I glared at him like he’d spouted another head. “You're disgusting.”
“And you’re a prude,” he replied, something dangerous flashing in his eyes—almost like the calm before a storm.
I sucked back my pout as I knew it would be wasted on this boy. “Why are you being like this?” Confusion continued to impale me. It felt like we were living in an alternative universe at times.
I exchanged a glance with Storm over his shoulder as he replied. “Like what?”
“So hot and cold. I know this isn’t the real you,” I whispered.
“Maybe it’s reverse psychology. Isn’t it true that we all want what we cannot have?”
My mouth dropped open in shock. “Well, good luck with that. I don’t give my heart easily, especially to a boy whose sole purpose at school appears to be messing with my head. And all because of who my father is.”
Hudson pretended to look affronted. “It’s not mysolepurpose. I’m here to learn, too.”
“How magnanimous of you. But we both know that’s rubbish. I know you’re already at the top of most of your classes,includingmaths.”
“Yeah, you got me.”
Dragging my fingers through my hair, I pulled out the bobble and shook my head. It had started to feel too tight. Hudson’s eyes flared as my hair fell around my shoulders in sticky waves. “What was the real reason you asked me to tutor you? Get me into your bedroom so you can try it on? Taint the sweet principal’s daughter more than your silly slut shaming hearsay?”
“Oh, you’re good,” Hudson smirked with a pointed finger.
“And you’rederanged. Goodbye, Hudson.” With a swish of hair, I moved past him, grabbed my rucksack, and started walking.
“Wait,” Hudson growled, grabbing my arm to stop me. I turned back, giving him an unimpressed glare at where he held me. He released me and raised his hands in a calming gesture. “Look, yes, at first, but I did need math support. So, it was a double deal.”
“At first. So that isn’t your intention any longer?”
Hudson dashed a hand across the scuff on his jaw. “Yes, no. I don’t know, alright?”
I raised my finger and prodded him in the chest, hard. “That’s a surprise when you act like you have all the answers. But I see straight through you.”
“Really?” he snarked, stepping back as I moved forward. Our roles were now reversed. He was on the defence and I was the attacker.
Hudson stopped just before hitting the safety rails of the bleachers. “Yes, really. Whatevergrimchildhood shit you’re dealing with. Whatever happened before you bunked off school has clearly crucified you and now, you’re being a dick as a distraction. Whether that’s for my benefit or yours—who knows?”
My breath caught in my throat as Hudson took my upper arms in his hands and spun me around so my back now touched the bleachers. Reversing our positions. Hudson bent his body, his nose so close to mine. “So, you’re a shrink now? Is there no end to your talents?”
My phone started ringing, but I ignored it. I needed to get things off my chest.
“I’m just saying that you should talk to someone about that. Otherwise, it will eat away at you until there’s nothing left.”
“Yeah, thanks for that. And whilst I love a good mind fuck as much as the next guy, I’ll pass thanks. You know nothing, Molly. If you did, you’d think twice before you calledmy childhood grim. Grim doesn’t touch the sides, sweetheart. So, you might want to stop testing me.”
“Oh, boo-hoo. So, deal with it,bringit to the surface and have that shit out with someone. Don’t put up walls a mile wide and twenty feet high. If you do, you’ll rot behind them. And who will be there to pick up the pieces?”
“My brothers. They’re always there for me.”
“Yourbrothersare as fucked up as you are,” I scoffed. My phone started ringing again, and we both turned to glance at it.
He let go of me. “Aren’t you going to get that?”
We moved together, with Hudsonsnatchingup my phone before I could get there. I lunged towards his hand, but he moved his arm into the air.
“Give me that,” I snapped, attempting to catch the moving target. Hudson held me back with his other hand and drew the phone to his face.
“If you break my phone, there will be trouble,” I warned.
