Page 45 of Twisted Collide

“Doesn’t really seem that way. You sure? You looked like you were about to murder someone out there.”

“Guess I was hungover,” I mutter, untying my skates.

“I take it that means you don’t want to go out with Hudson tonight?”

My stomach roils just thinking about it.

“Nope.”

“You want to have dinner with Cass and me? You know we’d love to have you.” His offer is genuine, and while I appreciate it, the last thing I want to do is play the third wheel, no matter how much I like Cassidy.

“Nah, man, I’m good. I promise.”

He narrows his eyes at me, holding my stare. “Do I need to call Molly?”

I sigh, rubbing my hands over my face. “I said I’m fine. Just drop it. Please.”

He nods and pats me on the back.

“Then get your shit together, man. I don’t mean to come off harsh, but we need your head in the game.” And with that, he walks off, leaving me alone.

You know you’ve gone and fucked up when Aiden calls you out.

Great. Just fucking great.

Thirty minutes later,I’m hitting Aiden’s contact button on my phone.

“Hey, Dane. You good?” he answers.

“I’ve changed my mind. Is dinner still an option?” With my free hand, I hit the button on my key fob, and then, once the door is unlocked, I get in my car.

“Dinner is always an option. See you soon.”

“Thanks.” I hang up the call and start my car. Aiden and Cassidy don’t live too far from where we practice. It only takes me about fifteen minutes to get there and find a parking spot before I head into the apartment building where they live. I ride the elevator up and then get off on their floor.

It’s a nice place, but I can’t imagine living here. Sure, my house is too big for me, but when I bought it all those years ago, I got it for Molly. It was the righthometo raise her in.

I stroll up to the door and knock.

The door flings open. “Dane, I’m so happy you’re here.” Cassidy smiles brightly at me as she steps out of the way to let me in.

“Thanks for having me. I came straight from practice, or I would have brought something.”

She shakes her head. “Dane, you’re family. You don’t have to bring anything.”

Her words are exactly what I need right now. With Molly gone, the past month has been weird.

I didn’t realize how much I depended on her, and I don’t just mean for my day-to-day activities.

There’s also the fact that Hellfire is living with Robert. That’s throwing me off.

Normally, I spend a lot of time with him and Sherry, but currently, I’m trying my hardest to avoid Josephine, so my trips over there have been nonexistent.

“Go sit down, and I’ll get you a drink.” She points at the couch in the living room, and I start heading in that direction.

“You’re one of a kind,” I call over my shoulder before taking a seat on the couch.

Not even a second later, Aiden strides into the room, head wet from a shower. He might dunk his head at the arena, but showering there isn’t part of his routine.

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