Page 83 of Truth or Dare

I raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at my lips. "A sleepover?"

He brushed his lips over my cheek, so close I could feel his breath against my skin. "I don’t plan on doing much sleeping."

Footsteps and voices approached, and Hudson quickly pulled me deeper into the shadows. Despite the threat of being caught, he started trailing butterfly kisses along my neck, his lips warm against my skin. I could feel my pulse hammering, half with the thrill, half with the risk.

As the voices faded, the crowd above us erupted into cheers. I gave him a gentle push. "You need to go."

In the dim light, his gaze locked onto mine, something raw flickering in his eyes. "Promise me one thing—don’t let him get close to you tonight."

I nodded, letting my hands slip from his grasp. My mind was already working through my plan. Deep in the liquor cabinet at home was a half-empty bottle of Everclear. Evan wouldn’t be able to resist a chance to show off, and a couple of shots would take him down fast. All I had to do was get Neil out of there.

"I’ll handle it," I whispered. "He’ll be drunk in no time, and I’ll leave him passed out upstairs. I’ll take Neil home."

Hudson’s eyes lit with a glimmer of hope. "If you do, text me. I’ll keep it to one beer and meet you at home. Mom and Alex are out of town for the weekend."

"I can’t stay over," I said, fighting the urge to give in.

He shook his head, his voice gentle. "I don’t need you to. I just… I need you close. Need to forget about him touching you this week."

A lump formed in my throat, emotion thickening my voice. "Hudson…”

He hesitated, his brows drawing together. "Something doesn’t add up, Presley. You’re in that video too, you know."

I looked up, the cold air suddenly feeling suffocating. "He’d just edit it. Make it look like I wasn’t there. Evan might be dumb, but he’s not that dumb."

Before he could respond, a roar from the stands broke through our conversation, and we both knew time was up. Thegame was nearing its end, and everyone would be heading to Randy’s by ten.

Hudson sighed, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I’ll see you later."

I watched as he slipped back into the shadows, disappearing around the side of the bleachers. As I stood there, his words echoed in my mind, each one sharpening the resolve I felt building inside me. Tonight, Evan’s game would finally end.

CHAPTER 25

Hudson

The road was jammed with cars as I pulled up near Randy’s place, parking half a block down. I flicked a cigarette to life, letting the bitter warmth settle as I walked up the driveway. Kids sprawled across the lawn, kicking around a half-flat soccer ball, laughing, and tossing back beer from red plastic cups despite the wind whipping cold through the air.

On the porch, a group was passing around a joint, music thumping loud enough to rattle the windows. I slipped inside, nodding to a few familiar faces, and made my way to the back patio where a keg sat in a metal trash can packed with ice. Filling a cup halfway, I took a sip, just enough to blend in—I wanted to stay sharp tonight.

Presley’s voice cut through the crowd, making me turn, but the sight of Evan slinging an arm around her made my stomachtwist. A bottle of Everclear dangled from his hand, already uncapped, his smirk flashing as he raised it in a mock toast.

“Evert,” he sneered, taking a hard swig.

I kept my face neutral, mirroring his cocky tone. “Braddock.”

He tightened his arm around Presley’s shoulders, almost pulling her off balance, his look daring me to say something. “What are you doing here?”

I held his stare, ignoring the warning in Presley’s eyes. “Same as you. I was invited.”

Evan snorted, taking another swig. “Randy should aim for a better class of people.”

I shrugged, giving him a deadpan look. “Like you?”

He leaned closer, breath sharp with Everclear. “Better mind your tongue, Evert. Mine might slip.”

Presley’s gaze pleaded with me, but I held steady. “Do your worst,” I said, turning and heading back into the crowded house.

His mocking laugh trailed behind me. “You don’t want my worst.”

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