Page 91 of Twisted Collide

Needing a moment to myself, I move toward the back door of this place. I don’t want to talk to any of them, and I certainly don’t want to see her having the time of her life, so instead, I choose to head out the door.

Once outside, the brisk October air hits me in the face.

It does help sober me up. Maybe it was the haze of the bar and the company that had me feeling so fucked up, but now in the darkness of the night with the wind blowing in my face, I’m no longer feeling like a weight has been dropped on my chest.

Eventually, I’ll have to go back into the bar and settle up with Hudson. I don’t need him buying my drinks, but I need some distance right now to get my head on straight.

I walk a few more steps until I see the small park adjacent to the bar. Since I have no desire to socialize, this is perfect. It’s empty. No lights, no people, just calm.

I take a seat and close my eyes, inhaling slowly and then exhaling. What is it about her that has me tied up in knots?

It’s her presence.

I want her near me, and when I can’t have her, it feels like I’m drowning.

This is why Coach should never have offered her to me as an assistant. Now that I’ve tasted what life would be like with her in my presence, I don’t know how I’ll go back.

I take another deep breath, and when I exhale, I hear a sound beside me.

“Why are you out here all alone?” The voice I dream about says from behind me. I turn over my shoulder and peer up at her.

“The better question is, why are you out here? Shouldn’t you be inside, laughing at Hudson’s jokes?”

There’s no hiding the jealous tone in my voice. If she hears it, she’s gracious enough not to make any indication. Instead, she gives me a small smile. “I saw you leaving, and I wanted to say . . .”

“Say what?” I cock a brow, interested to know what she came all the way out here to say.

“Thank you for today.” She bites on her upper lip, looking a bit uncomfortable.

I shake my head. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m here for you if you need me. I know we’re a bit of a trainwreck—”

She arches her brow. I smirk. “Okay, a whole lot of a trainwreck. But I care, you know?”

“I care about you, too.” She reaches out but stops herself before she touches me. “Want company?”

I shrug, which seems to be an open invitation for her to lower herself onto the bench beside me.

“What’s going on with you?” she asks.

I lift my hand and scrub at my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re extra grumpy,” she clarifies.

“Wow. I’m grumpier than normal? Is that what you’re saying?”

“It is. What gives?”

I pivot in my seat to face her, which is probably a stupid idea. It’s easier to pretend it’s not about her when I’m not looking at her, but when I see her under the moonlight, I can’t deny the pull she has over me. She looks angelic, her golden hair like a halo floating around her.

I clear my throat. “Again, I’m not following. What did I do now?”

“You just look miserable. You never smile.”

I cock my head. “I smile.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah? When?”

My chest rises and falls. “Whenever you’re around and I forget myself.” The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop myself.

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