Page 126 of Her Goal
I don’t because the truth is reaching the surface like a shark fin piercing the water. “I said, ‘Were you expecting a troll?’”
Hudson smirks. “Instead, I got a cat burglar and my future wife.”
I want to ignore how that makes me feel, but we need to talk about this if marriage is going to work under a shared roof, never mind the two of us surviving in a small town.
“One day, early on in high school, Hunter went to chill with someone from his band, but he said I could stick around and play video games. I was hoping he’d change his mind and come back to hang out with me or when he got back and found me still there, he’d decide …” My cheeks flush because it’s painful to admit how pathetic I was over Hunter.
Hudson listens intently, expression blank as if he has no idea where I’m going with this.
“You must’ve known he was gone but not realized I was there. I overheard you talking to a couple of your friends. You said, ‘The Tall Troll.’”
His mouth crimps with laughter.
What was once acute pain, which turned into chronic anger, flares. “That was your code name for me.”
He’s clutching his stomach as if holding back hysterics. “No, Leah. It wasn’t.”
Arms crossed, I turn away. “Right. Like I believe you.”
“Tall Troll was Mr. Lynch. Your nickname was—never mind.” He picks up the yearbook, probably because he doesn’t want me to see the wordsTall Trollor worse under my photo.
“So you admit that I had a nickname.”
“Yeah. We got bold when you surpassed Chuck in height. Up until that point, we worried he’d beat us up.”
“He’s my baby brother. You’re massive.”
“The guy is fierce like his sister.”
Cocking my hip, I say, “What was my nickname?”
I glimpse a flash of recognition before he schools his features. “Uh. I forget.”
“You do not.”
“I won’t say it.”
“Fine. I hope you lose another tooth.”
“Don’t be mean.”
“You were the mean one. The cruel brother.”
“Leah, that’s not true. I was trying to protect you.”
“By making me the butt of a bet, turning me into a joke?”
His face falls as if this time he knows exactly what I’m talking about. “You knew about that?”
My chin quivers and I tell myself not to cry.
Hudson crosses the room and reaches out his arms.
“Don’t touch me.”
“It’s not what it sounded like.”
“You were just jealous and didn’t want Hunter and me to be together.”
