Zac’s head flew up, navy eyes cold and glassy. “Is that a joke?”
“Um, no.” Hudson frowned and rubbed his chin. “Why would it be a joke?”
“You haven’t seen it?” Zac bounced the ball again, eyes never leaving Hudson’s face.
“Seen what?” he said as an uneasy sensation curled in the pit of his stomach. “What’s going on? Is Via okay?”
“Depends on your definition of okay.” Zac bounced the ball once more and then snatched it up before retrieving his phone and swiping the screen. “You need to see this. Forewarned, is…well I’m not sure how it goes. But you get the drift.”
“I’ve no idea—” He broke off and stared at the screen. There was a photograph of a tall guy on crutches and a girl with dark curly hair. Underneath it was written #weirdnewcouplealert.
The world turned silent as he dragged his attention back to Zac, who was still looking grim.
“I still don’t follow. Where did this come from?”
“That girl, Diana, who I was getting…friendly with. She was pissed at me. Like really mad, and I guess she was trying to find a way to get back at me. Through Via.” Zac bowed his head. “She doesn’t even live in Cricket Bay, but she knows enough people who do. It’s gone viral.”
Hudson ran a hand through his hair.
He couldn’t care less about a stupid photo or what anyone on social media wanted to say about him. But Via—
Oh, hell.
“Where is she?”
“She’s at the cabin. We’re all meant to be going into town, but I’m about to find my folks and tell them they’re getting some quality time with their favorite son. She’s pretty upset,” he said, and then let out an angry breath. “I’m sorry, man. I screwed up.”
“Can I go and see her?”
Zac nodded. “She…well, you probably know she’s got a thing about being the center of attention. Just be patient with her.”
“Of course.” Without another word he swiveled around and limped his way to Via’s cabin, trying not to think the worst.
11
Since when is Zac Mackenzie’s sister such a freak?
And who is that loser guy she’s with?
My eyes. They burn. So didn’t want to see this gruesome twosome on my feed today.
Via put down the phone and rubbed her temples. Her skull was pounding, and there was a good chance she was going to throw up. She’d brought it all on herself.
Why had she kissed Hudson so close to the cabins?
Because he was in pain, and I wanted to help him.
Instead, she’d managed to make a fool of herself. Part of her wanted to blame Zac. If he hadn’t been such a flirt, Diana wouldn’t have been looking for revenge. And none of this would have happened. But even as she thought it, she knew it was untrue. It was just a matter of time.
They probably would have been outed on the first day back at school.
It could have been worse.
Her chest tightened, and she sat down on the edge of the bunk bed.
There were ten missed calls from Frankie, along with text messages. She should return them. But that would involve moving or thinking. She wasn’t in a hurry to do either.
Someone tapped on the door. She wrapped her hands around her stomach and braced herself. Zac never knocked, and he’d promised to intercept their parents and drag them into town, which meant it could only be one person.
Hudson.
“Come in,” she managed to call, not moving.
The door creaked open and a shaft of light poured in. Hudson stood in the doorway. His hair had gone lighter in the sun. His cheekbones and jaw made smooth lines on his face, while his caramel eyes were wide with worry.
Worry about her.
He cautiously limped toward her, pausing only to close the door behind him.
“Hey, how are you doing?” His soft voice rolled over her like a gentle wave.
“Not great.” She hugged herself tighter as he sat at the far end of the bed, out of touching distance. Like he knew she was about to fall apart.
“Zac showed me the photo.” He scanned her face, as if checking for clues. “I know you must be freaked, but Via, it’s just a dumb photo, and the idiots who commented on it are—”
“Are kids in my homeroom. In my calculus class. Eating in the cafeteria. They’re everywhere.”
“I know it sucks. But school isn’t even back for two weeks. By then they will have forgotten all about it,” he said. Then his face tightened. “Unless you’re worried because you’ve been caught with…me.”
There was uncertainty in his voice now, making her feel even worse.
“No, it’s not that. It’s—” She broke off, searching for the words to tell him what the overwhelming darkness felt like. How she couldn’t breathe. How she felt like she was drowning. But she’d never been able to explain it to her parents or Zac, and she still couldn’t do it now.
Tears jabbed in the corner of her eyes as a familiar tightness caught in her chest.
Hell.
Hudson leaned toward her, eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
No. Not even a little bit.
She sucked in a ragged breath and nodded as her skin prickled with clammy heat while the vise-like grip increased.
“I-I need to be alone,” she managed to gasp.
Indecision tore across his face. “I think I should stay. What if—”
She managed to shake her head. “No. I…please. It will go quicker if I’m on my own.”
Her temples were pounding now, and her entire body was starting to tingle. Her breath was shallow in her chest. Hudson’s face was devoid of color, but he slowly got to his feet, his eyes never leaving hers.
“At least call me when you’re feeling better.”
“I will,” she croaked. She waited until he’d left before she fumbled with her phone and crammed the buds into her ears. She scrolled to find the calming voice of the meditation. The only way to stop it was to block out the world and hope like crazy it would eventually go
