Keeping Us Apart

Fight My Regret (12)

*Ahren's POV*

"Hudson, I-" I begin to try and apologize to her for my part, but from the straight set of her mouth and clenched jaw I can tell I'm not off the hook at all.

"You what? You're sorry for Maura attacking me? Sorry that you had sex with me and cheated on your girlfriend?" Hudson's tone is dripping with poison.

"Hudson," I try and start again, rather unsure of what exactly to say. "I'm sorry about all of it. You shouldn't have gotten roped into me and Maura's drama, and I shouldn't have been with her while I liked you. But I was just being a guy and thinking of myself and not any else's feelings."

"That part is apparent."

"Honestly I didn't think she was going to find out about the party or about us." Pausing a moment, my gaze falls on Hudson's fair face, searching for any sign that she doesn't think I'm a complete dredge.

"And how wouldn't she when you invited half of Brisbane?" Hudson narrows her emerald orbs at me.

Turning briefly I pretend to pick up a piece of trash so that I can roll my eyes at her without invoking any more of her wrath. "Look, I'm sorry, Hudson, I really am. I broke things off with Maura after we slept together the first time, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't think it mattered." Right away I know I made a mistake and said the wrong thing because Hudson's face contorts and her fists clench.

"You didn't think it /mattered/?" Hudson practically spat, her captivating green eyes now flashing with her anger. 

"We weren't and aren't dating, I assumed I didn't have to tell you every detail of my life is all," I snap back without really meaning to, upset that Hudson would think that A. I would purposely hide something like that and B. she is supposed to be constantly informed about my life. Hurt replaces the fury in her gaze.

"Well, I figured you'd tell me that you ended things, so that I could at least stop feeling so terrible for sneaking behind Maura's back," Hudson says after a tense moment. A sigh deflates my chest and I know she's not wrong. I felt terrible about it all as well, and that was a big part of why I'd ended things with Maura. 

"You're right. I can't tell you how sorry I am. I never meant for you to get hurt. You're so different than she is and I can already tell what an amazing person you are." I see Hudson's expression soften slightly but she doesn't speak. 

"It was awful seeing you on the couch with her. I never thought I'd get you away from her," she finally says, shrugging off Joel's jacket and trading it for the top I'd pulled off not too much earlier. Damn, Joel. I'd almost forgotten about that. But Hudson's words caught my attention.

"You saw us together? When?" 

"Tuesday morning. I got up and heard a girl giggling, found you two on the couch." I remembered that day, it'd been a long one for me, Maura and I had been fighting pretty much all day, and then the next day when I broke things off with her she'd been less than pleased. 

"You might not believe me, but I broke up with her the next day." There's more silence from Hudson and I wait on pins and needles to hear something, anything from her.

"I don't know, Ahren," she says after a moment. Her expression is one I can't read. "I want to believe you, but... I don't know. It looks bad." I sigh, not knowing what else I could possibly say. 

"Whatever you decide, you've got a job. I promise," I add, even though I'm pretty sure my promises mean jack shit to her right now.

"Thanks Ahren. Now can we just go enjoy the rest of this party before my brother goes all dad on us tomorrow?" Hudson gives me a smile and I feel the relief wash over me, a chuckle escaping my lips. 

"Of course." Just then I catch sight of Maura still passed out on the lounge and debate if I should just leave her or have someone come get her.

"You should see that she gets home safely," says Hudson, her gaze narrowing slightly as she looks at the crumpled form. She's right though.

"I'll take care of her and then meet back up with you when I'm done, okay?" 

Hudson nods. "Okay, I'll go find Joel then." After she leaves I find Maura's phone in her pocket and pull up her contacts list. It doesn't take me long to find her brother Todd's number and sent him a text telling him Maura's passed out drunk. He must be expecting something like that because he just says he'll be right there. Honestly, it wasn't too far from the truth; Maura had a drinking problem and I've rarely ever seen her sober.

 I carry Maura all the way to the lobby and wait for Todd to show up, which thankfully he does not even five minutes after I've stepped outside. I help load her into the back seat of his car.

"Thanks mate for keeping her safe," Todd says as he opens the driver's side door and sticks a foot in. I just nod and smile, watching as he drives away and thinking about how he wouldn't be so quick to thank me if he knew it was my fault. 

Suddenly a window opens above and someone retches, vodka and cheetos splashing onto the pavement not even a yard away from me. Gross. For the first time since Hudson and I began planning this party, I have the feeling it was a bad idea.