Page 179 of Collided

His eyes are on the phone but his mouth twitches. “Asshole.”

“Yes.”

“I feel so much better now,” he says in a dry tone.

I smile, and he scowls.

That’s just how it’ll be between us.

36

Heath

A few days later, we go to my secret spot after school.

September is on the verge of goodbye with Autumn in full effect. An array of trees crowding the slopes and feet of the hills are in shades of yellow, orange, and red. It’s a whole color palette down there with the town sitting ahead of it.

“How do you know so much about Instagram pages, and managing a business? It’s one thing to study something and another to know exactly what to do.”

I lean back and turn my neck to look at her. Ialwaysneed to look at her.

“I manage a few Instagram pages for various stuff.”

Hope criss-crosses her legs and gazes at me with all her attention “Such as?”

“Some are niche pages that I grow an audience on so I can sell them later. The others are businesses like drop shipping, merchandise, and stuff.”

“You create merchandise?”

“Marie creates. I work on the marketing aspect.”

“When did you guys do it?”

I smirk. “We have never done it, Rose.”

“What—”

My smirk deepens, waiting for her to catch the innuendo.

Her cheeks turn rosy and those innocent eyes dart away from mine. It’s a delightful sight.

“You know what I meant,” she whispers.

“I don’t,” I joke, finding her uneasiness entertaining.

“Don’t make it say it, please.”

I laugh hard. My chest shakes in a way it hasn’t had in a long time.

Hope watches me with a cute smile.

“What?” I ask.

“That’s the first time I’m hearing your laugh.”

“Hm. What do you think of it?”

“That I like it, and it’s my second favorite thing about you.”

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