Page 188 of Collided

Once we’re done, Marie peeks outside the window. “He’s not here.”

“Five minutes are left.”

“You’re right, but he should be early.” She huffs.

“Any piece of advice?”

"Have fun tonight but not that kind of fun. What the hell am I even saying?” She face-palms herself. “Just don’t panic and if you need my help either text or call me, and I'll be there in no time. If you want, I can go as an undercover agent and keep an eye on you guys, so he doesn't try anything. Look I—”

Without thinking I hug her, and she stops talking. “If I need you, I’ll call you.”

She relaxes in my hold and wraps her arms around me. “I charged your phone.”

A smile tugs on my lips at the gesture that’s so small but means so much.

When the doorbell rings we both pull away.

Marie stares at me with a knowing look that I can’t decipher. “First date. I wish it were with someone else, but life is full of experiences.”

“You mean Heath?”

She nods excitedly.

I fidget with my fingers, nervously. “He has to ask me out… I mean if he wants me in that way which I don’t think he does but—”

“Time will tell.”

We get downstairs. I pause at the loneliness and the quietness floating in the space that was here four months ago—I miss it now.

My hand on the handle shakes and my pulse is out of my control.

Taking a deep breath I open the door.

38

Hope

Elliot is standing there in simple jeans and a white T-shirt with flannel on top. His blond curls fall over his forehead and his brown eyes look soft behind the pair of thick glasses. He looks cute in a nerdy way. Someone who’ll understand me, perhaps.

“Hi. You look pretty.” His eyes check me out in a subtle way.

I tightly hold the door. “Thank you. You look good too.”

He shoots me a smile and it’s adorable.

“Are you ready?”

I nod. “Yes.”

Just then Marie comes down and wedges herself between the doorframe and me. “It’s Ethan, right? Look after—”

“Elliot.” He corrects her before I can.

My eyes train on her but she’s busy staring at me and avoids my side-eye.

Seriously, what is Marie doing? I thought she was okay with him.

“Ethan, Elliot, same thing, isn’t it?” Before he can reply, she brushes him off with a wave of hand. “The point is, look after my best friend and don’t you dare try something or I will make sure you don’t see the next sunrise.”

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