The Games We Play

TWELVE

I smile at the blond boy. "Well, I also like my taste buds where they are, Liam."

"Why, thank you, Cameron." He salutes me with two fingers.

"Cowards," Yasmine mutters, covering it terribly with a cough, which makes the table laugh. I roll my eyes at her but laugh because I know I would've done the exact same thing.

"Do not fear, my babies, the love of your lives is here," Jude declares as he appears at the head of the table at my side.

"Dear Lord, who invited him?" Tasha asks with a big grin as Jude places a dramatic kiss on the top of her head.

I eye the guy standing awkwardly behind him with his hands in his pockets. 

Hudson. 

His eyes sweep the table, doing a double take when he spots me.

He gives me a small smile, and I return it.

"So, did y'all bitches order without us?" Jude asks as he takes the empty seat at the head.

"And have to hear you complain the whole night? Fuck that, babes." Tasha rolls her eyes from where she's sitting directly across from me.

Hudson remains standing there awkwardly, completely unsure of what to do.

"Oh yeah," Jude lifts a hand behind him. "Everyone, this is Hudson. Hudson, this is everyone."

"Hey, everyone." Hudson gives a cute little wave, which is brightly responded to by the entire table.

Jude gestures to the table. "Sit, sit."

It takes me a while to figure out the only spare seat is on the leather, wall-mounted bench.

It was reserved for Scarlett—who rudely chose to go to dinner with Bitch Almighty and his mother at the Peninsula Club over me and wings.

Literally, where is the competition?

I've never met Dean Aberdeen in person before—she kind of terrifies me.

But from what I've heard from Scar, she's an absolute monster, which makes sense when she's spawned the headache that is Logan.

I blink and realize I'm still staring at Hudson, and he's still staring at me. Both of us too awkward to move.

Eventually, I sigh and move over a little more toward Kiki on my other side, letting him take his seat between me and Jude at the head.

"Hey," he says with a small smile, his voice warm and soft, and his shoulder brushes up against mine.

"Hey..." I reply, my smile a little tighter than I meant it to be.

The rest of the table is already deep in chatter, Jude already in command of the conversation as per usual. It gives Hudson and me a small little bubble to talk quietly.

He picks up the laminated menu in front of him and assesses it. "Mmmm, Hellfire Sauce..."

"You into spice?" I arch an eyebrow at him.

"Oh yeah. I'm so into it." Hudson nods as he stares at the menu with a face like someone about to enter a haunted house. It instantly makes my smile grow. "I just love when it... burns off your mouth... and makes you cry. Delicious."

I giggle lightly at him as he drops the menu and glances at me.

"How believable did I sound?"

"Oh, not at all." I laugh at him. "But don't worry, I'm going for the lower-grade level wings too. We can share a basket if you want."