25

LUNA

I HAD BEEN NURSING MY EMBARRASSMENT in the shadows for days, avoiding any social interactions. After day three, Maya wasn't having it. She burst into my room and tossed the covers off me. I groaned, refusing to move, until she grabbed my ankles and yanked me off the bed.

"Get up, we're going to the party in Stacy Henderson's room."

I groaned and clutched my head.

"Stacy Henderson hates me."

"I'm not her biggest fan, but we need fun."

Reluctantly, I got ready and followed her down the hallway into Stacy's room. To my surprise, there were more people than I expected. Cynthia, sitting on Austin's lap, caused me to stop in my tracks. Maya nudged me forward and handed me a drink.Amidst the chatter and laughter, we joined the circle of people playing Truth or Dare. I scanned the circle and locked eyes with Hudson. There was an unspoken tension between us.

I distracted myself with everyone playing the game, becoming anxious as the questions became more daring. It was Stacy's turn to ask a question, and I watched as her drunken eyes scanned us like a hunter with prey. My heart dropped as her gaze fell on me.

"Luna," she said with a sadistic grin. "Truth or dare?"

I gulped, cowering as every set of eyes in the room turned to me.

"Truth."

She took a sip of her drink, but I could see the arrogance on her face.

"Is it true Hudson is a better kisser than Austin?"

Everyone laughed, but their ears perked, desperate to know the answer.

"Grow up, Stacy." Hudson said, leaning forward to see her.

"I asked her, not you."

Austin, not one to miss out on taunting Hudson, leaned forward too.

"What's the problem, Wilder?" He asked. "Scared I'm better than you?"

Hudson's nostrils flared as he chugged his drink.

"Unlike you, I don't like to throw my relationship in everyone's face."

Relationship. I appreciated him pretending, despite having called our arrangement off weeks ago. The humiliation would have killed me.

"What relationship?" Austin asked. "I've never seen you kiss once."

"What we do is none of your business."

Austin looked back and forth between us with a challenging glint in his eyes.

"Then kiss her right now."

We hesitated, our eyes meeting in uncertainty. We'd never kissed before, and the thought of doing it in front of everyone was nerve-wracking. But I had something to prove. With a determined spark in my eyes, I stood up and approached Hudson. His eyes were so wide it looked like they were going to explode. Ignoring the gasps and whispers around us, I straddled his waist. I leaned forward until our lips brushed.

"Play along." I whispered, before pressing my lips to his.

His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer. I expected it to be a simple act of defiance, a response to Austin's challenge, but it was so much more. As if the kiss unlocked a floodgate of emotions I never realized were there. There was a tenderness in the way his lips moved against mine.

When we pulled away, I felt breathless, and my mind was reeling with the intensity of what had just happened. I looked into his eyes, searching for an explanation. But all I found was a mirrored reflection of my confusion. As I climbed off his lap, emotions swirled within me. I shot a defiant glare at Austin before turning on my heel and storming out of the room.

"Luna, wait."

Austin followed me out, his voice sharp with warning as he tried to catch up with me.

"You shouldn't be getting involved with him."

His comment irked me, but I remained silent, refusing to engage in his attempts to dissuade me. Every step I took away from him was a step to reclaiming my independence. I didn't owe him any explanation after everything he did to me. It was time for me to forge my path.

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