Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
Presley
M y phone kept chiming, the sound slicing through the quiet. I reached over the edge of the bed, fumbling for my jeans on the floor.
Hudson stirred, his arm slipping around my waist. "Don't answer it," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
"It could be my parents," I whispered, even as he tightened his hold, pulling me closer.
He traced lazy circles on my shoulder. "They think you're at Reagan's house. And it's four in the morning."
Ignoring the warmth of his touch, I managed to snag my jeans, dragging them up to find my phone. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the screen filled with notifications—angry, erratic messages from Evan. I scrolled through, each text more vicious than the last.
My throat tightened. "It's Evan."
Hudson’s grip tensed, his face darkening as he reached for the phone, swiping through the messages. "He's accusing you of being with me."
"I am with you," I said quietly, reclaiming my phone. "Whatever this thing with Evan is, it's a front. I have my reasons for sticking around."
Hudson kissed the corner of my mouth, his lips warm against my skin. "You don't have to keep putting yourself through this for me, Pres. Not for anyone."
I clenched my jaw, feeling my anger flare. "I want that damn notebook. People think he's some kind of golden boy, but he’s garbage. Him and his friends."
Hudson’s eyes narrowed, concern flaring in their depths. "Is Randy mixed up in this too?"
"No. But a few of his football cronies are. They all use code names, which is stupid. Doug calls himself Superman, of all things. And you know how much he worships the guy in tights."
Hudson barked out a laugh, a low rumble that momentarily cut through the tension. "Idiots. What’s the plan once you get your hands on that notebook? You know, you could expose those bastards without dragging the girls through it."
"I’ll keep the girls anonymous. Even Reagan. She’s no friend, but she’s not my target."
Hudson took the phone from my hand and placed it on the nightstand. His expression softened as he leaned in, rolling us so he was above me. The weight of him felt grounding, his lips tracing a heated path down my neck, leaving me breathless. I ran my fingers along his spine, pulling him closer, feeling the unspoken promise between us.
"Truth," he murmured against my skin, his voice rough.
I ran a hand through his hair, brushing it back from his face. "What?"
His gaze locked onto mine, serious. "Promise me you won't sleep with him."
My heart gave a painful twist. "I can't make that promise, Hudson. You know that."
A flicker of hurt crossed his face, but he held me tighter, pressing into me with a fierce urgency that left me gasping. My nails dug into his shoulders as he moved, each thrust a silent plea, a reminder of who we were together in this tangled mess.
"Just try," he rasped, his eyes searching mine. "Say you'll try."
I cupped his face, letting him see the raw honesty there. "I love you, Hudson. I never loved him. Evan was convenient, nothing more—a mistake I made because I was stupid and wanted to belong."
His mouth found my neck, his movements sending a shiver of heat through me as I wrapped my legs around him, holding him close, clinging to the one real thing I had in this chaos—my love for him.
Afterward, we lay tangled together in silence, Hudson’s breaths slowing as he drifted off. I watched him, tracing the lines of his face in the soft moonlight. He looked peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling inside me. I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and pulled a t-shirt over my head, feeling the chill settle over me.
At the window, I stared out into the quiet street, the weight of that notebook pressing down on me. The secrets it held, the lives it could ruin—it felt like an anchor, pulling me down, tightening its grip with every lie I kept.
I couldn’t let him be right. Not about Evan, not about me. But how long could I keep this act going before it all fell apart?
As I slipped into the house, I dialed Evan’s number, bracing myself but he didn’t pick up. It was early, but I could already hear my parents in the kitchen, the clink of coffee cups and low hum of conversation. They were dressed in workout gear, sipping their coffee with the ease of people who’d been up for hours.
“We didn’t expect you until later,” my mother remarked, raising an eyebrow.
I shrugged, hoping to sound casual. “I wanted to stay, but I have a report due Monday and need to finish the book,” I lied.
My father looked up over his newspaper. “Cutting it close, aren’t you?”
