Page 124 of Collided

My chest tightens. “Go ahead.”

Hope gulps hard. From that alone I know something is bothering her.

Slipping the empty wrapper into her jeans pocket, she says, “Why do you think people don’t believe victims?”

My body coils in ropes of tension, making me sit straight. My hard-on is long forgotten.

Well, that worked perfectly.

Lots of answers race through my mind. I need to say the right thing, especially when I already have suspicions about her.

“Maybe because they don’t want to come to terms that it’s happened.”

Her short laugh turns into a sob that shakes her entire body. “That’s a good excuse.”

My heart beats violently against my chest.

Without thinking, I come around and stand in front of her.

“Hey.” I approach her in a gentle voice, keeping my hands to myself.

She quickly wipes away her tears. “I don’t want to cry in front of you again.”

What fucking nonsense.

I ignore her and take her hands which she keeps using to rub her face. However, her tears don’t stop. They fall, fall, and fall.

“I think we’re way past that.”

“I never wanted to.” She lifts her shoulder to wipe her eyes. Before she can. I do it for her.

Using my thumb, I wipe away every tear that falls as she cries hard.

It’s breaking my fucking heart.

“It’s done now,” I reply.

Shaking her head, she sniffles. “I should go.”

She starts getting off the hood, but I hold her back by grabbing her thighs.

“Stay.” There’s no way in fuck I’m letting her leave until I know she’s okay.

She chews her bottom lip. “I have to be home by eight.”

“Then I’ll drop you home by eight.” Picking out my phone, I show her the time. “It’s six-thirty now. We’ve got time.”

“I don’t know.”

Even in the dark, I see how miserable and scared she looks. For fuck’s sake, she’s shivering.

“You’re staying.” I decide for her.

Unlocking my car, I get her in the backseat, then grab the black blanket from the trunk that I keep with me at times I sleep in my car to avoid going to an empty home. It used to happen a lot last year after Emery’s death.

I hand it to Hope and then turn on the AC and music from my favorite band. Coldplay.

Hope bundles up in my blanket and looks so small and vulnerable.

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