Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
“Obviously, you lost the bet.” He jabs a finger in Hudson’s direction. “Did you upset my sister?”
All eyes on the table focus on me.
I try not to shrink in my chair.
“He didn’t do anything,” I say way too quickly. With a pitch way too high.
Way to be obvious.
Hudson leans back in his chair, looking annoyingly calm. “Yeah, we’re good. No bets broken.”
And that’s that.
The server comes over, saving me. I make a mental note to give her the biggest tip I can afford later.
We all place our orders with varying degrees of mortification and amusement. I’m hopeful Dane has dropped the subject. That this is the distraction I need to be able to change the conversation.
No such luck.
As soon as the server leaves, Mason points a finger at me and then quickly at Hudson.
“You’re both lying.” Mason slams his palms onto the table. “Spill. Who lost?”
“Neither of us,” I insist, knuckles turning white on my mug.
“Whatever you say . . . but you’re both being weird.” Cassidy narrows her eyes and looks at Hudson. “Although that’s not saying much for you, since you’re normally weird.”
“Maybe you’ve all forgotten what normal looks like,” Hudson counters smoothly, his smirk still firmly in place.
Mason grins, leaning forward. “Okay, but we doubled down on bets, so I need to know who’s winning. I have twenty bucks and a potholder collection riding on Molly.”
Josie bursts out laughing. “A potholder collection? Are you serious?”
“Dead serious,” Mason replies, unfazed by how ridiculous this all sounds.
“Dane said he’d wash my car if Hudson loses,” Cassidy adds, grinning. “So I’m kind of rooting for him to crack first.”
I glare at my brother. “Neither of us cracked.”
Dane crosses his arms, eyeing us suspiciously. “You’re sure? Because you’re acting like you did after that time Hudson got a ride from you to the game. Like you can’t even look at each other. Like you hate each other.”
Well, we did hate each other.
But that was different.
I avoided him back then because I hated him.
I’m avoiding him now because I don’t trust myself not to climb him like a flagpole.
Josie grins, her eyes darting between us. “I think they’re acting like the opposite of hate.”
I scowl. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Josie shrugs innocently. “Just saying. The tension is palpable.”
Hudson chuckles, the sound grating on my last nerve.
Then why do you feel tingly down there?
Fine. His laugh is hot.
He’s still annoying.
“Palpable, huh?” Hudson is like the cat who ate the canary. “Interesting choice of words.”
Does this man ever shut up?
He’s just making it worse.
I shoot him a warning glare, all while trying to remain calm despite my heart pounding in my chest.
“Well”—Cassidy leans back with a smirk—“I guess we’ll just have to keep an eye on you two.”
Great.
Just great.
44
Hudson
The night is eerily quiet; the hum of the city muted this high up. I lean against the doorframe to the rooftop of the hotel where the team is staying, staring at the figure sitting underneath the stars.
I might not see her face, but I’d know her anywhere.
She’s haunted my thoughts for longer than I care to admit.
I watch her for a minute, sitting up against the low wall, knees pulled up, face tilted up to the sky.
She shouldn’t be up here.
Hell, I shouldn’t be either.
But something brought me here, and I have to believe it’s her. It’s almost like I’m stuck in her gravitational pull, and even if I tried, I’d never escape it.
Who are you trying to kid? You’ve never really tried.
For a hot second, I pretended I didn’t care about her.
That lasted all of two seconds.
I let the world think I was losing myself in an endless bevy of women, but it was all bullshit. None of that shit was real. The only thing that was real is that the very first time I saw Molly Sinclair, I was obsessed.
I move from where I’m perched, desperate for a closer look, needing to see her face.
When she comes into focus, she practically takes my breath away. She looks so different right now. Not her usual sarcastic self. There’s nothing combative about her.
She looks serene. Peaceful.
I want to be with her.
I stumble from the revelation.
I don’t care what her brother says, or what anyone says . . . I want Molly, and I’m going to do everything in my power to have her.
I step out of the shadows, my boots crunching softly on the graveled rooftop. This place definitely isn’t safe, but if she’s here, then I’m here.
Molly glances over her shoulder. It might be dark out, but even from here, under the black sky that blankets us from above, I can tell her expression looks wary.
I take another step out until a small light from the neighboring building lights the space. Her head whips in my direction.
It’s not bright out, but clearly, it’s enough for her to realize it’s me. Her eyes widen before a smile tugs at her lips.