Page 101 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
My tummy flipped, and I skittered towards the window, noticing I had yet to close the blinds.
Looking out into the dark, quiet street, I scanned the pavement past our driveway.
And there he was. Hudson Gage.
He was leaning against my father’s parked car, with the dull glow of light across his face. One hand was in the pocket of his jeans, and the other held his phone.
Hudson was looking up into my bedroom window, and I smiled down at him.
Raising my hand, I placed it on the glass as our gazes remained intertwined.
And. Hudson. Smiled. Back.
My phone vibrated again, and I glanced away.
I’ll see you at school, just Molly.
Deal.I messaged.
And can I ask you a favour?Hudson replied.
Another one?My lips twisted, and I raised an eyebrow at him through my window.Even from a distance, I could see how the street lamp highlighted the amusement across his features. Hudson had a gorgeous smile.
Pursing my lips, I nodded, yes, through the glass without replying.
His next words made me gooey inside as I knew it would happen anyway.
Dream of me.
After reading those words, I lowered my phone and gently closed the blinds. I decided against replying. Part of me was still worried that he was messing with me.
As I lay in bed that night, I eventually fell asleep.
My hopes of dreaming of happy ever afters were once again smothered by images of my past, but this time. This time. Iwasn’talone.
SIXTEEN
The next week of school sailed by. I saw Hudson a few times, but his brothers always surrounded him. Almost like they were his security detail. Harper had also been distant. We’d messaged a few times, but didn’t speak about what had happened at Straker's party. Her texts were mostly about Nick and how he was now ghosting her. I knew that would have something to do with the fight. Hudson was her foster brother after all. Maybe Xander had warned Nick to stay away from her.
After making a few enquiries here and there, Mark explained that there were rumours that the Creed family were into some dodgy stuff. I wasn’t sure what to believe, but I knew I didn’t want to involve myself in anything like that. Now that I appeared to be accepted at school, I just wanted to sink into my studies and build on my relationship with my father.
Whatever was going on with Hudson would have to wait. I certainly wasn’t going to chase after him. I knew he still watched me when he thought I wasn’t looking.
Storm was still playing nice, and a couple of the other cheerleaders started talking to me. This resulted in me eating my lunch on the bleachers, whilst ogling Hudson at practice.
We messaged back and forth, but it was just the usual banter. Gentle flirting without substance, in my opinion. One afternoon, whilst I was watching the boys practice, Courtney, one of the cheerleaders, walked over with Storm.
We hadn’t officially been introduced, and Storm explained that Courtney was the choreographer. They encouraged me to attend the cheer auditions, which were being held the following week. A free space had become available due to Sasha dropping out of the squad.
My first two periods had been track and field, which I was useless at. I was wearing a black skort, a white cropped top, socks, and plimsolls when Courtney cornered me.
She offered to take me through the moves for the auditions to give me a head start. After numerous attempts to explain that I wasn’t very coordinated, I gave in.
I wondered if it would get Hudson’s attention. The squad and the football team were like a set, and I wanted to be part of that set, so I agreed.
So, one lunchtime, I spent the latter half attempting to follow Courtney and Storm’s guidance. Tate wasn’t in school that day, thank goodness. I probably wouldn’t havegiven it a go if I’d had her giggling behind her hand. The other girls were encouraging, which spurred me on.
“You must join us, as with your accent and looks, you’ll drive the boys on the other team wild. We’re playing our old rivals next, St Andrew’s High.” I remembered that was the school Nick went to.
