Page 90 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
He pointed the rim of the bottle at me. “Partly.”
Releasing a pent-up sigh of emotion, I close my eyes briefly. “I think you’re a coward, Hudson Gage.”
Dashing a hand down my weary face, I glared as he asked, “How so?”
Our gazes were locked. “You push people away.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. You’ve done it with me before we could get to know each other, and you dressed the reason for that up with the fact that I am the principal's daughter. If that’s my only crime, I feel sorry for you.”
He snorted. “Sorry for me? Why?” I knew someone like Hudson would hate anyone’s sympathy. He was too much of a macho man, but I knew that was bullshit and I powered on. Even though he showed me no redeeming qualities, I knew he had them.
I stepped towards him, the vodka and beer on an empty stomach made confidence fire through me. I pushed up onto my tiptoes and said in his ear. “Because you’re missing out on something which could have been good.” He opened his mouth to speak, but I placed a finger on his lips. The ones where Tate’s rancid mouth had just been. “And before you make any snappy comebacks, I know you felt it, too.”
He cleared his throat and drew his head back, those dark eyes drilling into me. “Felt what?”
I smiled. “The day we met in the library. There was something there, a spark, a connection. And I think itterrifiedyou, especially when you found out who I am, who I’m related to. If you want to run from something that could have been real, carry on fucking with me. You’re the only one who will lose in the long run.”
His eyes glazed over. “Is that a fact?”
“Yes. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to get back to my date.” Fuck Hudson Gage. I was done. Shit, I needed to find a pretend date. Maybe Mark would help me out?
Hudson bristled and stretched to his full height before saying. “What?”
“Mydate, he’s waiting for me,” I replied as if he were stupid. I fluffed my hair. It was my turn to play a part.
He looked confused as he glanced around the party. “I thought you came with Harper,” Hudson said, taking a pull on his beer. He was now agitated, interesting.
Stepping back, I put some distance between his immense frame and my smaller one. It and the booze were doing things to my insides. “I did, but that doesn’t mean I’ll leave with her.”
Hudson choked on his drink as he pulled the bottle away from his lips. His expression was somewhere between anger and shock. “What thefuckdoes that mean?”
I raised my eyebrows and shot him a sugary smile, “Exactly what I said. Girls can play the field as well, you know.”
A flurry of emotions crossed his features as he spat out, “I get that, but you’re not one ofthosegirls.” He looked so sure of himself that he had my measure. Well screw him. Two could play that game.
“If those rumours about me are to be believed, I am.”
I snatched the beer from his hand and necked it before pushing the empty bottlehardagainst his chest. He made an oof sound from the force, and I wiped my mouth. It was unladylike, but I was past caring.
“The rumours, Molly? You mean the ones Ifuckingcreated.” Hudson placed the bottle on the table with some force before straightening.
I waved a hand between us to embellish my point, “How would you know? You hardly know me.”
Hudson’s eyes narrowed, and he took a moment to reply. “You’re full of shit.” There was an intensity in that glare.
“We’ll see.”
I threw that one out there. It was something that Harper seemed to say a lot. Drawing in a shaky breath, I started to straighten my dress and glanced away. And then an opportunity too good to miss presented itself. Xander Creed appeared by the doorway, scanning the room. He must have been searching for me as he raised a hand, and I waved back at him with a smile.
So much for him not attending high school parties. Xander’s face showed he was glad he’d found me, but then it clouded as he turned to look at Hudson.
I looked back and forth between them as a staring match ensued. Did they know each other? If they did, there had to be bad blood. It wasn’t a friendly look.
“Why are you waving at that, prick?”
“Remember that date I told you about?” I said, trailing off purposefully toward the end.
