Page 59 of Collided

Without thinking, I inch closer to him just as he switches on the flashlight on his phone. He puts it on the side table near the door. The light brightens the room a little, making it easy for me to see him.

Looking down at me he says, “It’s okay.” Then inches closer to me.

His proximity doesn’t bother me. I know he won’t hurt me.

“Is there a generator or something?” I shake my head. “I think it’s a power outage, so you might be out of electricity for a few hours.”

I pull back from him to not bother him, but his fingers wrap around my wrist. Using his phone, he sheds light on the area where Dad held me last night. The bruises are on display.

“What the fuck is this, Hope?” His tone is deadly as it makes my spine straighten like a rod.

“I-it’s-nothing.” I try to wriggle my wrist out of his hold, but he keeps me in place.

Stepping closer, he towers over me. Our eyes meet and he keeps them locked with his intensity.

“Did someone fucking touch youagain?” The darkness in his voice is dangerous as if he’d go out at this hour and search for the man who hurt me.

I’m surprised to see him like this.

“It’s not like that,” I whisper.It’s exactly like that.

My heart races with anxiety. If he pushes the matter, I might end up blurting out everything to him.

He puts back his phone on the table.

I relax, thinking he’s going to leave.

“Look at me.Please.” His voice is much softer than before.

Tilting back my head, I meet his gaze. There’s no escape when his entire attention is on me.

Anger blazes through his blue eyes. “Someone is hurting you. Tell me the fucking name and I’ll take care of them.”

Take care of them? As in I won’t get hurt again?

Tears cloud my vision when I think of him getting beaten by my dad. He’ll do more damage to Heath than he could ever do to him.

“I’m fine,” I say the words, hoping he’ll believe them.

His fingers start caressing my knuckles. “I don’t believe you.”

I smile at him. “I’m fine, really.”

“You have no idea what I’m fucking capable of. If you just tell me, they won’t hurt you ever again.” There’s a promise behind his words.

“It’s nothing.” I brush it off again.

With a sigh, he looks away. His gaze stops at the stairs that lead to my room.

“Show me your room,” he commands and my feet start moving. He follows me closely as I lead him upstairs.

I light up an old candle that I found in one of the drawers and close the windows.

When I turn around, I find Heath standing so impressively tall in my room that he makes it small. His eyes run over every inch of space as he takes it all in. I don’t even want to know what he’s thinking.

Regardless of how this place looks, I love it. I feel safe here. I’d never have this feeling anywhere else—maybe the library.

I quickly get rid of the textbooks and stationery that are on my bed from last night’s study session and straighten the bedsheets.

---