Page 29 of Love Collided

I rubbed at the back of my neck, looking out over the parking lot. The rain was coming down harder now, which was to be expected this time of year, but it wasn’t helping the stress of her wanting to be here to meet up with some random gambling broker.

I roped myself into coming here, and now I was roping myself into feeling responsible for her safety.

Before I knew it, I was walking laps around her, the nervous energy leaving me restless. I already knew I hated waiting for anything, but I couldn’t figure out the tightening in my chest or why I had the nagging feeling I needed to get her out of here.

“Where is he?” I asked. Ten minutes had gone by and I hadn’t stopped pacing, my steps now silent on the cement floor.

“I don’t know. This is where I was told to meet him. I didn’t get his itinerary. He told me ten minutes.”

“And it has been fifteen.”

“Can you stop?” She asked. “All your nervous energy is making me nervous.”

“Are you not already nervous?”

“No? I’m only handing someone money?”

“In a dark, run down warehouse that would be better suited for a horror movie than a girl like you in a dress like that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? If you’re trying to bully me again, please just don’t. I’m not in the mood and I’ve heard it all before, anyway.”

“Bully you? I meant you look fucking incredible and should be sitting at a dumb restaurant waiting for some over the top birthday dessert rather than here. And to add to that, your stupid boyfriend was going to let you come here alone?”

“He doesn’tletme do anything. I do whatever I want.”

“You know damn well what I meant.” I stopped, taking her in. She did look incredible, and I couldn’t understand what anyone would have to bully her about. “Do you think I bully you?”

“Considering the ankle biter comments, yes, but I’ve taken to bullying you back, so I guess we are even.”

I smiled and turned back to look out the window. She had been giving it back as much as she took it, but I was surprised she actually thought I was actually trying to be mean to her.

“Why don’t you wait in the car, and I’ll hand the money over?”

“Why don’t you try to understand you are not in charge here, and all I asked from you is a ride?”

“And you call me the bully?” I asked, smiling again. “Come on. Do you honestly want to keep waiting here?” I asked, hating how much my heart raced. I had been in plenty of fucked up situations, and never cared this much.

“They probably got stuck in traffic. Why are you freaking out?”

“Traffic? Really, that’s your reasoning? And I’m freaking out because Fox is going to kill me if something happens to you while we’re out together.”

“We aren’touttogether. You gave me a ride. You’re essentially my Uber.”

“You think you call an Uber and an Audi rolls up? You better leave a big tip.”

“The only tip I have for you is to not offer rides to places you can’t handle going.”

“Do you think I would knowingly have you come here alone? Fuck, Fox would kill me for that, too.”

“You’re awfully worried about Fox killing you.”

“Fox has made it clear his friends are not people that find his sister attractive or put her in danger. I think that's practicing self preservation and keeping a friendship I actually enjoy.”

“You do know we aren’t technically related, right?”

“Because of blood. I think for every other point that matters, you are his little sister. I’m the asshole he wants to make clear is not going after you or harming you in any way. Which, based on the looks of this place, I have already failed at one.”

“But at least we know you will only be failing at one of those things,” she said.

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