Smoke and Betrayal

Rooftop Confrontations

PIPER’S POV

I tap Isla and pass her my phone and show her the message from Hudson. I can see anger rising up in her, before she has a chance to speak the bar tender slides us over two more Blaze Specials. Pointing towards Hudson’s table. Isla lifts the drinks in a fake toast, her eyes narrowing towards Hudson’s smug face. “You know, I’d rather drink bleach,” she mutters, setting the glasses down with a firm thud. My phone buzzes again. Another message from Hudson: I know you still care. Let me prove I’ve changed.

“Unbelievable,” I mutter shoving my phone face - down on the bar. “He thinks he can buy my forgiveness with free drinks after what he did?”

“Are you going to answer him?” Isla asks, peering over my shoulder. Another message from Hudson: I miss what we had.

“The audacity of this man,” she hisses. “‘I miss what we had?’ What exactly did you have besides manipulation and gaslighting?” I run my finger around the rim of my glass.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Was any of it real?”

“Don’t you dare go down that rabbit hole,” Isla warns, handing my phone back. “He’s just trying to worm his way back in because he can’t stand losing control of you.” Another text: Can we please talk? Just five minutes. I turn to Isla after putting my phone face - down again.

“I’m gonna go. I’m gonna give him five minutes. If I don’t he’s always going to hold emotional real estate in my mind.”

“Okay. I can get behind that. I’ll be on the dance floor if you need anything.” I text Hudson back: Fine, You’ve got five minutes. Where are you? Hudson responds: Bathroom. I start making my way over, having to go through the cowded dance floor, nausea rising in my throat, about seeing Hudson for the first time in three weeks, when someone grabs my wrist. It’s Teigan, I had never realized how he smelled of smoke and rum, despite all the beer he had been drinking tonight. How perfectly sculpted his body is, and how flush I feel being pressed against him. “I… I… I uh, I need to go. Hudson is waiting for me.”

“Piper, please, he’s not worth it.”

“Oh! And I suppose you are? You’re Hudson’s best friend! He would be livid.” I pause looking pleadingly into his eyes to let me go. “I am not getting back with him, I just want to hear him out. Maybe get some closure.” He begrudgingly drops his hands and says;

“I’ll be on the rooftop, come see me after?” I nod, heading towards the bathroom. I can feel the music in my head, the strobe lights flashing, and there are sweaty dancing bodies all around me. My head starts to spin. I make it to the bathroom.

“Piper, baby you look great.” I stand my ground, holding onto the wall.

“Can we talk on the rooftop terrace? I think I need some air.” Hudson’s face twists with annoyance but quickly smooths into that practiced smile I know all too well.

“Whatever you need, baby.” I hate how that word sounds coming from him now. Like it’s tainted. We weave through the crowd, Hudson’s hand hovering near the small of my back without touching me. Smart move.

🔥🔥🔥

The rooftop terrace is mercifully quieter, the bass from below reduced to a dull thump. The night air cools my flushed skin as I move deliberartely toward the railing, putting distance between us.

“Your five minutes started when we left the bathroom.” I say, checking my watch. Hudson runs his hand through his perfect blonde hair.

“Come on, Piper. Don’t be like that.”

“Like what? Someone with self - respect?” His eyes narrow slightly before he forces another smile.

“Piper, what you saw … it wasn’t what you think.” My jaw clenches, and I can feel my hands forming fists, my eyes darting desperately for an escape route. He grabs my arm, pulling me into him I try and pull myself away, while he continues with his pathetic excuse. “It’s just business, Piper. You know how it works in law.” I jerk away;

“You don’t get to touch me anymore. I don’t know how cheating works as a business strategy. And frankly, I don’t care to learn.” My voice comes out stronger than I expect, surprising even me. Hudson’s face darkens, before that practiced charm slides back into place.

