Page 220 of Collided

Whatever little courage I possess, I gather it to glance at him. All I see is humor swimming through his eyes and lips that twitch from holding back a smile—he rarely gives me those smiles.

I don’t have to ask. I know he’s read it. And he knows that I know he’s read it.

What I’d give to erase this moment from the timeline; I’d give anything.

Minutes pass and I don’t say a single word.

His arm on the back of my chair touches my back. “Look at me.”

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and do as he says.

With a pleased look, he curves in his chair so he’s completely facing me.

“I read the entire book in one fucking night,” he says.

“Huh?”

He smirks. “I feel like I can understand you much better now.”

I want to die. Drink a cup of poison or fling myself off a cliff. I’ll choose any option that’ll make it easier for me to die than to have this conversation with him out of everyone in the world.

I clear my throat. “Like how?”

I want to slap myself across the face.

Why did I ask that?Because I’m curious.

He nods in deep thought. “I know who Adrian Hayes is.”

“He’s perfect, right?” I ask with a smile. “He did so many cute things for her.”

“Andsteamy things.”

Red burns my cheeks and I know I must look like a tomato.

I slip the book into my bag and try to pretend that we don’t know each other at all.

“We’ll talk about it later.” Heath smirks tight.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

Heath looks at me with a heated gaze. I know this conversation is far from over.

“So, um, how are you?” I divert the conversation.

He frowns. “I should be asking you that. Are you hurt?”

“Not at all.”

“You aren’t fucking lying to me, right? You can talk to me. I’ll listen to you and help you.”

A true smile appears on my lips. “I’m not lying to you. I’m really fine.” I get nervous staring into his eyes, so I look at his chest instead. “You can talk to me, too. I’ll listen to you and helpyou, well, I don’t know if I can help you like you can help me, but I’ll try.”

Heath sighs loudly. “My face is up here, Rose.”

I keep staring at his chest. “I know.”

“Then why aren’t you looking at me?”

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