Tie My Heartstring's ❦

honey

Katie

I had told my father I was staying with Alice, careful to keep the truth from him. But the reality was far more complicated. Hudson had effortlessly woven himself into my life, his charm and confidence masking the underlying chaos.

Money was never a concern for him; he insisted on covering my expenses, and while I was grateful, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was becoming entangled in a situation I didn't fully understand.

After that night, when desire had led us to a reckless moment, I acted quickly. I took plan B, a small relief in the storm of uncertainty inside me. We agreed that I would start on birth control, a precaution that felt both empowering and terrifying.

But with Hudson, nothing was ever straightforward. Each glance we shared held unspoken tension, a dangerous mix of attraction and the secrets we both kept. As I settled into this new routine, I wondered how long I could keep the truth hidden—both from my father and from myself.

I met Alice occasionally, but our time together had dwindled. It wasn't the same as before, and I think we both knew it. I hadn't seen Joseph since everything had shifted, and I still needed to fill him in that I was okay.

Tonight, I was walking home alone from my favorite diner, a ten-minute stroll from Hudson's apartment. He was working late, and I needed a break from the confinement of his space, a chance to breathe outside the intensity of our complicated dynamic.

When I reached the apartment and entered the lobby, my heart sank. There, in the lounge area, was a blonde woman leaning in too close to Hudson.

They were deep in conversation, and she laughed at something he said, her hand brushing against his arm in a way that felt all too intimate.

Hudson's expression, however, was hard to read; he looked more irritated than amused, but the sight of her so near him ignited an unfamiliar jealousy within me.

Before we'd become anything, I'd watched girls throw themselves at Hudson at every event, and it had always made me uncomfortable—especially because I was crushing on him. I had no right to feel possessive then, but now, with the tension brewing between us, everything felt different.

Despite the knot in my stomach, I walked over, driven by a mix of instinct and desperation. I wrapped my arm around Hudson's strong one.

At first, he stiffened, surprised, but when he looked down at me, his demeanor softened, though I could feel the heat of the blonde's glare burning into the side of my face.

"Hi..." I said, attempting to sound casual even as anxiety crept inside me. Hudson relaxed slightly, but the woman's sneer remained, a bitter twist of her lips. "And you are?" she asked, her voice dripping with condescension.

"I'm his girlfriend. Who are you?" I replied, keeping my tone polite despite the bile rising in my throat. Hudson cleared his throat, his gaze shifting between us.

"Nobody," he said firmly, and I couldn't help but notice the way the blonde's eyes widened in disbelief, her expression shifting from confidence to discomfort.

"How old are you?" she shot back, narrowing her eyes at me. I swallowed hard, unwilling to show any weakness, though her scrutiny made me feel small.

"Well then. I'm his ex-girlfriend's best friend," she declared, her mean stare making me wince. "I was in town and needed to share some important information with Hudson." The sarcasm dripped from her words, and I could see Hudson's jaw clench in anger.

Who was she to him, and why was she affecting him like this? I could sense she was lying; their connection seemed anything but friendly. My mind raced, but I couldn't think clearly with her eyes raking over my outfit, her expression one of disdain.