“Baby, I was trying to surprise you. Make something of myself. For us.” He steps closer, that familiar cologne hitting me - the one I used to find intoxicating but now makes me stomach turn. “It was one mistake, you’re going to throw all this away for one mistake?”

“One mistake I caught you making. How many others were there Hudson?” The question hangs between us like a storm cloud. His silence is my answer. “That’s what I thought.” I turn to walk away but he grabs my wrist hard enough to leave a bruise. His apologetic charming tone turns angry. Realizing his manipulation has failed, he goes to grab a fist full of my hair when a hand clamps down on his shoulder, stopping him mid - motion.

“Let. Her. Go.” Teigan’s voice cuts through the night air like ice. Hudson releases my wrist immediately, turning to face him with that fake smile.

“This is a private conversation man.”

“It stopped being private when you put your hands on her.” Teigan says stepping between us. His body forms a protective wall, and I find myself exhailing a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“You’re pathetic.” I tell Hudson, finding my voice again. “You never loved me. You loved controlling me.” Hudson’s face contors with rage his eyes darting between us, calculating “So that’s how it is? You’ve been after my leftovers this whole time?” The word “leftovers” hits me like a slap. Before I can respond, Teigan takes a step forward.

“She’s not something you own, Hudson. Never was.” Hudson laughs, the sound hollow and cruel.

“Whatever. You two deserve each other.” he says holding up a dismissive hand as he walks away.

🔥🔥🔥

As soon as we are alone, I release a heavy sigh, and tears begin to cascade down my cheeks uncontrollably. Teigan wraps his arms around me, pulling me close, and gently rubs my back in a soothing, reassuring manner. Before I realize it, words start tumbling out of my mouth—I recount the moment I discovered the cheating while on assignment, the way he had been treating me with indifference and cruelty, and how this wasn’t the first time he had grabbed me in such a demeaning way. Teigan’s expression shifts to one of shock and concern as I reveal everything that transpired between his best friend and me behind closed doors. I admit how Hudson’s betrayal has profoundly shaken my trust in relationships, leaving me feeling lost and broken.

“I have spent weeks agonizing over what I did wrong, what could possibly drive him to do something so hurtful to me, especially after everything we had shared together. Tonight, he had the audacity to tell me it was because he wanted to give me the life I deserved; he felt he needed to climb higher in the firm.”

“Piper, Hudson is my best friend, I had NO idea how awful he had been to you. That line is a bunch of bull. If he wanted to give you the life you deserved, he wouldn’t have cheated. That was just his true character coming through. I can’t believe that he would treat you that way. No woman deserves to be grabbed like that.” He tilts my chin up to meet his gaze. “You especially, I’ve gotten to know you over the years, and you deserve someone who treats you like there is no one else in the world.” I lean in closer to him, taking in his body heat and his smoky rum smell. “Your worth is not defined through his character.”

He gently brushes a loose strand of my hair away from my face, his eyes sparkling like stars beneath the soft glow of the rooftop lights. The moment wraps us in a cocoon of emotional vulnerability, a silent understanding passing between us. I close my eyes, feeling the warmth of the evening air on my skin, and lean in to press my lips against his. The kiss is tender, a delicate dance of emotions that catches us both by surprise, we allowed it to deepen, but when we finally pulled apart, there was confusion written on both of our faces. I turned to look away, trying to process the pain I have with Hudson, and then kissing his best friend, and Teigan puts his hand on my shoulder and turns me to face him. He leans his forehead to touch mine and says breathlessly.

“You’re beautiful, but we can’t do this. As much as I want to be the one who deserves you, I’m not. Even though Hudson doesn’t appreciate you, someone does. It might be someone you’ve never even considered.” He turns sharply, tearing his eyes away from mine, realizing he’s bared his soul more than he intended.

“Teigan?”

“I can’t betray my captain.” A flush of heat surges to my cheeks, and a sly smile tugs at my lips, wondering if he’s hinting at Jasper. With that, he strides away leaving me alone on the rooftop, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.