Chapter 15
SERENA
More than a week after we checked in, we were still camped out at Chateau Marmont, extending our stay until the media frenzy around Hudson and me finally died down.
The paparazzi had mostly moved on from circling our house, but the online speculation was still vicious.
I’d put my phone on Do Not Disturb days ago, letting only Avery’s texts and calls through.
My team could wait. I wasn’t ready to deal with damage control or carefully worded statements. If they had a business-related question, they could email me. I was the one who paid them, not the other way around. They could deal with being ignored for a bit while my love life was in shambles.
I was curled up on the couch in the living room of the bungalow, half-watching a random rerun of a sitcom I used to love, when the door opened, and Avery burst in, her backpack slung over one shoulder and her eyes wide with something I couldn’t quite read.
“Sis.” She dropped her bag on the floor and kicked off her shoes in one fluid motion. “You are never going to believe what happened today.”
I sat up straight, immediately on alert. “What? Did someone say something at school again?”
Avery shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Actually, things are way better now. People were being normal. No one was whispering or asking me if you guys broke up. A couple even said Hudson seems like he’s actually sorry.”
I blinked. “What are you talking about?”
She stared at me, realization dawning as her eyes widened. “You haven’t seen it.”
“Seen what?” I asked, my brows drawing together.
Avery pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and then handed it to me. “Watch this. The whole thing.”
The video was already queued up—a sit-down interview with Hudson in his living room. His sleeves were rolled up, and he looked tired. Nothing like the polished action star the world usually saw.
I hit play.
Elena Vargas’s voice filled the bungalow. “Hudson, you’ve always been famously private about your dating life…”
My breath caught at the rawness of his answers. How open he was with her. And the way he was brutally honest as he owned up to his mistakes.
He kept going, laying everything bare. Admitting he let Maddie get too close, that he made excuses every single time I tried to tell him something felt wrong, that the photos, the rumors, the dress leak all happened on his watch. He said everything I’d waited months to hear, and more.
When the clip ended, I just sat there, staring at the black screen.
Avery dropped down beside me, close enough that our shoulders touched. “So what do you think?”
I swallowed hard, trying to sort through the storm inside me.
Part of me wanted to cry. Throwing the phone across the room sounded like a great idea, except Avery would kill me if I broke it.
And a tiny, terrifying part of me wanted to crawl through the screen and demand to know why it had taken him this long to say those words.
“He sounded different.” My voice came out shaky. “Like he actually gets it now.”
“Yeah, he was pretty clear about how badly he messed up,” Avery agreed. She reached over and took my hand. “But you’ve heard him sound sorry before. The question is whether he’s finally willing to do the work.”
I nodded, my throat feeling tight. “I know. That’s what scares me.
I still love him, Aves. So much it hurts.
But I can’t go back to wondering every day if he’s going to let someone in his life make me feel small again.
I refuse to be the only one fighting for us while he turns a blind eye to the damage being done. ”
“Then make him prove it.” Avery squeezed my hand. “You’ve been choosing him quietly for months while he let Maddie walk all over you. One good interview doesn’t erase that. You don’t have to forgive him yet. You don’t even have to answer him right away.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t feel like there’s an easy answer.”
Avery reached over, snagged a forkful of the leftover cake, and bumped her shoulder against mine. “Eat something before you spiral. Sugar helps.”
“It really does,” I agreed as I took a bite too.
We sat there eating cake for a few minutes before Avery murmured, “Reach out to him if you want. You’re the only one who can decide what’s best for you. Whatever it is, I’ll have your back. Always.”
I pursed my lips as I thought about her suggestion. “I mean, I did say that I needed space until Maddie wasn’t in his life. And now she’s gone. But it feels like it’s too soon after how hurt I was. If I let him back in too quickly, will he really learn his lesson?”
“I’m probably not the right person to ask.” Avery shrugged. “I’ve never gone on a first date with a boy, let alone been invested enough to be hurt at all.”
“Fair point.” I leaned my head back to stare up at the ceiling. “But I don’t really care what other people think about me. Except you.”
“Right back at ya, Sis.” She mirrored my position, her arm pressed against mine as she looked up too. “I’m not going to judge you if you decide to let Hudson back in.”
“Ugh, I cannot believe I’m actually considering reaching out to him already.”
“Remember what Grandma used to say about cutting off your nose to spite your face?” Avery bumped my shoulder.
“Yeah, don’t do it.”
We laughed at the memory, but then my sister turned serious again when she suggested, “Maybe send one text to test the waters. See if he’s actually listening this time.”
I stared at the phone in my lap for a moment. Then I opened my messages and typed out the shortest reply I could manage before I could overthink my decision.
Me
I saw the interview.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins when I hit send. “There, done.”
Avery grinned. “There she is. My feisty big sister.”
I let out a watery laugh and leaned my head on her shoulder. “I’m not feeling very feisty right now. Too terrified that this flicker of hope is going to burn me again.”
“Then we’ll set first to all his crap together.” She poked me in the side. “And we can go on the run to Connecticut, where we can eat cake until we feel better, while also avoiding being arrested for pesky stuff like arson.”
Hudson’s reply came through while I was laughing at her ridiculous response. Although my humor dried up when I caught a serious gleam in her eyes that made me wonder how far she’d go to protect me. “No setting stuff on fire.”
“Fine, be a spoil sport,” she teased, peering over my shoulder at my phone. “But do it while checking your texts. I’m just about dying of curiosity over here.”
“What if he sends something you shouldn’t see?”
“Eww, please don’t roll immediately into sexting.” Her nose scrunched. “Or do I guess, if that’s what you want. But I’m going to take this as my cue to give you some privacy.”
We weren't going to sext, but I kept it to myself because her reaction was too funny. “Love you, Aves.”
“I love you too.” She kissed my cheek and grabbed her backpack to head into the bedroom she’d claimed as her own.
When the door shut behind her, I finally opened my texts.
Hudson
I meant every word.
Before I could overthink it, I typed back.
Me
It’s going to take more than words, but I appreciate you doing something outside your comfort zone to set the record straight publicly.
Hudson
I know. I’m not asking for forgiveness yet. I need to earn it first.
I wanted to believe him. So much.
Me
I hate that Maddie betrayed your trust, but I’m glad she’s gone. I refuse to be sorry about that.
Hudson
You have nothing to be sorry for. None of this mess is on you. It’s all me.
Me
And Maddie.
Hudson
Only because I gave her access and ignored the red flags you pointed out.
So far, his replies had been everything I had hoped for. Forgiveness wasn’t that easy, though. And I wasn’t sure I’d ever forget.
Me
You’re saying all the right things now, but I’m not sure how much I can trust you.
Hudson
Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere. I’m done making excuses. You come first. Always. And Avery too because she’s important to you.
Just tell me what you need from me. Anything.
I set the phone down before I could type anything else. My hands were shaking, and I was starting to wonder if we’d actually find our way back to each other. But today was too soon to know for sure. So I needed to stop texting before I asked for something I wasn’t ready for yet.