Page 42 of Collided

Heath and I skate at a turtle’s pace which must be bothering him, but he shows no signs of annoyance or anger. He doesn't let me go, and his grip is tighter than mine is on him.

Silence extends between us and it’s not awkward. It’s comfortable.

It’s the perfect time.

I should thank him.

It’s the least I can do after I made him pay for my food.

“I wanted to talk to you,” I say timidly.

His blue gaze connects with mine. Worry flashes through his eyes.

“What is it?” His hands tighten around mine, encouraging me to go on.

My stomach fills with warmth. “I want to thank you for Thursday. You bought me food and drove me home. It was nice of you.”

“It’s nothing.” He brushes it off in an it-doesn’t-matter way as if he does it for every girl.

Does he? The mere idea bothers me strangely.

“It’s something.”

Our eyes meet and I can’t hold my brimming smile.

Heath gulps hard, making his Adam's apple move incredibly slow. It’s the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen. His eyes soften a bit, and he slowly lets go of one of my hands. “You got a hang of it?”

“I think so.”

I hold his other hand with both hands and try to skate like everyone else in the rink—like a professional. Right now, I resemble a baby penguin who’s learning how to walk on ice and it’s not cute at all.

Heath instructs and I do as he says and almost squeal when I don’t plant my face on the ice.

“It’s working.” I straighten with confidence. I like hearing the noise of my skates slashing the ice as I circle the perimeter with him. My speed is more than that of a turtle.

“It is,” he says.

Tilting my head, I find him staring at me. His hand squeezes mine and heat runs up my arm and reaches my heart.

“You know I’m a boxer,” Heath says casually.

I give him a questionable look. “You told me you fight at an underground thing.”

His lips quirk up. “Thatunderground thingis dangerous and only the best fighters are there.” Pulling me to him he adds, “If someone is hurting you, I can fucking help you.”

The color drains from my face. I turn numb.

“No-no one is hurting me,” I whisper in a weak voice. I don’t sound convincing even to myself.

He tugs me to him and our fronts press together. “That’s a fucking lie.”

“You agreed to not talk about this.” How I manage to say that with our proximity is beyond me.

His face hardens. “I didn’t fucking agree to anything.”

I slip my wrist out of his hold. “Well, I agreed to not telling, because there isn’t anything to tell.” My throat suffocates my next breath. “I came here to have fun. Not to talk aboutthat. I don’t want to…”think about it or discuss it with you.

Heath clenches his jaw and rakes a hand through his hair. “I fucking tried. If you don’t need help then I won’t offer it.”

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