One-way Ticket To Hell

CHAPTER 008: One-way Ticket To Hell

My eyes flew open as fast as the speed of light as I tore myself away from him, disbelief written all over me.

“So you guys are official again?” I asked, and he nodded, tilting his chin in confidence.

“Uh-huh. She showed me the breakup text with the frat guy and said I was the only one in her life now.”

“Are you that gullible now, Hud? How can you believe that?”

“She’s done this countless times, and for some sick reason you still think she loves you. How naive can you be?”

He had the audacity to look guilty but shrugged his shoulders, brushing it off.

“I’m sure it’s real this time. She even wants to meet my mom.”

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh, ruffling my hair.

“So why do you want your mom out of the house then?”

He looked away, frowning.

I turned his face to me and asked him again.

“Why Hud? Should I give you an answer?”

He still doesn’t say anything.

“Because you know deep inside of you that there’s nothing permanent about Gwen. You still have your doubts, and she’s never given you a reason to trust her.”

Hud all but digested anything I said as he held my hand again.

“That is why I need you to help me convince Mom. I feel like we’d be a force, you know, me and you like a formidable team.”

“Like we used to.”

I almost got lost in his eyes and his speech about us being a team, but when I thought about the object of his motivation, Gwen, the whole idea irritated me.

Snatching my hand back, I said.

“Get out then. Leave.”

I turned back to the laptop, meaning to continue my search.

“Please Tee, I need you.”

I ignored him, blocking those words out of my mind.

Don’t give in. He’s being all sweet and charming, but I couldn’t go soft now.

Before I knew what was happening, he snatched the laptop from me, lifting it in the air.

“Hudson!” I yelled out his full name, my voice echoing in the silent atmosphere of the library.

Surprised stares were being thrown at us, and before the librarian issued me a warning, I got up and dragged Hud out by his jacket.

We stopped at the entrance, and I turned to him, fuming.

“What are you doing?”

He drew his brows together, placing the laptop under his arm.

“I’m getting you a job at my parents' where you’d earn triple your part-time jobs put together.”

I drew in a sharp breath at the offer, knowing how attractive the mere utterance of these words sounded.

His mom and dad had offered me the job, and now he was doing the same thing.

It felt like the whole family ganged up against me or something.

Folding my arm across my chest, I started,

“Work as your maid and take favors from your family? No. That’s not happening.”

He tilted his head, his eyes pleading.

“Come on, Tee. We’d spend more time together and be closer. You know you're not going to be treated as a maid because you’re family.”

That’s true.

But I also don’t want to ruin my final chances of being with Hud by taking on this new maid job.

Because who gets into a relationship with their maid or former maid?

I had no desire to have that history, especially with Hud's family.

“I don’t like favors handed over. You know that about me already.”

“That’s exactly why this job is perfect for you. You’d be getting paid for working. No favors.”

"Besides, Dad’s barely home, which automatically means Mom wouldn’t be either."

The sound of Derek’s name made heat crawl through my skin as his image flashed in my mind.

Why do I feel like I cheated on Hud by seeing his dad’s D?

If only I could unsee it.

Especially now that I knew what he looked like, the ache to see him again made me antsy.

My middle clenched, but I ignored it.

“Just be honest to your mom about Gwen," I advised, knowing all too well Bria would laser Gwen out of her house and into space if they ever crossed paths.

“Not like this. You know how she is.”

“She wouldn't leave home easily with all the chores and how messy the house had gotten.”

“Mom isn’t used to doing chores, so she’s struggling.” Hud revealed, in an attempt to make me empathetic.

He won.

Because I was weak. And I couldn’t bear watching my best friend go through a rough patch and not help him out.

He had Gwen and his mom to worry about.

And I was getting paid for my pain, so it wouldn't be as bad as I imagined.

But Derek would be there.

Geez, that was a hitch in my almost perfect resolve.

After promising to get back to Hudson the next day, I was back at my dorm, drumming my fingers against each other, my heart in my throat as I stared at Derek’s business card.

The one he’d given me back at the club was like some kind of Illuminati invitation card that was a one-way ticket to hell.

I took up the card, flipping it over, and noticed the only color on this pitch-black card was the golden-lettered crest of his name and a small gold bar at the corner.

It was almost like a black card.

I bet people like Derek had tons of black cards that I could swipe and order a million-dollar Birkin bag with.

I shivered at the illegal thought.

Why should I call him?

I could go over to Hud’s house like I’ve done a million times and just tell them I was in for the job.

“Call me if you change your mind about talking.” His words reverberated in my head.

I found myself snatching up my phone and dialing his number like I was in a snippet episode from Arabella, and my mind was hypnotized by some dark force.

Dark force in human form.

An older Munroe I shouldn't have business with.

He picked up on the first ring like he’d been anticipating my call.

“Hello, Tiana.” His deep voice rumbled through the speaker, and I stiffened up.

“How do you know it was me? I didn’t even say anything yet and I—“

“I got your number from Hudson’s phone because I knew you’d call.”