Page 206 of Collided

Seriously. What is wrong with me?

I feel his lips against my temple. “Can you walk?”

“I think so.”

“Not fucking good enough.”

In the next second, he lifts me in his arms as if I weigh nothing and holds me close to him. Without thinking much, I lean my head against his shoulder and close my eyes.

Exhaustion lures me in like a spell and I fall under its magic.

I’m tired. I’m so very tired. Not just physically. My mind is empty right now, and when it’s not, there’s a storm of thoughts in there. So many voices speak. I can’t escape them. I can’t mute them. I can’t do anything.

I’m losing a battle. One I can’t see but only hear.

Heath sets me down in the car and bends over me with eyes flaming with anger and concern.

“I’m going to get you something to drink,” he says.

“Water. I need water,” I tell him, hoping he can hear me.

“Okay.” With that, he shuts the door and leaves.

I lean my head against the seat and look out. The sight of my pool of vomit disgusts me.

Oh my God. I can’t believe I did that.

The worst part is that Heath saw it. He saw all of it. I believe there’s nothing more embarrassing that’s left to be seen by him. He’s seen me cry, sob, have a panic attack, and now puke.

I want to dig a big hole, throw myself in it, and never climb out. This time even the invisibility cloak can’t save me. I just want to disappear.

Oh my. I’m so incredibly embarrassed.

The same mouth he’s kissed just retched up in a parking lot. I bet he’s sworn to never kiss me again.

With a groan, I cup my face in my hands.

I loved our kiss. It was the only good thing in my life. Now, it won’t happen again.

Why did I have to ruin it all?

Well, I’m not sure what really happened.

One minute I was okay, the next minute I was nauseous.

Heath appears with two bags. He opens one and gives me a water bottle.

I quickly take it from him and drink a quarter of it. The cold water goes down my throat and washes off the remnants of the mess I threw up.

“How do you feel?” he asks.

I look over and find him watching me.

The streaks of warm orange rays from the setting sun, lovingly kiss his face. The hue of blue resembles the waves of a calm ocean touched by the last light of the sunset. Under that soft glow, his features emerge more strikingly. The perfect cut of his face, the sharp jawline, the strong nose, and the contours of his cheekbones. Every curve and edge look sharpened.

He smiles. “Are you lost in my eyes again?” he asks, in a raspy, deep voice.

“I…I…” No words come to my mind.

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