Chapter 7
Chapter seven
Cullen
Hudson is finally coming home today.
I’ve worn a path into the porch boards waiting for Mr. Daniels’ car to turn onto the street. Every few minutes, I check my phone even though Hudson already called me to say they were on their way.
Thirty minutes ago.
The wind blows through the chimes on the porch as I sit on the top step, knee bouncing.
You don’t get released after a suicide attempt without a million evaluations first. Yesterday, Hud spent hours with Dad and his new therapist answering questions about medication, therapy, safety plans, and his mental state—every stone that could be turned was laid out on the table.
Some of the questions seemed invasive. Like they were digging through every dark thought he’s ever had and put them under a microscope.
But they cleared him.
After a month in the hospital, it almost doesn’t feel real.
Hud asked me to stay with him while they did the evaluation. I tried to act normal about it, but secretly, it meant everything that he wanted me there. That he still reached for me even after all of this.
A car turns onto the street, and my heart leaps before I realize it’s the wrong one. I scrub a hand down my face.
Every part of me is desperate to have him home, but I'm terrified of getting my hopes up too high.
Because even with the green light to leave the hospital, he’s still all over the place mentally.
Dad says Hud’s mood swings are to be expected and that healing won't be linear. One minute he’s quiet and numb, the next he’s irritated and overwhelmed.
But he’s not considered a danger to himself anymore, and that’s the part I keep clinging to.
At least physically, he's better.
Most of the cuts and bruises from the fall are gone now, and his brain and lung scans came back clear. A miracle, honestly. The sling on his left arm is the only thing left that immediately tells people something happened to him.
I glance down the street again, willing their car to turn the corner.
The bag in my hand rattles as my body shakes with anticipation.
While he’s been in the hospital, Hudson hasn’t been able to eat anything of substance.
Only in the last few days has he been able to tolerate solid food.
So, I made him a welcome home bag full of his favorite treats.
He probably can’t stomach them yet, but they’ll be there when he can.
The sound of a car engine in the distance spikes my excitement, but it dies a quick death when I realize it’s Ella pulling up to the curb.
Great. She’s the last person I want to see.
She strides up, her own gift bag tucked under her arm. “I figured you’d be on collection duty.” She sits next to me on the steps, situating the sparkly blue bag between her feet.
I scoff. “He’s not a bag of garbage waiting on the sidewalk.”
She tosses her sleek black hair over her shoulder and rolls her eyes. “Geez, you need to relax. You know I didn’t mean anything by it.”
I’m sure she didn’t, but just being near her is exhausting.
When I don’t respond, she sighs. “I was just trying to make small talk, no need to be an ass.”
My breath is heavy when I exhale. “Sorry. Hud asked me to just meet him here.”
Like his name summons him, Mr. Daniels pulls into the driveway. I’m off the steps, yanking open the back door to help Hud out before the car is even at a full stop. I start to pull him into a hug, but the scowl on his face stops me cold.
His expression doesn’t match how happy he sounded on the phone earlier, but I smile anyway.
“Welcome home, baby,” I say, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
“You mean welcome back to the bullshit?”
He steps around me and walks right past Ella, straight up to the front door.
I ball my fist and turn to find Hadley standing next to me, frowning.
“He didn’t sound upset on the phone earlier. What happened?” I ask.
Hadley lets out a tired breath. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels come over, completing a loose circle.
“He was actually in good spirits this morning and was excited to come home. The nurses even gave him a little parade as we left, which he seemed to really appreciate,” Mrs. Nora tells me.
“Then we got to the car…” Hadley trails off.
“And?” I push.
Mr. Daniels sighs, rubbing his fingers over his brow. “There was a photo with a note under the wiper blade.”
He pulls a folded piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to me. I unfold the paper, heat rushing through me, and my heart racing. It’s a blurry photo of Hudson being carried on the backboard to the ambulance. Across the picture, words are scrawled in that all too familiar handwriting.
I’m the one who saved you. Not him. ME!
“What the hell does that mean?” I growl, shoving the picture back at Mr. Daniels. The note that was left with his flowers basically said the same thing.
“We don’t know, but we reported it to the detective. He’s going to retrieve the parking deck cameras to see if they can find out who left it,” Mrs. Nora says.
