Page 109 of Truth or Dare

“Come early. I could use an intern. It’s a painfully exploitive position as far as salary but we could hang out after work.”

I laughed. “I had no intention of working this summer.”

“It’s four days a week. The gallery is closed on Fridays, and you would have weekends off. You have nothing going on in Asterdale, right?”

I shook my head, staring at the breakfast section of the menu. “I want to get out of there.”

“We’ll have a great time, I promise.”

I smiled and we perused the menu as the waitress stopped by with her order pad. For the first time in two weeks, I was hungry, ordering a small stack of chocolate chip pancakes and a couple of fried eggs. Tension eased in my shoulders as I sipped coffee and talked about the future. It was bright.

CHAPTER 32

Hudson

Alex clapped me on the back as he dropped my duffel bag on the floor. “I’m gonna miss you, kid,” he said, squeezing my shoulder.

My stepfather was the glue that held our family together more than once. After it came to light that my father was murdered by Mrs. Braddock, his comfort and guidance kept my mother and me from going crazy. He picked me up several times when I was too drunk to drive, no questions asked.

My mother was making my queen size bed when he pressed some cash into my hand. I pushed it back at Alex.

“I have money.”

He winked. “This is for those late nights when you just want to grab a beer and a burger.”

Emotion clogged my throat, and I hugged him. We had an understanding after he came into my life, no babying me but now, I wanted to return his affection.

“Thank you for everything,” I whispered.

“I’ll always be here for you, Hudson. I can’t be him, but I can be the best stepfather I can to you. If you need anything, let me know.”

I forced back the tears which threatened to fall. “I couldn’t ask for a better stepfather. Take care of Mom,” I whispered.

He cupped the back of my neck. “Always.”

My mother stepped out of the bedroom. “All done. You’ll have to get better at housework now that you have your own place,” she said.

I chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll be visiting. Asterdale isn’t that far away.”

She pulled me into a hug. “Your father would be so proud. I know we are.”

I hugged her back, clinging to her blouse. So much happened over the past few months but I made it through though my sacrifice was losing Presley. Maybe we weren’t each other’s destinies.

After my parents left,I ordered a pizza and gorged myself on almost the entire small pie until I couldn't move. The grease and cheese were a temporary comfort, masking the unease that simmered beneath the surface. I snapped the air conditioner on high, letting the cool air wash over me as I stripped off my t-shirt and jeans. I collapsed onto the fresh sheets of my bed, staring up at the ceiling.

In a week, I will start my freshman year at Columbia University. The thought should have been exciting, exhilarating even, but a legacy isn't always a blessing. Both my parents and my stepfather had left large footprints for me to follow.

My stepfather, with his connections on the board, made sure I knew he had paved the way, but I didn't need it. My grades were good enough to gain entry on their own. Still, the weight of expectations pressed down on me, heavy and relentless.

As the air conditioner hummed, my mind drifted to Presley. Somewhere, eight miles across the city, she was out there. I didn't have her address, only fragmented memories of our past. The last few months had been a whirlwind, and thoughts of her had been a constant undercurrent, a nagging reminder of unfinished business.

Would we cross paths during our four years of college? The possibility lingered in the back of my mind, a mix of hope and trepidation. I wanted to see her again, to understand what had happened between us, but the fear of facing the truth gnawed at me. What if the person I remembered was no longer the person she had become?

I rolled over, trying to push these thoughts away, but they clung to me like a shadow. The room grew colder, the air conditioner working overtime, yet my mind remained restless. I had no idea what the future held, but one thing was certain: Columbia would be a fresh start, a chance to carve out my own path.

As I lay there, the weight of the unknown pressing down on me, I made a silent promise to myself. No matter what happened, I would find Presley. I needed to know if our paths were meant to converge once more, or if we were destined to remain as distant memories, echoes of a past left unresolved.

Three weeks into school,I found myself hanging out with my next-door neighbor, Oscar, in his cramped but cozy studio. Therain pounded relentlessly against the windows, a steady rhythm that matched the hum of our conversation. We were both starving, and the late hour meant our usual go-to delivery spots were closed.

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