“I only have a few pages left. I can knock it out in an hour,” I said, quickly adding, “Where are you two headed?”
“Tennis with the Wrights at ten,” my father replied, folding his paper neatly.
“Sounds fun. See you later,” I said, already hurrying up the stairs, eager to escape their scrutiny.
Once in my room, I dumped my purse and coat on the desk and went to check on Neil. I nudged him awake; his clothes still rumpled from last night. He groaned.
“Can’t even change out of your party clothes?” I teased.
He rolled over, squinting at me. “I was gonna lie down for a minute… guess I passed out.”
I sat beside him. “How are you feeling?”
“Like crap,” he muttered, clutching his head.
“Mom and Dad are heading out, so you might want to change before they see you.”
As I got up, he called after me. “Presley… thanks.”
I gave him a small smile. “Just… promise you’ll be more careful.”
In my room, I prepared for a quick shower, hoping to wash away the tension and the lingering scent of Hudson. But when I checked my phone afterward, a series of new, angry messages from Evan stared back at me, each one more aggressive than the last. I swallowed, feeling a mix of dread and frustration as my cell rang, and I reluctantly answered his call.
“Hello,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.
Evan’s voice was sharp and demanding. “You left me last night and didn’t answer my texts. What the hell, Presley?”
“I took you home, put you to bed, and left with Neil. He was in bad shape.”
“How did you get home?” His voice was a growl. “Doug told me you were with that asshole, Hudson. Were you?”
“Hudson just gave us a ride, that’s it,” I replied, trying to stay calm. “You were passed out. Neil needed a ride, and you were too wasted to drive. Don’t be angry just because you messed up. Hudson’s just a friend.”
“You spent the night at home, right?” he questioned.
“With Neil. I was worried he might choke on his vomit.”
He hesitated, and I knew he was suspicious. “Is he there now?”
My heart raced. “Of course he’s here. He’s sleeping it off.”
There was a tense silence, then Evan’s voice cut through it like a knife. “I want to hear him tell me that.”
“Are you serious?” I snapped. “You think I’m lying?”
“You better not be,” he said, each word dripping with menace. “You better start acting like a real girlfriend because right now, it’s not looking good. I expect you to stay over tonight.”
I clenched my jaw, scrambling for an excuse. “We’re having company tonight.”
“You didn’t mention that last night.”
“Sorry,” I said, my tone icy. “Didn’t think I needed to give you my schedule.”
His voice dropped to a dangerously calm tone. “Don’t play games, Presley. I’m done with your bullshit.”
I felt my pulse quicken, forcing myself to stay composed. “Evan, I didn’t do anything wrong. I took care of Neil. You were out cold.”
“Convenient,” he scoffed. “You just happened to end up with Hudson, and now you’re playing nurse to Neil? You think I’m an idiot?”
“No,” I replied quickly, too quickly. “You’re just not thinking straight.”
“I want to talk to Neil,” he demanded, his voice like steel.
Panic clawed at me. I had to buy time. “Fine,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. “But he’s asleep. I’ll wake him up and call you back.”
“Wake him up now.”
With a shaky breath, I cupped the phone with my hand and hurried to Neil’s room. He was still sprawled out, dead to the world. I shook him gently but urgently.
“Neil, I need you to wake up,” I whispered, anxiety threading through my voice. “Evan wants to talk to you.”
Neil groaned, rubbing his eyes. “What’s going on?”
“Just tell him you were with me all night. Please, Neil. I’ll explain later.”
Reluctantly, Neil nodded, still half-asleep, and took the phone from me.
“Hello?” he mumbled, sounding groggy.
There was a pause before Evan’s voice cut through. “Neil, where was Presley last night? Tell me the truth.”
Neil shot me a glance, and I mouthed, Say it was here. “I was home with Presley. She looked after me because I drank too much,” he muttered.
Evan’s voice dripped with suspicion. “And Hudson?”
Neil hesitated, glancing at me again. “Hudson gave us a ride home. That’s it.”
