Beauty Read Free

laughing as they practiced different shots—under the leg, eyes closed, backward. I wondered what it would be like to laugh with them. To have Hudson look me right in the eye and know exactly who I was. You’re a sharp shooter , I would joke, and he would sling his arm over my shoulder and laugh.
    “And we’re full!” the controller announced. I pulled my eyes away from Hudson and focused on the game. “On your marks. Get set. Go!”
    The horses took off, galloping woodenly along. “I suck at this,” Kemper groaned. “Whoa, go Mol,” she added, sounding impressed. I was already way ahead of the group, neck in neck with just one other horse. I felt a familiar thrill race through me, the same one I used to get every time I beat Seth at this game. Like in that one second, I was powerful.
    “What can I say?” I grinned. “I’m a sharp shooter.” I glanced over to see who I was tied for the lead with—and found myself looking straight into Hudson Taylor’s dark brown eyes. His horse galloped on next to mine as he gave me this flirty half-smile and raised his eyebrows, as if to say, Game on . My heart twisted in my chest, and although I turned back and tried to focus my aim, it was a lost cause.
    “Nice, man,” Brandon cheered as the green winner’s light went off above Hudson’s horse.
    “We’ve got a winner!” the controller exclaimed. “Pick a prize, sir. Any prize.”
    “I’ll take …” Hudson trailed off as he looked over the array of stuffed animals. There was one that was definitely the cutest, a big stuffed monkey wearing glasses and a top hat.
    “The monkey,” Hudson decided.
    “Let’s go,” Kemper said next to me. “Burgnuts always leave me with a serious craving for All Things Fried.” She nudged me in the side, but I signaled for her to hold on. Because Hudson had taken his monkey and was now heading right in my direction.
    “You should have this,” he said. He smiled that half-smile again, and my heart twisted even more. “You’re too beautiful to go home without a prize.”
    He paused and I felt a smile spreading across my face, the kind I couldn’t control even if I wanted to. “Thanks—” I started to say, just as Ashley Coolidge stepped out from somewhere behind me.
    “It’s so cute, Hudson!” she squealed, taking the monkey and hugging it to her.
    He’d been talking to Ashley. Not me.
    I felt my face burn bright red as Ashley shot me a dirty look. I knew I should get out of there—run, even, to safety—but I couldn’t. I felt frozen in place, watching as Ashley leaned forward and kissed Hudson on the cheek. She really was beautiful. Her hair was long and silky, so blonde it reminded me of a cloud. Her eyes were big and light blue, like the sky on a midsummer day. Her skin was clear, her dress clung perfectly to her curves, and she was that just-right height: not too tall, not too short. When she tossed her hair and smiled, there wasn’t a guy in the world who wouldn’t smile back.
    I wondered what it would be like to be that beautiful. To be like the Yellow Tang fish, so much brighter and better than all the goldfish in the pond, everyone vying just for you. I bet it would feel like you could do no wrong. Like every move you made was protected by some higher law of beauty. Like you could have anything at all. Even Hudson Taylor.
    “Come on, Mol.” Kemper tugged softly on my arm, and from the look on her face, I could tell she’d seen the whole thing. She pulled me away, beckoning to Hayley. Hayley kept her head down as she followed us. She looked embarrassed, and I realized with a pang that she was embarrassed of me.
    “Was it obvious?” I whispered to Kemper.
    Kemper shook her head. “Not at all,” she assured me. “Don’t worry about it.” She glanced to Hayley for back up, but Hayley remained quiet, her head still down.
    “Anyway,” Kemper said, her mouth tightening as she turned back to me. “It’s way past time for fried Oreos.” She kept up a