Page 62 of Engaging with Her Enemy

Dewey said something, keeping his eyes locked on Becky. What? Had Hudson decided to tell Dewey, too?

Knowing Cameron and his big mouth, Dewey already knew.

The tears from the pain threatened to fall as Hudson climbed out of the back seat. Oh, he saw she was pissed. Concern and confusion written all over his face.

“Don't even act like you don't know why I'm pissed off.” She crossed her arms to keep her hands from shaking. Or from throwing her cell phone at his face.

“Hard to do since I don't know why you're pissed.”

Dewey shook his head and walked inside. “Scream if you need help.”

“I think I'll be alright,” Hudson muttered, approaching her slowly. “Becky, I don't have any clue why you're upset.”

“Oh, this is so far beyond upset.”

“Then I'll rephrase. I don't know why you're so damn pissed off that you want to pull my intestines out through my nose.”

“That's closer.”

“But I honestly don't know.”

“Oh!” She threw her hands in the air. “Honesty. How about you honestly keep your word and your mouth shut? Did you not think I'd find out? Cameron has one of the biggest mouths in this town.” She paced, needing to move. Her shoes, the ones she’d worn for him, crunched over the gravel parking lot. The wind carried the smell of burgers from across the street. She had something else in her life when he left. She wouldn’t be alone despite how empty her soul felt.

“I agree. Cameron can’t keep a secret, which is why I don't know where he fits into this,” he said, motioning between them. “Why don’t you explain that to me?”

“You did it again, Hudson.” She took a shallow breath. Any deeper and the tears would fall, and then she'd be pissed and embarrassed. “You screwed it up. Everything we had is gone.”

He dared to look confused. Oh, he knew. He knew exactly what had happened.

“Becky, I don't know what you're talking about, but we can straighten it out.” He took a step closer, holding his hands out like he approached a wild animal. Maybe she appeared that way. She felt like she could strike out at any moment. “But I have to know what you think I did.”

“You told Cameron about my disability. About college.”

He straightened, the wariness leaving his face. “No. I didn't.”

“Juliana asked m-e about it. Told me Cameron told her. You are the only one in the entire world aside from my professor that knows. My parents don’t even know about college. Itcouldn'thave come from anyone else.”

“I don't know how, Becky, but I swear I never told him.” Hudson stepped to her quicker than she could step away. He held onto her shoulders. “I didn't tell him. Why can’t you believe that?”

“Because I learn from the past.” She tried to turn away, but he held her in place. “Let go of me, Hudson.”

“Becky.” He dropped his hands, and she stomped across the street and back to her car. “Becky,” he called, jogging after her.

“No.” She whirled around before she sat down. This time the tears slipped out, but she wiped them away. “I don't want to see you.”

“You can't be serious.”

Her gaze locked with his, and she mustered up the words she never wanted to say. “Goodbye, Hudson.”

She sat down, shut the door, and drove away, her heart shattering.

22

“Shit!” Hudson balled up his fists, wanting to pound on something. How the hell had this happened? He had a diamond ring in his pocket and had somehow screwed it up. And he hadn’t done anything.

He stalked across the road, back to his truck.

Juliana stood to the side, Dewey right behind her.

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