Page 152 of Collided

“Do you really think so?” Hope looks hesitant.

“Yes, of course. Life is about experiences.”

“I’ll think about it.” Hope spares me a glance.

I want to fucking punch someone or let them punch me. Either will do as long as I don’t feel my chest burning with fire.

Marie turns to me. “Seb and I won. Now we have to give you guys a dare.”

“I’m done here.” I stand up, but Sebastian pulls me down with so much force that when I sit I shake the whole table.

“Sit down, she’s speaking.”

Running a hand through my hair I suppress a groan. “What’s your fucking dare?”

“I don’t have it in mind yet. I'm calling a rain check.”

“That’s now how dares work, Blondie.”

She frowns. “Why not?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then it can work like that.”

“Whatever. I’m fucking out of here.” Before any of them can protest, I exit the building and let the cold air of the evening welcome me.

Leaning against my car, I smoke a cigarette and watch a group of men checking out women outside a local bar that’s brimming with a drunk crowd. One of them, a tall man with dark hair, smacks a woman’s ass and then squeezes it. She shoots him a smile over her shoulder, and he leans down to kiss her.

I contain my disgust and light up my second cigarette.

The more I smoke the quicker my chest unfurls with tension.

I can breathe again without feeling like my chest is on fire.

I hate this fucking feeling. I’ve never felt it before with anyone.

For fuck’s sake. I’ve never cared about a girl texting another guy. Yet, here I am, thinking about Hope contacting that sorry excuse of a guy and going on a date with him.

The thought makes me want to punch a wall.

For fuck’s sake.

This is all so new to me. I’ve never let anyone, much less a girl, get under my skin.

I’m head-deep in the sea of thoughts that is her. I don’t even want to fight my way up to the surface and breathe air. I just want to drown in her.

Maybe you do like her,my heart whispers.

I stop breathing.

Do I like her?

I care about her as a friend, and I’d do anything to make her happy. I like spending time with her and talking. I even like it when she rambles about her books. Listening to her brings mesilence and calm. I enjoy it more than I enjoy smoking. Is that how it is when you have feelings for someone?

I’m still thinking about it, when the door flings open, and Hope storms out. She frantically looks across the street, stares for a minute, then turns around. When her eyes settle on me, she runs toward me and my heart skips a beat.

Throwing her arms around me she hugs me tightly. Her erratic heartbeats thump against my chest and I can feel her anxiety seeping out through her skin.

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