Page 100 of Collided

“I don’t have time to wait until next year,” I remind her after a minute of silence.

A soft laugh bubbles out of her and hits me right across the chest. I stare at the delicate lines of her smile and the glint of humor in her eyes. She’s just so fucking beautiful.

Taking a deep breath, she meets my gaze. “Would you like to have a small commission out of every sale I make? It won’t be much, but still.”

Not happening, Rose.

I harden my gaze. “I don’t need the money. I’ve got plenty already. Besides, you should save as much as you can and invest it somewhere.”

“I know you have plenty, but it feels wrong to me because you help me so much.” Her gaze softens.

I arch an eyebrow. “Why don’t you gather my proportion and buy a new phone? I’d like that very fucking much instead of making these.”

Hope watches as I pick up beads, line them for her to put through the string, and make the bracelet.

“I didn’t know you disliked doing this,” she mutters.

“No fucking guy likes doing this,” I grumble.

“I can ask Marie. I bet she’d—”

“No need,” I add quickly.

If she does this with Marie, then she won’t need me. And I can’t let that fucking happen.

I hate having anyone in my room, except her. When she’s here I don’t feel alone. We don’t talk much but it’s better than me sitting around and smoking as I kill time.

“But you said—”

I give her a sharp look. “Focus. I’m hungry and I want to get it done soon.”

She bites her lower lip.

Blood rushes from my chest to my dick. I curse myself.

For fuck’s sake. Maybe it won’t be that bad if Marie helps her.

By five p.m. Kelly brings us tacos and nuggets. If it isn’t clear already I love nuggets and chicken wings.

She lingers until I send her a glare and she scurries out of the room. Between Derek and her, there’s less chance of her calling my father and feeding him gossip. But that doesn’t mean she won’t question me later.

I switch on the TV and flip through shows. “What do you wanna watch?”

Hope looks at me with wide eyes. “I-I get to pick?”

I roll my eyes. “I asked you, didn’t I?’

“I’m fine with anything.”

I browse and settle on Lucifer. “How far have you watched it?”

She stares at the screen. “I’ve never watched it.”

I jump to season one episode one. I don’t mind watching it again for her sake.

Ten minutes later she asks, “Can I dim the lights?”

I stand up and do it for her. It reminds me of Marie and how it always annoys me, but I don’t mind doing it for Hope.

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