3. Chapter Three #2
There are two minutes left in the game. The Rioters are up by two and there’s no way they’re losing this one. Hudson texts again that he isn’t making it inside, but he’ll meet up with us at the food court next door.
When the game is over, it takes us forever to get through the crowd, but the energy is wild. We finally make it to the food court that must have half the fans from the game squished inside.
“Hey! Trey! I’m here.”
I turn, noting the familiar face five feet from me. My heart stops beating as I take in the sight of my former best friend who looks so much like he did then, only a little older.
Same dark amber eyes, same broad shoulders, but his face has filled out more. Gone are the squirrely cheeks that we all used to make fun of—respectfully of course—and he’s certainly bigger than I remember. Healthier, maybe. I guess less alcohol will do that to you.
Hudson’s always been a big guy, but the man in front of me looks like he could bench press two of me. He runs a hand through his blondish-brown hair, his pouty lips parted as he sucks in a breath.
“There he is!” Andre says with a smile as he walks up to greet Hudson. I realize I’m standing frozen like a statue next to Mack, staring at Huds like a weirdo, so I shake out of it as Paul hugs him and then Mack offers his hand.
“Hudson,” he says with a grunt. Hudson reaches for Mack’s hand, and he pulls it back at the last second, giving Andre and Paul a laugh. Hudson lets out a faint sound as Mack says, “Too slow.”
“Fuck you, Mackenzie,” Hudson says with an annoyed laugh as Mack grins.
My feet are frozen to the concrete as Hudson’s gaze drifts over to me. He gives me a faint smile, but doesn’t move to hug me or shake my hand.
“Trey.” He purses his lips, betraying no hint of emotion.
“Hey,” I say, waving my hand, just as I hear the unmistakable sound of Alex Brewer—there’s no way you can forget anything about Alex. He won’t fucking let you. Hudson turns, a wide grin plastered on his face as he walks up like a kid in a candy store and hugs Alex, nearly knocking him over.
“Sorry I missed your game,” Hudson says as the others let out chuckles.
My heart starts beating fast again and for some reason I can’t take my eyes off of them. Alex holds him out at arm’s length, nodding.
“Trey said we were grabbing food,” Hudson says.
I move toward Alex without thinking, pulling him in for a hug, brushing my arm against Hudson’s meaty one.
“Fuck yeah. Just like old times,” I say briskly.
Alex smiles as he glances at Mack.
“Nice shirt,” Mack says smugly, nodding at Alex’s digs.
I’ve never seen Alex wear flannel and jeans in my life, but it’s not a bad look on him. Then again, guys like Alex can pull off just about anything. Guys like me? Well, sometimes it takes a little more to be the guy everyone expects to see.
They bitch back and forth, the familiarity making my insides warm. Andre and Paul look at the menu on their phones as Hudson shifts his stance, looking a little uncomfortable. I nod at him.
“You okay?”
Hudson doesn’t look at me directly. More or less, he glances at the sign in the window.
“Yeah, fine. Starving. Long flight.”
The guys chat and laugh together, and I swear it feels like we’re right back in college. Like no time has passed at all. But something about the look on Hudson’s face, the tone of his voice, makes me frown.
Jordan nods as he heads for the door and Alex follows, leading the rest of us. I hold the door from Alex, letting Andre and Paul file in next, Hudson tailing everyone.
He glances at me. “Thanks,” he says carefully.
“No problem,” I say as I follow after him.
I slowly amble next to him as the guys point in different directions to all the kiosks. I note the tension in Hudson’s shoulders. I’m sure he’s just exhausted from scrambling to get here, probably a little tired since he was stuck in traffic.
I nudge him with my elbow.
“Check it out,” I say, pointing to a kiosk that has red neon signs that say Hot Honey Chicken & Waffles. “They’ve got your favorite.”
Hudson looks back at me in disbelief.
“Huh?”
I shrug. “Chicken and waffles. You do still like that, right?”
I don’t know why I feel so weird or concerned with what Hudson wants to eat, when I should be looking for something for myself, but I shove that aside because something tells me I should.
“Oh, uh. Yeah. I guess.”
I offer him a smile. “Cool, let’s head there. You know, so you don’t die of starvation.”
Hudson’s lips turn up into a faint smile.
“Yeah, right. What about you? If I recall correctly, and I’m sure I do, you do not like chicken and waffles.”
“Yep. Not my thing.” Hudson frowns. “I mean, they are probably great, don’t get me wrong.
” I feel like a fucking asshole because I swear he looks like I just told him Santa Claus isn’t real.
“I just prefer something a little…” I look around at the kiosks, hoping there is something I can eat.
“Perfect,” I say, nodding to the sushi bar. “They have sushi burritos.”
Hudson looks at me like I’ve grown two heads.
“Sushi… burrito? That’s—”
“It’s a culinary masterpiece, is what it is,” I say with a grin.
Hudson shakes his head.
“More like a culinary nightmare,” he adds. “Raw fish is gross and potentially dangerous.”
“Have you ever had it?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Nope.” He shakes his head. “Yuck. No thanks. Enjoy your worms.”
I laugh as I get my wallet out, and we move up in the line.
“Don’t knock it til you try it.” I wink and his entire face goes slack, just as it’s time for us to move up again.
I motion for him to move, but he’s frozen like a computer screen. Completely checked out.
“One combo number six, please,” I say, pulling my card out and stepping forward. That jolts him from his momentary shutdown.
“Hey, wait a—”
The cashier takes my card and hands me the receipt.
“Your food will be ready at the window,” the disenchanted cashier says as I nudge Hudson to move.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he says, sounding guilty for some reason.
I wave him off.
“It’s all good,” I say with a smile. “You can pay me back later.”
Hudson purses his lips as if he’s going to protest, but before he can, the attendant calls out his combo as Alex screams our names to show us where they found a spot big enough to fit all of us.
“I’m going to grab my disgusting sushi burrito and side of worms,” I tease him. “Save a seat for me, okay?”
And with that, I leave Hudson in my dust.