Page 23 of Hale

When his strong arms wrap around me from behind, I burst into tears. I can’t help it. I’m frustrated and confused and upset.

“Hey now,” he says, his voice soft and comforting. He twists me around until I’m facing him. “I didn’t realize how upset you were.”

I cry against his shirt, wishing the entire world around us would disappear. That we could turn off the lights and sleep side by side on the couch like we’d done in the past. In the dark. Just him and me.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers against my hair. “I didn’t know.”

Didn’t know what?

That I’m completely obsessed with him?

The thought only makes me cry harder.

“Hey, guys,” Amy chirps from the stairs. “Everything okay?”

Reluctantly, I start to pull away.

“Can you give us a few more minutes alone?” he asks, hugging me back to him.

“Sure,” she squeaks out. “Of course.” Her footsteps retreat and the door closes behind her.

Hudson doesn’t rush me to calm down. He simply strokes my hair and kisses the top of my head. It soothes my broken heart and empty soul.

Time passes slowly, but it comforts me knowing it passes with him.

Amy’s voice is once again getting under my skin.

“It’s been over an hour. Should I ask Becky to take me home?”

“Yes,” Hudson says at the same time I say, “No.”

I tilt my head up to look at him. His nose is red and I wonder if he was crying too. He clenches his jaw and pierces me with an intense stare.

“Are you sure?” he asks me.

“Yeah, let’s watch a movie.”

Hudson

Iknew this was a bad idea.

Rylie is too fragile. Aunt Becky gives me the updates when I’m not talking to Rylie herself. If it weren’t for Amy blowing up my goddamned phone and guilting me into seeing her, I would’ve gone straight here. Now, I wish I’d manned up and told her I’d see her a different day.

Amy flashes me a worried look, but I simply shake my head at her. It’s too late now. We’ll get through tonight. Then, I’ll make it up to her.

To Rylie.

I owe it to her.

“We picked out a funny movie,” Amy says with false cheer.

“Okay,” Rylie says as she curls up on one end of the sofa. Retreating. I see it in her eyes. It makes me want to grab her and pull her outside of her own head.

“Great,” Amy chirps. She hands me the movie and plants herself in the middle of the sofa. Irritation blossoms inside me. I’m being unfair by being annoyed with Amy, but I can’t help it. It’s like she’s trying to make things harder.

I get the movie started and then sit on the opposite end as Rylie. Amy practically climbs into my lap. The movie starts and soon Amy is laughing at every scene.

Rylie stares at the screen, lost in her mind.