this to protect you.”
I swallowed hard, tracing my fingers along her arm. “Let me worry about that.”
I walked her to the bed, easing her down onto the rumpled sheets. She scooted back, curling into my pillow. I stood, just watching her, every inch of me aching.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?” I murmured, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
She laughed softly. “Even when I was twelve and all braces and bad haircuts?”
I smiled, settling beside her. “Even then.” She touched my face, her thumb brushing my cheek, and I leaned into her hand, craving her touch like air.
“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid,” she whispered. “Evan…he’s got dirt on people. I’ll find it. Then we’ll have something on him.”
I kissed her shoulder. “How long?”
“As long as it takes. I’ll dig around, see where he keeps his stash. He wouldn’t want people to know his crew’s little secrets.”
“They might retaliate, Pres. You know that.”
A spark of defiance lit her eyes. “They can try. They’ve got nothing on me.”
I kissed her, feeling her smile against my lips as she shifted, curling into me, her head resting on my chest. I pulled the blanket over us, just holding her close, ignoring the urge for more, letting the need wait.
Evan Braddock wouldn’t win. Not this time. I’d make sure of it.