Page 198 of Collided

The only girl I’m interested in always has her head buried in a book while walking.

Sweeping my gaze on the property I search for her, but it’s like she’s disappeared.

Raging in frustration, I stride to my car to get away from here, when I see her leaning against it. A romance novel is in her hands and she’s busy reading it.

Relief washes over me, but then hot white anger blinds me. “I’ve been looking for you all day.”

Hope jostles in shock. Her fingers start fidgeting with the pages of the book—she’s nervous.

“Why are you ignoring me?” I near her because I want to be close to her, but she steps back.

“I think we should stay away from each other.”

I frown hard. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

Hope shakes her head and refuses to look at me. She’s staring at my chest with a determined face.

“No, I’m not joking,” she says.

“Look at me.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because then I’ll forget what I want to say.”

I almost smile. “You’ll forget?”

“Yes.”

“That makes no fucking sense.” I pause. “Look at me.”

“Please, Heath.” Her feeble voice pierces through the fog of my anger.

However, I stand my ground. “Will you just fucking talk to me for once? I’m getting tired of you ignoring me and not telling me stuff. It’s fucking hard for me too, but I try. You don’t even do that.”

Her eyes brim with tears. “Because I can’t!”

I take a step in her direction. This time she doesn’t step back which is a fucking relief.

“Can’t or won’t?” I ask.

“I can’t.”

“Fucking bullshit.”

A tear falls down her cheek and my anger slips away with it. Without thinking, I wipe it away and keep my thumb over her cheek.

She brushes away my hand and wipes away her tears. “I’m so sorry.”

I sigh. “What are you fucking sorry about?”

“About everything.”

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”

“There is.” Her lips quiver, and another wave of tears advances in her eyes.

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