Page 141 of Collided

Maybe I am. I’m not a hundred percent sure how he feels about me, or how I feel about him, but there’s something and I want to find that out.

Racing downstairs I leave the house as quickly as possible and check the street multiple times in case Dad is walking home.

When I stop in front of Heath he straightens to his full height that towers over me. Like always he’s in all-black attire; blackjeans, black T-shirt, and black Converse. And as always he looks deadly and handsome.

He locks eyes with me, then runs them all over me.

When I shiver because of his steady gaze he opens the door for me, and I slip inside.

I look over at Nadina, but she’s focused on Heath. She gestures to him to come forward and he complies. She talks to him and all he does is nod his head.

Five minutes later he joins me. As he pulls out of my neighborhood I try to make myself small, so Dad doesn’t see me in passing. If he caught a glimpse of us, I’d have hell to pay.

It’s only when we’re a couple of blocks away that I’m able to breathe properly.

“What was Nadina saying?”

“Why were you hiding yourself?”

I smile. “I asked first.”

Heath rolls his eyes. “I can’t tell you.”

My smile drops. “All right. Can you at least tell me where we’re going?”

“Bowling alley.”

“Really?” Excitement fills me.

“Yes.”

“I’ve never been to a bowling alley before.”

“That’s what I thought,” he mutters under his breath as he parks the car in the parking lot that’s filled with cars.

Since we live in a small town, it takes us little time to reach places which is a good thing because I travel mostly on foot. If I were to walk to school that was thirty miles away I’d pass out somewhere in the middle for sure.

I’m counting money in my small wallet when the door to my side opens. I look up at Heath who gestures at me to get out. So impatient.

I slip my wallet into my jeans pocket and get out.

“Marie and Sebastian are already inside,” Heath informs me before he starts walking ahead of me.

We walk inside the building that’s big and lit up with neon strips and fluorescent lights. It’s so bright and loud inside. Music is playing over the hum of the boisterous crowd of teenagers that fill the place.

I see groups of guys lurking in corners sipping cans and checking out girls. A few of them turn my way and I immediately go all red.

How quickly can I hide?

On instinct, I move closer to Heath and bump into his shoulder. He stops walking and looks at me with a frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I mutter. Not knowing how to tell him that I feel uncomfortable because a group of boys are leering at me. My social anxiety kicks in and all I want to do is find a corner and read my book—become invisible.

His gaze runs over my head. I notice how his eyes darken, and he sends a death stare to the group.

I startle when I feel his hand touch mine. Slowly, one finger at a time, he holds my hand until our palms are pressed together and my hand is engulfed in his big one. My breath hitches and my pulse skyrockets to the sky.

“Let’s go.” He leads me deeper into the hall.

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