Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
Hudson
T he road was jammed with cars as I pulled up near Randy’s place, parking half a block down. I flicked a cigarette to life, letting the bitter warmth settle as I walked up the driveway. Kids sprawled across the lawn, kicking around a half-flat soccer ball, laughing, and tossing back beer from red plastic cups despite the wind whipping cold through the air.
On the porch, a group was passing around a joint, music thumping loud enough to rattle the windows. I slipped inside, nodding to a few familiar faces, and made my way to the back patio where a keg sat in a metal trash can packed with ice. Filling a cup halfway, I took a sip, just enough to blend in—I wanted to stay sharp tonight.
Presley’s voice cut through the crowd, making me turn, but the sight of Evan slinging an arm around her made my stomach twist. A bottle of Everclear dangled from his hand, already uncapped, his smirk flashing as he raised it in a mock toast.
“Evert,” he sneered, taking a hard swig.
I kept my face neutral, mirroring his cocky tone. “Braddock.”
He tightened his arm around Presley’s shoulders, almost pulling her off balance, his look daring me to say something. “What are you doing here?”
I held his stare, ignoring the warning in Presley’s eyes. “Same as you. I was invited.”
Evan snorted, taking another swig. “Randy should aim for a better class of people.”
I shrugged, giving him a deadpan look. “Like you?”
He leaned closer, breath sharp with Everclear. “Better mind your tongue, Evert. Mine might slip.”
Presley’s gaze pleaded with me, but I held steady. “Do your worst,” I said, turning and heading back into the crowded house.
His mocking laugh trailed behind me. “You don’t want my worst.”
I wove through the bodies scattered around the rooms, trying to keep an eye on Presley from a distance. Eventually, I sank into a vacant spot on the leather couch in the great room, watching as Reagan sidled up to my brother, Neil, pressing a bottle of vodka into his hand.
He laughed, and she leaned in close, whispering something that made him grin before he tipped back another long drink. I could see he was already feeling the buzz, his movements heavy and slow.
I shot up, weaving my way over and grabbing Reagan’s arm. “Let’s go,” I muttered, yanking her up.
A few people looked over as I dragged her down the hall, ignoring her snarled insults. Once I pulled her into an empty library, I slammed the door shut.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” My voice was sharp, barely reined in.
She crossed her arms, a sly grin twisting her mouth. “Jealous?”
I stepped closer, voice low. “He’s fourteen, Reagan.”
She rolled her eyes with a shrug. “What do you care?”
My jaw clenched, muscles straining. “He’s a kid. Stop feeding him alcohol and playing whatever sick game this is. He doesn’t act like himself around you.”
“Oh, he’s just fine,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “He doesn’t act like a kid because I’m not treating him like one.”
I forced myself to take a breath, my voice sharp as I spoke. “Are you out of your mind?”
Her eyes flashed, and she set her jaw. “Crazy enough to know what I want. All you had to do was keep Presley busy, and I could’ve had Evan to myself.”
I shook my head, stepping back in disgust. “Evan? He’s just using you to rile up Presley. You think he actually cares?”
Her face hardened, but the flicker of hurt was there. “You don’t know him. He’ll dump her by the end of the year—she’s just for show. Once he’s in college, he’ll be after someone new.”
I crossed my arms, holding her glare. “Maybe she’s using him. Maybe she’ll be the one to dump him.”
Reagan just laughed, sprawling on the couch and putting her feet on the coffee table, utterly indifferent to the people around her. “Sure,” she said dismissively. “Presley dumped you for him, didn’t she? Guess she knew which one of you was the better deal.”
The sting of her words hit, but I didn’t let it show. I met her defiant stare. “Stay away from Neil,” I said, voice low and firm.
She laughed again, shrugging as if it was a minor inconvenience. “You can’t control everyone, Hudson.”
Ignoring her, I turned and left, determination hardening with every step. I pushed through the party chaos until I found Neil in the den, laughing too loudly as he raised another beer to his mouth, surrounded by older football players. The stench of spilled liquor and stale smoke clung to the air.
“Neil,” I called over the noise, keeping my voice steady. “We’re going. Now.”
He glanced up, eyes glassy, barely focusing. “Get lost, Hudson. I’m having fun.”
One of the guys, Brad, let out a lazy chuckle. “Come on, Evert. Let him have a good time.”
Neil smirked, raising his drink. “Yeah, let me have some fun.”
I held back my frustration, forcing calm into my voice. “Neil, this isn’t fun. Trust me, you’re going to regret this.”
He wobbled a bit, his grin slipping. “No, I’m staying.”
Realizing I wasn’t getting through, I turned to find Presley. Maybe she could convince him. I found her in the great room, her face pale as she struggled to support a slurring, staggering Evan. An open bottle of Everclear sat on a nearby table, half empty.
Her eyes met mine with relief. “Hudson, thank God. Can you help me get Evan to a bedroom? He’s too far gone to stay out here.”
I stepped in, taking some of Evan’s weight, which helped Presley get her balance. “Yeah, let’s get him upstairs.”
Together, we half-dragged, half-carried him up to an empty room. He muttered nonsense under his breath as we lowered him onto the bed, where he immediately passed out, face pressed against the pillow.
Presley let out a shaky sigh, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks. I didn’t know what to do.”
I gave her a reassuring look. “No problem. It’s been a night.”
She nodded, guilt flickering in her eyes. “I didn’t mean for things to get so out of hand.”
