Page 81 of Twisted Collide

He reaches out a hand, and she takes it; then, before I can even blink, they’re on the dance floor.

Fuck it, I’m going to kill him.

Fine. I won’t, but I watch him dance with my girl. She’s not your girl.

She should be, though. She should be in my arms, not his.

Breathe.

Nothing has happened to warrant kicking his ass, it’s not like—goddamn. His hand is practically touching her ass.

Friendship be damned. I’m putting an end to this. I hate how jealous I am. It bubbles up inside me like a volcano erupting, and before I can stop myself, I’m striding across the space until I’m beside them.

They’re still dancing, but Hudson stops when I playfully shove him.

The bastard has the audacity to smirk at me. “How can I help you, Daney-boy?”

I shoot him a look that would scare a lesser man, but Hudson is too rambunctious to sense a threat. “I’m cutting in.”

Now, his smirk is a full-fledged smile. “Are you now?” He’s loving this, loving my weakness. Hudson has been hinting for the past few weeks despite never letting on my history with Josephine. Despite his playboy persona, he’s observant as all hell—a genuinely good trait unless it’s aimed at you.

I suck in a deep breath. “Yes, asshole, I am. I need to talk to Josephine.”

“Josephine?” He turns to look at her, but look isn’t the right word. He undresses her lazily with his eyes. “Is that yourfullname?” His voice has dropped an octave, the pitch he has reserved for his future conquests.Is this asshole for real?I cross my arms at my chest, trying my best not to strangle my friend.

“What the fuck do you think Josie stands for? Michelle?” I bite out. I should really rein it the fuck in. I’m losing it, and I’m usually more stoic than an ancient rock.

Josephine, on the other hand, seems to be eating this shit up. “It is.” She beams up at him, cheeks flushed.

“I like it, although I likeJosiebetter.”

“Hudson,” I practically growl.

“Oh, you’re still here.” He lets out a sigh. “Fine. But, Josie, you better save a dance for me.”

If it were possible for smoke to billow out of my ears, it would. Turning in her direction, I look at her face to see her answer. A small smile tips her lips, but she doesn’t say anything.Smart girl.

Hudson fucking bows in Josephine’s direction, and she goddamn giggles, and then it’s just the two of us.

From this close, the image in front of me is even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

So fucking breathtaking it hurts.

Her features seem softer, and her blue eyes sparkle like the ocean.

What has this girl done to me? Here I’m the grumpiest asshole on my best day, but one minute in her presence, and I’m practically waxing poetic.

This whole line of thought has me unhinged, my mind moving a million miles a minute until the only thing I can do to shut my brain off is pull her into my arms.

Shit.

The moment I feel her pressed against me, it hits me like a ton of bricks.I’m fucked.

I don’t think I have the power to continue to push her away.

“Are we going to dance or not?” she chides, and her words set me into action. With my hand on her lower back, my fingers caress her bare skin, and I start to sway her body.

“Can you be mindful of my hair?” she asks. “It’s full of pins.”

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