Page 124 of Beautiful Collide

I shoot him a warning glare, all while trying to remain calm despite my heart pounding in my chest.

“Well”—Cassidy leans back with a smirk—“I guess we’ll just have to keep an eye on you two.”

Great.

Just great.

44

Hudson

The night is eerily quiet;the hum of the city muted this high up. I lean against the doorframe to the rooftop of the hotel where the team is staying, staring at the figure sitting underneath the stars.

I might not see her face, but I’d know her anywhere.

She’s haunted my thoughts for longer than I care to admit.

I watch her for a minute, sitting up against the low wall, knees pulled up, face tilted up to the sky.

She shouldn’t be up here.

Hell, I shouldn’t be either.

But something brought me here, and I have to believe it’s her. It’s almost like I’m stuck in her gravitational pull, and even if I tried, I’d never escape it.

Who are you trying to kid? You’ve never really tried.

For a hot second, I pretended I didn’t care about her.

That lasted all of two seconds.

I let the world think I was losing myself in an endless bevy of women, but it was all bullshit. None of that shit was real. Theonly thing that was real is that the very first time I saw Molly Sinclair, I was obsessed.

I move from where I’m perched, desperate for a closer look, needing to see her face.

When she comes into focus, she practically takes my breath away. She looks so different right now. Not her usual sarcastic self. There’s nothing combative about her.

She looks serene. Peaceful.

I want to be with her.

I stumble from the revelation.

I don’t care what her brother says, or what anyone says . . . I want Molly, and I’m going to do everything in my power to have her.

I step out of the shadows, my boots crunching softly on the graveled rooftop. This place definitely isn’t safe, but if she’s here, then I’m here.

Molly glances over her shoulder. It might be dark out, but even from here, under the black sky that blankets us from above, I can tell her expression looks wary.

I take another step out until a small light from the neighboring building lights the space. Her head whips in my direction.

It’s not bright out, but clearly, it’s enough for her to realize it’s me. Her eyes widen before a smile tugs at her lips.

“Can I help you?” Her voice carries over the cool night.

“Just out here to get some air.”

“Well, this roof is taken.”

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