Page 215 of Collided

I hate shopping. And shopping with Marie is unbearable. She drags me to hundreds of stores only to return empty-handed and indecisive. Also, I look like a complete idiot carrying her bags and following her.

“Heath, look at this.” Marie shows me a blue dress. It’s simple with a modest neckline and doesn’t look that short. All I can imagine is Hope wearing it and making me lose my mind more than I already have.

“Get it,” I demand.

Marie assesses it critically. “It’s a local fair, not a club night. We should keep moving.”

I snatch the dress and buy it, while she watches me with a mischievous grin.

When I return with the bag I say, “What?”

Marie sighs dreamily with a grin and fans her face with her hand. “Ah! I love phase one.”

I frown hard. “What’s phase one?”

“Falling in love.”

“I’m not falling in love. I onlylikeher.”

“We’ll see.”

I’m half-tempted to swing the shopping bag in her face.

After ten minutes, we walk out of the shop. “Can we leave now?”

Marie gives me an exasperated look. “Of course not. We’ve not boughtmyoutfit yet.”

“You have plenty of—”

“Come on. We’re running late.”

After two hours we’ve got everything she needs. Marie hides the bags, so I have no idea what they’re going to wear to the fair. She asked me to wait outside while she bought all the stuff.

I don’t give two flying fucks what Marie wears, but I give all the fucks what Hope wears.

The element of surprise is killing me. I try to peek inside the bags, but Marie is so strong and attentive that she doesn’t even let me touch them. She’s ready for my every move.

Sebastian is a dick for teaching her everything. I lose every battle against the two of them because they’re my best friends and know me too fucking well.

I drive her home and carry her bags inside with her. She’s smart enough to not hand me the ones that contain stuff she bought for Hope. And she’s not open to any bribe I’m willing to offer to her.

I set down the bags in the living room and glare at her. “Just so you know, you’re not a good friend.”

Marie smirks evilly as she sits on the sofa. “You’ll eat your words when you see Hope.”

“I won’t.”I will.

Whatever she wears, I know she’ll take my breath away. I’ll be beside her all night to keep the other guys away from her and if anyone whistles or catcalls at her, I’ll punch them in the fucking face.

“Challenge accepted,” Marie says confidently.

I smirk. “Be prepared to lose, Blondie.”

“I never lose.”

“That’s not decided.”

“It is.”

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