Page 184 of Collided

Marie and Camila appear smiling and carrying tons of bags.

“Oh, Heath is here. What a surprise. How are you, love?” Camila asks in a motherly tone as she comes my way.

“I’m fine.” I stand up and move toward Marie.

Marie stares at me in shock. “Heath, what are you doing here?”

I point my finger at her. “You and I need to talk, Blondie.”

She nods. “All right. Let’s go up to my room.”

I start walking out of the house before her parents can make me stay for dinner. “Meet me outside.”

Two minutes later she steps out with a concerned look on her face. “What’s up?”

The rage I smothered a while ago lights up with full force.

I glare at her. “Why did you tell Hope to go on a date with that platypus?”

Marie frowns, then starts laughing and my annoyance only gets worse.

“Platypus? That was funny.”

I grimace. “That guy isn’t for her.”

“And you know how?”

“I just do.” I grind my molars with how mad I am right now.

“You told me she isn’t your type, so I don’t understand why you’re interfering.”

“I’m looking out for her as a friend.”

“Are you sure that's the only reason?” She arches an eyebrow. Her eyes are as curious as her father’s.

“I’m done here.”

I drive home all the while thinking about Hope and that average-looking guy on a date. I can’t get the image of them laughing and talking out of my head.

I fucking despise it.

Fucking platypus.

I hate it so much that I’d give anything tonothave her go out with him.

The truth I’ve been hiding from everyone hits me across the chest in bold italic big letters.

I. Like. Her.

I. Fucking. Like. Her.

I don’t knowhoworwhenit happened, but somewhere in her beautiful brown eyes and pretty rosy cheeks I started feeling something. I have no interest in books, but when she talks about them I just want to listen to her. The way she looks when she talks about her favorite characters or the smile that hangs on her lips at the cute moments, it’s enchanting.

The thought of someone hurting her evokes the killer instinct in me. I’ve never wanted to kill anyone. But I want to kill whoever lays hands on her and terrorizes her. I’ll go to jail for her just so she feels safe.

Never in my life have I felt this sort of pull toward someone. It’s stronger than the magnetic force of a planet or opposite poles. There’s no way I can resist it.

I like her. I like her so fucking much that it hurts to not be with her all the time.

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