Page 27 of Secret Hudson

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ROYCE

“Sammy. What are you doing here?” I actually stop in my own fucking tracks when I walk out of our room to find her sitting at the breakfast bar.

She tosses her head back laughing. “It’s the fucking EMAs, Royce. You really think I’d let my husband be dateless at an award show?”

I shrug. At this point, I’m not entirely sure what I think she would or wouldn’t do to her husband. Most of the time she seems to be on an all-out mission to torture the fuck out of him.

“He just didn’t mention it, that’s all.” I start moving again. I need a fucking coffee to process this shit. “He does know you’re here, right?” It’s a legitimate question, although judging by her expression, she hardly thinks so.

“Yes, he fucking knows. Shit, Royce. What’s your fucking problem?”

I want to tell her. Fucking A, I want to let her know exactly what my problems are. And after watching Derek drown in a misery she poured down upon him day after fucking day, the list is long. But I don’t.

“No problem. No problem at all. It’s nice to see you, Sammy. Been a while.” I even manage a fake smile to go with my phony as shit tone.

“See. That wasn’t so hard.”

I shrug. That’s debatable.

Thankfully, Angel wanders in before I can say so.

“Yo.” He reaches into the fridge for a water, clearly still half asleep. Then he spots her. “Sammy?”

She throws her hands up, getting pissed. “What the fuck is wrong with you guys? If one more person acts shocked to see me, I’m going to scream.”

“Damn, girl. No need to get all worked up. It’s cool. We like the element of surprise around here.”

That’s one way of putting it.

“Derek didn’t tell you either?” I ask, ignoring the dirty look Sammy shoots me.

“Nah.” Angel doesn’t need to expound on his answer. The general consensus regarding Sammy and Derek’s relationship is pretty solidly settled in ‘she’s ruining his fucking life’ these days, and at this point, she’ll have to do some serious proving herself for us to welcome her back with open arms again. Of course, she seems completely oblivious to our position, or why we might feel entitled to have such.

Meanwhile, another train of thought takes off in my slowly waking brain, now working at more efficient speeds since having been jolted with a healthy dose of caffeine.

“Hey, are you bringing anyone tonight?”

Angel leans against the counter, purposely keeping his back to Sammy. “Yeah. Why?”

I frown. “Who are you bringing?”

“Petra.”

I twist my mouth back and forth trying to place her. “That model you were hooking up with last year?”

He nods. “Yeah. She’s in town for work, so I figured why not mix business with pleasure. Know what I’m sayin’?” Everyone always knows what he’s saying. He only ever talks about one damn thing when it comes to the opposite sex.

“So, you’ll be there with Petra, Derek has Sammy. And obviously Blaise and Ava will be there together. That just leaves me. Dateless.” Except, not exactly.

Angel tips his head to the side, his brows knitted. “Where’s Hudson going to be?”

“He’ll be there. He’s gotta be there as per his contract.” Which makes the whole thing even worse.

“I don’t get it. If your man’s gonna be there, how the hell will you be dateless?”

“Wait. Royce has a man? Since when?” Considering how hard Angel and I are trying to pretend she doesn’t exist, Sammy really isn’t picking up on being ignored. Or maybe she is and just doesn’t give a shit.

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