One Tiny Lie – Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,21

in a voice so cheerful that it made Luna want to puke. She was so fake. “We’ll be up in a minute.”

Margot was glamorous and beautiful with her long dark hair, dark almond eyes, olive complexion, pristine features, and sparkling teeth. While her looks were intimidating enough, she was also the picture of sophistication. The thought of going head to head with a woman like Margot filled Luna with dread. And yet, she couldn’t just walk away from Hudson because Ava’s supposed best friend had her sights set on him. Luna was at a turning point in her life. She’d made a promise to herself after seeing Ava and Cash together—how in love they were—that she was going to shed her inhibitions and try to carve out a life for herself. She wanted that life to be with Hudson. She gave Margot a hard look. “You and Hudson dated once. What happened?” During one of their video chats, Ava had mentioned that Hudson and Margot briefly dated one summer and that something happened with Margot’s former boyfriend. That’s all Ava knew about the subject. She did say that Hudson was tightlipped about whatever it was.

Hesitation clouded Margot’s features. “None of your business,” she muttered.

Aha! Luna was on to something here. “You obviously couldn’t keep him the first go-around. What makes you think you could keep him now?” It was a cheap shot, but the words had just rushed out. At the same instant Luna saw movement, she felt the sting of Margot’s hand as it connected with her cheek. She stepped back, stunned, holding her jaw. “You slapped me.”

Margot seemed shocked by her own action, and Luna thought she might apologize. Instead, she raised her chin. “Our friendship is over,” she spat. She pushed past Luna, shoving her backwards as she tromped back up the stairs.

“That’s fine with me,” Luna uttered. “I didn’t want your friendship anyway.” Pain was still streaking across her jaw, and she was sure there was a red mark. She went to the cupboards and began gathering plates, utensils, and napkins. She piled the stash on top of the picnic basket and headed back up. The minute Hudson saw everything that she was carrying, he rushed to help. “Here, let me.”

“Thanks,” Luna said appreciatively as he took everything from her.

Concern flickered in his eyes. “What happened to your face?”

Luna relished in the look of panic that washed over Margot. “I wasn’t watching and ran into a corner.”

Hudson put the basket and items down on the seat. “Let me look at that.” He stepped up to her and tenderly trailed the side of his finger down her face. “It’s just red, not bruised. I don’t think it’ll leave a mark.” He smiled, revealing adorable long creases on both sides of his mouth.

“That’s good to know.” Luna was no longer thinking about the pain of the slap, only about the profusion of tingles his touch evoked. She gazed up into his eyes, noting how they looked more blue today than green. Her fingers ached to move up to his messy curls.

He glanced up at the darkening sky. “We should probably eat fast and then head back. It looks like the weather’s turning on us,” he lamented as he moved away from Luna and to the basket. He lifted the table attached to the side of the boat. It snapped into place with a succinct click. Hudson sat down beside the basket and began removing the contents and placing them on the table. “Wow, it looks like Anna outdid herself,” Hudson said. “Fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, chips, and brownies.” He grinned broadly. “There’s more than enough here to share.”

Luna’s mouth watered. She’d not had fried chicken since she’d left Nashville.

“Who’s Anna?” Dustin asked.

“My mother’s housekeeper and cook,” Hudson answered. He motioned with his head for Luna to come and sit down beside him.

They dished up the food onto plates and began eating. Luna felt Margot’s cold eyes on her. Now that her anger was fading, she was realizing the full scale of her predicament. Ava would be ticked that Luna ruined her friendship with Margot. Not that it was much of a friendship as far as Luna was concerned, but Ava might disagree.

“The chicken is a little dry,” Dustin complained. “Maybe someone should teach Anna how to make juicy chicken.”

The condescension of his tone was beyond belief. Luna glanced at Hudson to get his reaction. The corner of his jaw popped out a marble.

“My piece is excellent,”