Page 102 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
At first, I was useless, and it took me ages to pick up the moves. During one tricky bit, I bent forward before snapping back and my boob almost fell out of my top. Great.
A large whoop from the boys across the field told me it hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Just before the end of lunch, we all went through the routine together.
I bent over to tie my lace, feeling hot and bothered, when I straightened, I spotted Hudson. He was so fast and strong, and my mouth almost watered. Most of the girls kept stopping to watch the players. Once Hudson had finished the drill, he lifted his top, revealing his muscled abs as he wiped the sweat from his face with his practice jersey. Oh, sweet Jesus.
“You’re overrunning your mark, Gage; it makes it tougher on your QB. Get your head in the game. You can’t afford any distractions,” Coach bellowed. I wondered if I were the distraction, and it made me hide a smile. I found it hard to focus on the dance after that.
Once the routine ended and we froze in our finishing poses, there was a cheer from a couple of the girls who were watching and wolf whistles ensured from the staring jocks.
“OK, guys, knock it off. Let’s try some slant routes,” Rutherford shouted, his attempt to get the guys back on task.
All the girls congratulated me and said that I was a natural.
I thought about what being part of the cheer squad would mean. Would it make my father proud or not? I had no doubt it would cement me with the popular crowd. I just needed to get my head around their constant bickering over the jocks. I suppose I should have expected it. Storm said cheerleaders and football players went together like clam cakes and chowder. I said I’d think about it.
I was in the middle of the girls as they praised me again, and I couldn’t help but smile. Storm even pulled me in for a huge hug. That happened just as Harper appeared at the side of the bleachers with her headphones on.
Two girls started cackling as they spotted her, calling her Foster Care, and I didn’t like that.
Pulling my gaze away from Harper, who hadn’t seen me, I cast my eye around the girls. They were all as plastic as hell. Fake.
What the hell was I doing? Trying to be something I wasn’t, and for what? A boy whom I would probablyneverunderstand?
Turning back to Harper, I swallowed, hoping she wouldn’t spot me. And then she did.
Harper looked between Storm and me before turning and walking back towards the school.
I went to move after her, but Storm’s hand on my arm stopped me. “Just leave her. She’ll get over it.”
“But she’s a friend.”
“If she’s your friend, she’ll want to see you happy. Besides, being in the squad would give you more chances to see Hudson.”
“What are you talking about, Storm?” Reed suddenly said from behind her. He’d spoken with his mouth guard in, and so his words were partly muffled before he removed it and started to yank his helmet off. He looked huge in the protective body gear.
“Go away, Reed,” Storm waved him off, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “You should focus more on your shitty pass plays with your receiver and less time eaves dropping. This is girl talk. Your stupid jock-ass wouldn’t understand anyway.”
“My stupid jock-ass?”
They then started to argue.
I stepped backwards with a roll of my eyes, my shoulders hitting a hard chest.
As I spun around, I lifted my chin to see Hudson. Shit, it was good to see him up close again. Awareness ran through my entire body, and the memory of those lips on mine gave me goosebumps.
Backing up another step, I glanced down towards his hands. He was holding his helmet and arranging his gloves inside it. Those dark eyes were roaming over my stomach. I didn’t need to read that smirk on his face to establish he hadn’t approached me for friendly reasons. Here we go again.
“Gage?”
“Miller?”
Hudson moved past me and placed his helmet on the bottom of the bleachers where I had put my mobile phone.
“I thought you were ignoring me,” I accused, tugging down my skort, feeling aware of my thighs on display.
Scratching his jaw, which he hadn’t shaved recently, he asked. “Why would I be ignoring you?”
