Page 47 of Crazy Pucking Love
Bright light flooded the apartment, along with a gust of cool air, and then Hudson stepped inside. He was the polar opposite of my mood, grinning, and happy as shit, which happened pretty much anytime he and Whitney spent the night together. He tossed aside his bag and reached into the freezer for some waffles. He popped them in the toaster and spun, leaning against the counter to wait.
“What’s up with you?” he asked, jerking his chin at me.
“Apparently he’s not avoiding drama,” Ryder said.
Hudson’s face dropped. “Don’t tell me you’re with Jazmine again. Dude, you know that’s going to end badly—it does every time.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with Jazmine.” At least not directly.
“Thank God.”
At my look, Hudson shrugged. “Sorry. I just think you deserve better.”
I didn’t know about that—I wanted better, though, and I’d found her. But I was terrified I might’ve ruined everything now.
The toaster popped, and I stared at the waffles. I vaguely realized Hudson had pulled them out. After a minute or so, he waved a hand in front of my face. Food seemed like a good idea—maybe it would help the unease churning through my gut—so I made myself breakfast.
When I turned, Hudson was pinning me with his analytical look. “Did something else happen at home?”
“No, not really. I’m fine. Just tired.”
“If you need anything, man, you know I’m here. I owe you more than I could repay. Need a kidney?” He grabbed a steak knife and extended it to me. “Take it.”
I laughed and took the knife, circling his abdomen. “Where’s the kidney again?”
“Just make sure you don’t get the family jewels. Those I can’t live without.”
We both laughed, and while the knife was a joke, I knew he was serious about doing anything for me.
“I’m gonna keep all my organs, thanks,” Ox said, looking at us like we had mental issues.
I set down the knife and turned my attention back to my food.
“So what drama did you step in now? If it’s not anything at home?”
Before I could decide whether or not to tell him about Megan, a loud knock sounded on the door. As nice as it might be to get it all out—everything from meeting Megan at the beginning of the semester to realizing she was Beck’s sister and that I couldn’t give her what she wanted to the mess at home and even the line I’d crossed last night—and see what Hudson thought, the actual telling was going to be about as fun as a body check to the boards. So I decided maybe whoever was at the door had saved me.
But when Ryder answered and Megan stormed in, an angry, determined look on her face, I thought I’d rather play Truth or Dare with a side of hair braiding with Hudson.
Megan’s fiery blue eyes lit on me. “Dane, we need to talk.”
“You didn’t,” Hudson said, and I glanced over my shoulder at him, unable to hide the wince. He scooted away from the table. “I’m still here for you if you need a kidney, but when it comes to a girl—especially that particular one—and the need to talk…?” He clapped me on the back. “You’re on your own.”
Even though Hudson had just walked through the door and had to be tired, he grabbed his car keys. “Ox, let’s go grab breakfast somewhere.”
He opened his mouth, and I was sure he was going to say that we’d all just eaten, but then he glanced from Megan to me to Hudson and shrugged on his coat.
Then they were out the door, and it was just me and Megan and that pissed-off look on her face.
Well, shit.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Megan
All night I tossed and turned, reliving what happened with Dane at the Quad. Somewhere around three a.m., anger set in, and it’d been growing ever since.
How dare he toy with my emotions like that—use the way I felt about him to make sure that I didn’t leave with anyone else, only to leaveme.
