Page 42 of Tequila Burn

“And you’re lucky for it.” He chuckles, dropping an arm around my shoulder seconds after joining us at the island.

“I think you’re the lucky one,” she quips, eyeing him over her glass as she takes a drink.

“What’s everyone drinking?” He looks around at all three of our glasses which are getting very close to needing refills.

“Vodka and Cranberry. You want one?” Kelly offers.

“I’ll pass.” He shakes his head and crinkles his nose. “I think I’ll just grab a beer.”

“Lennon, you want another?” Sara offers, following Hudson to the refrigerator to extract the cranberry juice from the door.

“No, I’m good.” I wave her off. “I do, however, need to run to the bathroom,” I say, finishing off the last of my beverage before turning to drop my glass in the sink.

“Breaking the seal.” Kelly clucks her tongue on the roof of her mouth.

“World’s tiniest bladder. Be right back.” Dropping a kiss to Hudson’s cheek, I slip out of the kitchen and down the hall toward the first floor powder room.

Just as I’m reaching for the door knob, something that sounds an awful lot like crying has me stopping. Turning, I look to my left and then my right, deciding it must be coming from Hudson’s father’s office. It’s the only other room on this side of the house.

I know I should mind my own business but knowing that and doing that are two very different things. When I reach the office the door is cracked open just enough that I can see who’s inside. Holly and Brittany. Having already witnessed a pretty nasty altercation between the two of them on the porch earlier this afternoon, I have no desire to subject myself to another one, but something about the way Holly is hovering over Brittany makes it impossible for me to walk away.

“You fucking bitch. How dare you embarrass me,” Holly grinds out in a low tone seconds before a smack echoes through the room.

I blink slowly, not having a good enough view to know whether or not that slap connected with Brittany or something else. For his sake I hope it’s the second, but something tells me it’s not.

Wedging the door open further, I quietly step into the doorway.

“I wasn’t... I didn’t mean to,” Brittany stutters, her voice shaking.

“You didn’t mean to?” he questions, rearing back his fist.

“I knew better than to come here. You all think you’re so much fucking better than me. But you aren’t. You’re fucking trash. You’ve always been trash and you will always be trash. No one will ever want you. Hell, I don’t want you.”

This time the hit is unmistakable. I watch as his arm swings, his palm connects with her cheek, and the sound of the connection bounces off the walls around us.

“That’s enough.” I step into the room, the words tearing from my throat as I close in. Holly turns to look at me, a murderous look on his face.

“You can mind your own fucking business, bitch,” he spits, taking a commanding step toward me.

“You made it my business when you put your hands on Hudson’s sister.” My voice holds surprisingly strong. My actions fueled by pure adrenaline and the slight buzz of alcohol in my veins.

“Turn the fuck around and leave,” he warns, closing the small distance between us.

“No.” I stand my ground, looking around him to Brittany. “Get out of here,” I tell her. Her shocked expression only intensifies as she makes no attempt to go anywhere, tears flowing down her pink cheeks.

“I said, turn the fuck around and leave. And don’t even think about saying a fucking word to anyone.” Holly leans in so close I feel his breath hot on my face.

“You’ve clearly misjudged me,” I whisper, taking a deep breath. “Hudson!” I scream. “Hudson!” I get out a second time before Holly’s hand covers my mouth. He twists me against him, trying to keep me from leaving the room.

I hear Hudson before I see him. His footsteps pounding down the hallway toward us. I’ve managed to wrestle myself free and am stumbling toward the door just as Hudson appears, face drawn in confusion as he assesses the situation.

“What the fuck?” He looks from Holly, to his sister, to me.

“Hudson wait!” Brittany jumps into action as Hudson takes a step toward Holly. “It’s not what you think,” she quickly tries to explain.

“Are you kidding me?” I scream at her, Hudson’s gaze cutting to me. “He hit her,” I tell him, my voice taking on a slight shake.

“I didn’t fucking touch her,” Holly spits overtop of Brittany who’s acting as a barrier between her boyfriend and brother.

---