Page 99 of Beautiful Collide

It feels real.

35

Hudson

Mason:Guys. I figured out our retirement plan.

Aiden:I don’t wanna know.

Dane:Is it illegal?

Mason:I’m serious. It’s a game. I call it: Where’s Hudson?

Mason:It’s like Where’s Waldo, except instead of tracking down a hipster with no fashion sense, we’re tracking down a train wreck with no fashion sense. I’m trademarking it as we speak.

Aiden:For real. Dude is Houdini. Where did he even go after the game last night?

Dane:Probably busy“reflecting on his life choices.” (Source: The Redville Post this morning. Hudson, you should probably have a libel lawyer on retainer at this point.)

Mason:Oh, he was reflecting all right. You should’ve seen him at the bar after I dragged his sorry ass there.

Dane:Do tell. ??

Aiden:Story time. ??

Mason:The man wasflustered. Red as a tomato. Muttering into his beer like the world personally wronged him.

Dane:Are we talking about the same guy?

Mason:Four drinks in, and he kept moaning, “Why is the world so cruel?” Like some tragic Shakespearean hero.

Dane:?? Was he crying into his drink?

Mason:Helookedlike he wanted to. Almost spilled tequila on my shoes when he dramatically sighed.

Hudson:Are you all done?

Dane:Nope. Mason, any more details?

Mason:Oh, just that at one point, he mumbled something about “hexes” and “torture.”

Aiden:Hexes? As in witchcraft?

Dane:Should we be concerned? I’ll ask the cleaning crew to hide their broomsticks.

Hudson:I hate all of you.

Mason:Bro, the world might be cruel, but we will always be crueler. <3

Hudson:You’re all dead to me.

Mason:?? Love you, too, big guy.

Hudson:[Attachment: Middle finger selfie]

Dane:Frame it. Hang it in the locker room.

Aiden:New team logo.

---