Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I don’t have the heart to tell him I don’t want to do anything with her.
I thought it would just be us.
“Okay,” I say, forcing a smile.
He frowns at me but doesn’t press. We go inside and I try to ignore Aunt Becky and Uncle Randy while they fuss over how wonderful and beautiful Amy is and how much they’ve missed seeing her. I grab the movies and head downstairs. Tears threaten, but I keep them at bay. I’m stupid. Delusional even. Did I really think I could spend an entire week flirting with my brother?
Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick.
What’s wrong with me?
“Rylie…”
His voice startles me and I jump. I can’t even look at him. What if he sees the sickness inside me? Will he be disgusted?
“Rylie,” he says again, this time closer.
When his strong arms wrap around me from behind, I burst into tears. I can’t help it. I’m frustrated and confused and upset.
“Hey now,” he says, his voice soft and comforting. He twists me around until I’m facing him. “I didn’t realize how upset you were.”
I cry against his shirt, wishing the entire world around us would disappear. That we could turn off the lights and sleep side by side on the couch like we’d done in the past. In the dark. Just him and me.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers against my hair. “I didn’t know.”
Didn’t know what?
That I’m completely obsessed with him?
The thought only makes me cry harder.
“Hey, guys,” Amy chirps from the stairs. “Everything okay?”
Reluctantly, I start to pull away.
“Can you give us a few more minutes alone?” he asks, hugging me back to him.
“Sure,” she squeaks out. “Of course.” Her footsteps retreat and the door closes behind her.
Hudson doesn’t rush me to calm down. He simply strokes my hair and kisses the top of my head. It soothes my broken heart and empty soul.
Time passes slowly, but it comforts me knowing it passes with him.
Amy’s voice is once again getting under my skin.
“It’s been over an hour. Should I ask Becky to take me home?”
“Yes,” Hudson says at the same time I say, “No.”
I tilt my head up to look at him. His nose is red and I wonder if he was crying too. He clenches his jaw and pierces me with an intense stare.
“Are you sure?” he asks me.
“Yeah, let’s watch a movie.”
Hudson
I knew this was a bad idea.
Rylie is too fragile. Aunt Becky gives me the updates when I’m not talking to Rylie herself. If it weren’t for Amy blowing up my goddamned phone and guilting me into seeing her, I would’ve gone straight here. Now, I wish I’d manned up and told her I’d see her a different day.
Amy flashes me a worried look, but I simply shake my head at her. It’s too late now. We’ll get through tonight. Then, I’ll make it up to her.
To Rylie.
I owe it to her.
“We picked out a funny movie,” Amy says with false cheer.
“Okay,” Rylie says as she curls up on one end of the sofa. Retreating. I see it in her eyes. It makes me want to grab her and pull her outside of her own head.
“Great,” Amy chirps. She hands me the movie and plants herself in the middle of the sofa. Irritation blossoms inside me. I’m being unfair by being annoyed with Amy, but I can’t help it. It’s like she’s trying to make things harder.
I get the movie started and then sit on the opposite end as Rylie. Amy practically climbs into my lap. The movie starts and soon Amy is laughing at every scene.
Rylie stares at the screen, lost in her mind.
I clench my teeth, desperate to push Amy away and pull my sister to me. To ask her what has her so upset and how I can fix it. Rylie must sense me staring at her because she turns my way. Her stare skims over Amy and then she regards me with watery eyes.
“Are you okay?” I mouth to her.
She nods and turns back to the television. From my vantage point, I don’t miss the tear that streaks down her cheek or the hasty way she swipes it away. By the time the movie ends, I’m practically jumping off the couch to take Amy home.
“Let’s go. It’s getting late and I’m tired,” I say rather sharply.
Amy frowns at me but nods. “Y-Yeah, of course.”
“I’ll be back soon,” I tell Rylie. She tries to smile but even that fails. When I walk past her, I ruffle her hair. “I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
The drive back to Amy’s house where she lives with her parents is quiet. It isn’t until I’m sitting in her driveway with the car in park that she speaks.
“Is everything okay with you, Hudson?” She pauses for a minute. “With us?”
“Of course it is. I just have a lot on my mind.” Understatement of the year.