Page 115 of Twisted Collide

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Unshed tears feel heavy behind my lids.

“And that’s okay. We don’t have to.”

I take a deep breath and open my eyes. A lone tear runs down my cheek as I watch Dane place the paper back on the desk. “Come here.”

“No.”

“Please.”

I scrunch my nose and shake my head again. He lifts his brow, but then he doesn’t wait for me to move. Instead, he stepsup and wraps his arms around me. It feels good to be encased in his arms. The comfort he gives feels real; it makes us feel real.

I shouldn’t allow myself to think these thoughts, but as I exhale the pent-up emotion inside me, I fall into him. A wrecked sob escapes my mouth, and fresh tears fall, and he never lets me go. He holds me as my world crashes to the ground, and everything I thought was real disappears into a fog that has now lifted.

When my sobs stop, he pulls back and looks down at me. We stare at each other for a moment, and nothing matters at that moment but him holding me.

48

JOSIE

It’s beena long and draining week since I found the DNA test. When I said yes to coming over today, I felt fine. Now, standing at his front door, I feel like I’m dying.

I’m exhausted and to make matters worse, it’sthattime of the month.

We’re supposed to be fun and casual, and now I’m rolling up feeling like shit. My stomach is cramping, and I’m miserable. It feels like I’m coming down with a cold or flu.

I should cancel.

If I turn around now and head back to my car, maybe I can text him from the car and let him know.

Right as I’m about to scurry back to my car, the front door opens.

“Planning on knocking? Or were you just going to stand there all day?”

“I mean, it’s nice over here.” I pretend to look around andexamine his front door. “Nice shade. Spacious. No one to interrupt me as I do some soul-searching.”

He suppresses a smile. “The inside is even better. Come, I’ll even make you hot chocolate.”

Dane reaches out and pulls me into his arms and picks me up.

“What are you doing?”

“Making the choice for you.” He carries me into the house. His footsteps sound heavy with our combined weight, and I grimace from the sound.

Now my head hurts.

A groan slips out.

He halts. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” There’s no way he’s buying what I’m selling since I sound like shit.

In his arms, I breathe in his scent. He smells delicious. Like the forest on a summer day. Crisp yet smoky.

My lids flutter shut as he walks us to his bed. Then he places me down on the floor. I expect him to kiss me, but instead, he pulls back the fluffy duvet.

“Get in.”

I arch my brow. “What are you doing?”

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