Page 49 of Love Collided

I leaned in further, her lips so close to mine that if she moved even an inch, I would be touching her.

She reached over to me, her hands moving along my stomach to my jeans and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe as her fingers roamed. This was it. She wanted this, too. She needed to touch me as badly as I needed to touch her. I leaned in again, my forehead falling against hers. I wanted her to push for this. I wanted her to make any move so I could break this hold she had on me, and make a move, too.

Suddenly, her hands were doing more of a patting motion than feeling me up.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to find your wallet, rich boy. The gas for this car isn’t cheap, and it's a long drive,” she said, smiling as she patted me down more.

The groan that came from me was agonizing.

“You better be glad that you’re fucking cute. Sit your ass here, and I’ll fill up the car.”

“Thank you. I’m going for snacks,” she said, the winning smile still plastered on her face. It was probably well deserved because I was pretty sure she was winning.

I looked around at the creepy gas station. Even in broad daylight, it seemed a little to run down. The sky was dark, leaving everything coated in an eerie gray color.

“I think I’ll get those, too. Just stay here. Figure out whatever murder story you want next.”

“I can handle a gas station, Chase.”

“I’m sure, but there’s no point when I’m here. Plus, I’ve been listening to people going missing, and this is about what I’m picturing when they describe it, so I got it.”

She let out a long huff and looked around. “Maybe you’re a little right, but I hope you know that I will be judging you based on the snacks you get us.”

I clicked my tongue, paying for the gas before filling up the car. “Always looking for a way to intimidate me,” I said, leaning down to her through the open window. “I bet it’s infuriating that it never works.” I smiled, heading inside before she could yell at me.

Being stuck in a car for seven more hours never sounded like so much fun.

FIFTEEN

SCOUT

A few hours later,we were back on the road after picking up the part, and I was trying to ignore the tiredness that kept threatening to take over.

It had been a week of restless sleep. Between Jesse, Chase, my dad, the races—I couldn’t keep anything straight and it was keeping me up at all hours.

Now Chase was here, handing me snacks, filling up the car, opening my drink. One minute he was quietly listening to the podcast and the next he was going on a rant about whatever theory the podcasters had.

The only problem I had with it was how much I liked it. He was somehow the most infuriating man I’ve ever met, but still calming. Every moment with him came easy. Easier than it ever did with Jesse.

I yawned again, the dark skies moving in earlier than normal as a storm moved our way.

“I do know how to drive, Scout. I’ve quite literally beat you racing. A few times. I can drive the rest of the way.”

“No, it’s fine, and stop reminding me about that. I don’t know how you managed to beat me, but I will figure it out.”

He gave a deep rumble of a laugh, the sound filling the car and making me lean back into the seat more, a warm, comforting feeling overwhelming me.

“Come on, pull over and I’ll drive. You’re obviously tired.”

I shook my head and went to protest more, but the sky opened up, rain coming down on us like a thick blanket.

“Alright,” he said without a hint of humor, “pull over now, Scout. We are not driving in this with you half asleep.”

“Maybe it will pass,” I said, not even able to see an exit off the highway.

“Scout,” he warned. “Get off the road now.”

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