“It’s not your fault,” I said gently. “But Reagan’s been feeding Neil drinks, and he’s barely holding it together. We need to get him out of here.”
Presley’s face tightened in alarm. “Where is he?”
“In the den, with the older guys. He wouldn’t listen to me, but maybe he’ll hear you out.”
She squared her shoulders, determination replacing her worry. “I’ll try. He trusts me more than anyone.”
Together, we headed back downstairs, bracing ourselves for whatever the next few minutes might bring.
Neil groaned, his head lolling to the side. "Stop. I... I have to throw up."
I hit the brakes hard, pulling the truck onto the shoulder just as he shoved the door open and leaned out, retching. Presley’s hand reached out, rubbing slow circles on his back as he emptied his stomach onto the gravel below, his breaths ragged between heaves.
“Damn it,” he muttered, finally sitting back and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His face was pale, his eyes half-lidded with regret. He closed the door and let out a shaky breath, slumping against the seat.
“You okay?” Presley asked softly, her hand lingering on his shoulder.
He pressed his head back, shutting his eyes tight. “I’m not drunk,” he mumbled defensively, though his voice wavered.
“You shouldn’t be drinking at all,” she replied, her voice firm but gentle.
I shifted the truck back into gear and eased us back onto the road. The silence in the cab hung heavy, punctuated only by the low hum of the engine and Neil’s labored breathing. He didn’t say anything for a while, and I was content to leave it that way. But as we got closer to his house, his voice cut through the quiet.
“Are you… are you telling Mom and Dad?”
I glanced over at him, weighing my words. “If you promise not to do this again, I won’t.”
He let out a defeated sigh, the kind that spoke of too many sleepless nights and bad decisions. When we reached Presley’s driveway, I parked the truck, the glow from the porch light casting a dim halo over the house.
“You should go inside, Neil,” Presley said gently, her eyes filled with concern. “Sleep it off.”
He nodded, the exhaustion pulling down his features, and he stumbled out, turning to mumble, “Thanks, Hudson,” before closing the door with a soft click. I watched him until he disappeared inside, the front door creaking shut behind him.
When I turned back to Presley, her gaze was steady on me, and something in her expression made my heart ache.
“Are you going in?” I asked, already knowing her answer.
She shook her head, her lips pressing together in a thin line. “No. I’m spending the night with you. My parents think I’m at Reagan’s.” She paused, glancing away, the flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. “Is that what Evan told you to say?” I asked, suspicion biting at the edges of my words. “You were supposed to be at his house, right?”
Her shoulders sagged, and she looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. “I had to. It was just easier.”
“Easier?” I asked, leaning closer. “You don’t have to go along with his rules for me.”
She met my gaze, and for a moment, there was a flash of vulnerability in her eyes. “I know. It was stupid, Hudson. I shouldn’t have suggested we go to his house at all.”
I reached out, capturing her hand, my fingers lacing through hers. “It’s not worth it, Presley. Tell him to go to hell.”
A sad smile played on her lips, and she leaned closer, her hand lifting to rest against my cheek, her touch warm and grounding. “I’d rather be here—with you.”
Before I knew it, she closed the distance between us, her lips brushing softly against mine. I let myself fall into her, my hand slipping to the back of her neck, feeling the softness of her hair between my fingers. She kissed me deeply, her tongue teasing mine as the world outside the cab faded, leaving only the two of us in the dim light.
We finally pulled apart, breathless, and I could see the slight blush coloring her cheeks. “Neil’s safe inside,” I murmured, brushing my thumb along her jaw. “You don’t have to worry about him tonight.”
She nodded, eyes still closed, her lips parting in a small sigh of relief. “Thank you, Hudson,” she whispered, her fingers tightening around mine. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, my voice soft. “Come to my place,” I suggested, the hope threading through each word. “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
Her eyes opened, and she looked at me, a hint of surprise mingling with something deeper. “Are you sure? What about your parents?”
“They’re out of town,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “We’ll have the whole place to ourselves. We can just… be together.”
She hesitated, her gaze flicking to the darkened windows of her house, and then she nodded, a faint smile pulling at her lips. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Relief flooded through me as I turned the key in the ignition and pulled back onto the road. The drive was short, but anticipation hung in the air between us, each mile bringing us closer to something unspoken. When we reached my house, I parked in the driveway, cutting the engine, and turned to her, my heart pounding.
“Ready?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“Ready,” she replied, her voice filled with a quiet excitement that mirrored my own.
We got out, the cool night air brushing over us as we made our way inside. The house was quiet, shadows stretching long across the walls, and I led her down to the basement, where we both sank into the plush couch, finally able to relax.
“So… what do you want to watch?” I asked, scrolling through the options on the screen.
She leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder. “Anything,” she murmured. “As long as I’m with you.”
I settled on a lighthearted comedy, something that would make us forget everything for a while. As the movie started, she snuggled closer, her warmth seeping into me, and I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her tighter.
Halfway through, I glanced down at her, noticing the way her eyes had grown heavy, her lashes fluttering as she fought to stay awake. Gently, I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, and her eyes opened, meeting mine with a softness that stole my breath.
“Thank you for taking care of Neil,” she whispered, her voice laced with gratitude.
“Always,” I replied, leaning down to press a tender kiss to her forehead.
We sat there in comfortable silence, her hand entwined in mine as the night stretched on, the weight of everything that had happened fading away, leaving just us, together in the quiet.