“I know y'all are talking about my future corpse bride over there. We can make burial arrangements later. So if it’s not too much hassle for anyone, I’d like to go inside,” Hudson yells from the front porch.
I cut my eyes in his direction, hoping he sees that I don’t find that shit the least bit funny.
“Yeah… the dark humor has been nonstop,” Hadley says under her breath.
“Awesome,” I grumble.
We all file into the house, and Hudson goes straight to the media room, Ella right on his heels. We all follow behind him, taking seats throughout the space.
“Why don’t I order lunch and we can all just relax?” Mrs. Nora says to the room.
“Whatever you want to do, Mom. I’m not hungry.” Hud picks up the TV remote and starts scrolling through the streaming apps. Mrs. Nora looks a little defeated, much like we all have at various times these last few weeks.
“I can go grab it if you want.” I need to get out and let off some of this anger. Hud doesn’t need to see me lose it.
She smiles fondly at me. “That would be great, Cullen. Thank you.” She walks off, phone in hand, Mr. Daniels right behind her.
A stilted silence falls over the room. Everyone keeps glancing at Hudson, like we don’t know how to act now that he’s home.
“I’m not going to kill myself with the TV remote, so y’all can relax,” he comments, voice flat.
“That’s not funny, Hudson,” I snap.
He just shrugs, eyes fixed on the screen. The air feels suffocating, and I can’t take it anymore.
Too on edge to sit, I storm out of the room and pace the front porch.
I’m only outside for a couple of minutes before I hear the front door close with a soft click. Hadley comes over to where I’m wearing a hole in the wood and sits on the porch swing.
“My mom said the food should be ready in about fifteen minutes, but I can go get it if you need a moment.”
I drop onto the swing next to her, elbows on my knees, and head in my hands.
I’m still so pissed at Hadley for the part she played, but I can’t help it as my words spill out rough, unable to choke them down any longer.
“I get that Hudson has to deal in his own way, but I can’t handle the jokes.
And that asshole is still out there, claiming him, threatening—” I swipe a hand over my face. “What if Hud breaks again?”
Hadley swallows hard, blinking rapidly as she turns her face away.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I shouldn’t have dumped that on you.”
She takes my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t apologize. It’s been tough these last few weeks, and you’ve been killing yourself trying to be Hud’s support.”
I finally look at her. Her smile is sad, but her eyes hold warmth. “Hads, I don’t think I’ve apologized to you. Things with Hud happened fast, and we weren’t trying to hurt you. We just wanted to give you time.”
She nods, head tipping onto my shoulder. “I was awful to you,” she whispers. “As a girlfriend and after. I’m sorry, Cull.”
“Yeah, well. I forgive you for the shit you pulled when we were together, but when it comes to Hud…”
“You two look cozy.”
The rough voice cuts through the moment like a whip, and we both jolt. Hudson is standing just a few feet away, hands balled into fists and eyes flicking to where Hadley is still holding my hand. “I’m glad my failed attempt to kill myself brought you two back together.”
My stomach drops. Ella stands a few steps behind him, eyebrows to her hairline. He turns and marches down the steps, and I jump up to follow him.
“We were just talking, Hud,” I say to his retreating back, but he doesn’t stop walking. “Where are you going?”
He leans his hip on Ella’s car, arm crossed over his sling.
“I thought it would be nice to go with you to get the food. Have some alone time. But I can see you are occupied.” He looks over my shoulder.
“Ella, let’s go grab the food. These two can stay and reminisce on the good old days.
” His narrowed eyes waver before he walks around the side of Ella’s car and opens the door.
Stay calm, Cull. The mood swings are normal right now.
Ella pulls her keys from her pocket and gets into the driver’s seat, not saying a word.
I jog around the car. “No, we can go. It’ll be nice to have some time alone with you,” I say, tugging his good arm towards my truck. He rips it away and curls his lip up at me.
“No. Stay. Remember how I needed space before I tried to off myself? Still need it,” he spits, then gets in the car, slamming the door.
Ella wastes no time pulling away from the curb and driving off down the road.
I’m left standing there, stunned and confused.
What the hell just happened?