Page 69 of Collided

“That car belongs to my sister,” I explain.

Surprise washes over her like an unexpected tidal wave.

I gulp hard to swallow the brimming emotions. Why the fuck I shared that with her?

“You have a sister?” she asks quietly.

I nod and avoid eye contact.

“Is she around? I should’ve greeted her.” She stands up to go search for her. If only she were here.

Taking her hand, I pull her down and she falls over me. Those light brown eyes peer up at me in confusion, but otherwise, her body stays relaxed in my hold. Good. I don’t want her to fear me.

“She’s dead,” I state in a gravel tone that scratches my throat in the most agonizing way.

A gasp leaves her, and her eyes fill with tears. The sight should annoy the fuck out of me, but it doesn’t. I see her feeling my pain and understanding me.

“W-when? How?” Her questions are better than sympathy and pity.

“Cancer. Last year,” I brief, my voice monotone due to repeating those words a dozen times. At this point, I can even write them down in my sleep.

Hope stares at me with such despair and sorrow, my hand itches to comfort her. I just don’t know how to do that. I barely know how to comfortmyselfon nights when I’m crying like a toddler while curled up on my bed.

My mind is trapped in a haze, which explains why I don’t react when arms circle around my neck, and a warm body presses against mine in a fierce hold.

My heart beats loudly.

I stay frozen in her hold. I want nothing more than to return it, but I can’t fucking move.

Emery’s face laps around my mind. She’s all I can focus on. The fact that she isn't here anymore. It hurts. It hurts a lot.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” she whispers in my shoulder, bringing my attention to her.

I take a deep breath. Her lavender scent enters me and takes over me like a storm without warning. She tightens her arms around my neck with unspoken words.I feel your pain and I want to take it away.

“It’s fine.” The words are just words.

Hope doesn’t say anything. She just keeps her arms around me.

For the first time in my life, she’s all I can think of instead of my sister.

“You didn’t need to hug me,” I say.

“You looked like you needed a hug.”

Fuck me.

Someone knocks on the door making her scramble off me. It opens, making me want to kill the person on the other side for interrupting usandmy hug.

“Dinner is ready, sir.” Derek flits his gaze on Hope. I can already read the suspicions in his head and the news traveling to my dad. I really don’t want that to happen. I want to keep every aspect of my life hidden away from my parents because their opinions don’t matter to me.Theydon’t matter to me.

“I should go. I didn’t think it’d get this late.” Hope tosses everything into her bag.

“Stay,” I end up saying and it surprises us both.

She clears her throat. “I’ll eat at home.”

I stand up. She’s a couple of inches shorter than me and reaches my chest.

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