Page 52 of Collided

Swinging my arm, I keep trying to hit him, until he rounds his leg around my knees and knocks me to the floor. His hands take a hold of my wrists, and he pins me with an intense glare. “What’s the matter with you?”

I scoff and refuse to look at him as the memories from earlier conjure in my brain.

I’m fine.

“Nothing,” I grit out.

Paul gets off me. I roll over and stand up. Untying the gloves, taking off the headrest, I sit on the mat to catch my breath.

He sits a few feet away from me and stares at me. “It’s your sister, isn’t it?”

I shake my head and splatter sweat on the mat.

He scoffs. “Yeah, sure. Why else would you be here at five in the morning?”

I look out and see the sky turning bright and flocks of birds flying around.

How long have I been here?Clearly more than an hour.

“I should go.” Collecting my shirt, I get into the bathroom and take a shower. Cold water flows down my body. It doesn’t freeze the damn numbness in my chest or the way my soul aches.

I’m in pain, emotional pain. I don’t know how to work through it.

Therapy is out of the option. The mere idea of telling a stranger my inner thoughts makes me want to get hit by a truck.

I don’t like being fucking vulnerable. More than that I don’t fucking know how to be.

I can talk to Sebastian, but he has his stuff to deal with. Marie doesn’t need my darkness touching her light. I’d hate to make her upset. She already worries about me a lot. I hate it.

So that leaves no one.

After a shower, I slip on my clothes and drive to Sebastian’s apartment that he’s renting all by himself. God knows, he needed to move out of the house where he was living with his mother who loved drugs and brought strange men to her home. Men who hurt her son, but she didn’t care.

Using the spare key, I slip inside and turn on the lights.

“You’re early.” Sebastian comes down the stairs where his room is.

“Yeah.” I lean against the nearest wall.

His apartment is too small, but it’s his. The living room and kitchen are an open concept and share the same space. There’s only one bedroom and bathroom that are both up the few steps of stairs. Unlike me, he isn’t a clean freak, but when Marie is here, she either makes him do it or does it herself. She’s transformed this tiny space into a home with their photos hanging on the walls, scented candles, decoration pieces and other house accessories that make it a great place to live.

His eyebrows pinch. “Everything okay?”

“Mhm.” That’s better than lying.

Marie comes barreling down. “My best friend is here. Good morning!”

I cock my head to one side. “Good morning. You’re quite cheerful.”

Her cheeks turn bright red, and she grins. “You see, I came in a little earlier and Sebastian and I spent the time in his bed—”

I roll my eyes. “And that’s all I need to know.”

Moving toward the kitchen I open cabinets and pull out the protein powder to make a shake for Sebastian and I. Marie starts on pancake batter, and Sebastian eagerly joins her.

Seriously, he should be helping me instead of sneaking his hand under her top.

Sex freaks.

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