Another loaded silence. I held my breath, praying Evan would accept the lie.
“Fine,” he finally said. “Put Presley back on.”
Neil handed me the phone, his expression worried. I took it, trying to keep my voice calm. “See? I wasn’t lying.”
Evan let out a tense sigh, sounding slightly mollified. “Fine. But you’re coming over tonight. No excuses.”
I bit my lip, determined to avoid him. “I told you, we’re having company.”
“Then after,” he demanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
“Maybe,” I said, not committing. “I’ll let you know.”
“Call me back.”
The line went dead, and I released a shaky breath. I’d bought myself a little time, but Evan wasn’t backing down. The fear of having to go to his place gnawed at me. I had to find that notebook and get out before this went any further.
Neil stepped into the room, his damp hair sticking to his forehead as he sank down onto my bed, gnawing on his thumbnail. His gaze flickered with unease. “Presley?” His voice held a slight tremor.
I looked up from the book I was pretending to read, schooling my expression into nonchalance. “Trying to finish this for a report due Monday,” I said, letting the lie roll off my tongue, hiding the truth that the deadline was still a week away.
He edged closer, searching my face. “What if Evan asks me…about everything?” He hesitated, but his eyes spoke volumes.
I straightened, forcing my voice to sound steady. “Stick to the story, Neil. Don’t tell him anything else,” I replied firmly, leaving no room for debate.
His shoulders sagged, but he nodded, biting his lip. “I get it. But, Presley, you’ve got to be straight with me. Why are you dating Evan while…you know, being with Hudson?” His voice softened, laced with genuine concern. “What’s really going on?”
Heat flushed my cheeks, and shame prickled up my spine. How could I begin to explain the twisted mess I'd dragged myself into? I took a deep breath. “It’s…complicated,” I managed, my voice barely a whisper.
Neil’s frown deepened, and he leaned in, his tone imploring. “Pres, talk to me. I’m your brother. I can handle it.”
A knot tightened in my stomach. But he deserved the truth—at least part of it. “Neil, what I’m about to say can’t leave this room. You have to swear.”
He straightened, eyes widening. “Of course. You know I wouldn’t say a word.”
I picked at a frayed edge on my comforter, gathering my courage. “It’s Evan…” I paused, feeling the weight of the words. “He’s…blackmailing me.”
Neil sat bolt upright, fury sparking in his eyes. “Are you serious? That—he’s blackmailing you? With what?”
I shook my head quickly, gripping his arm. “I can’t give you details. The less you know, the better.” I squeezed his arm, desperation leaking into my tone. “Please, Neil. Don’t let on that you know anything. To Evan or anyone else. Promise me.”
He clenched his jaw, his anger barely contained. But after a long, tense moment, he nodded. “Fine. I promise. But why stay with him? And why involve Hudson in all this?”
I wrapped my arms around myself, leaning back against the headboard with a weary sigh. “It’s complicated. I’m handling it. But you can’t breathe a word of this.” I searched his face. “Please, trust me.”
His shoulders drooped as anger softened into concern. “Okay. You have my word,” he said, reaching over to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. “But you know I’m here for you, right? Whatever you need.”
I blinked back the burning in my eyes, managing a shaky smile. “Thanks, Neil. Just stay out of his way. A few more weeks, and football’s done.”
“Until baseball,” he murmured, the doubt thick in his voice.
“It’ll be over by then,” I promised, forcing a confidence I didn’t feel. “I’ll make sure of it.”
He nodded, giving my foot a gentle squeeze before standing. “I think I’ll take a nap,” he mumbled, rubbing his temples.
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Seriously?”
“My head’s killing me.”
I frowned, concern rising. “Did you take some aspirin?”
“Yeah, about half an hour ago,” he said, shuffling to the door. “I’ll drink some water and lie down.”
A few minutes later, I heard the faint, low hum of music coming from his room. I let out a breath, relieved that he’d kept it quiet enough not to disturb me.