Page 148 of Beautiful Collide

I watch her laugh, and I’m jealous.

Jealous that I can’t be the one making her laugh in public, that I can’t just walk up to her and claim her the way I want to.

I put my drink down and weave through the crowd. When I’m only a few feet away, our gaze locks.

Her eyes widen when she sees me, but she recovers quickly, arching a brow and putting on the playful facade I’ve come to know recently.

She makes my heart race faster than a game.

“Hex.” I lean in so she can hear me.

She raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk. “Wilde.” Her tone is playful, but there’s something else there, something softer, something she doesn’t show often, and I feel blessed she’s choosing to show it to me.

I grin, eating up the last remaining space between us. “You celebrating with me tonight?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” she teases, but her heavy gaze pulls me in. It feels like we’re the only people in the room.

I reach for her hand, brushing my fingers against hers. It’s subtle enough not to draw attention. “You know what I mean, Molly.”

“I do, but how?”

“Come with me.” I tug her away from the main room and into a back alcove hidden from any prying eyes. She hesitates for half a second before stepping into the darkness with me.

“I’ve been thinking about you all night,” I admit.

Molly looks up at me, her eyes searching my face. “You just won the Cup, and you’re thinking about me?”

“Yeah.” I brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because none of this feels complete until I’m with you.”

Her breath hitches.

Neither of us moves.

Then, slowly, she leans in, and her lips brush against mine.

Everything fades away. It’s just us.

54

Molly

It’s dimly lit back here.Everything is hazy, causing my eyes to have a hard time adjusting to how dark it is.

It’s almost too dark, but maybe that’s fitting for what this is.

It’s funny that I’m not afraid.

Usually, I would be.

Darkness and isolation terrify me, but not now. Not here. Not with him.Never with him.

The little girl inside me wants to cry out in fear, but the grown Molly, wrapped up in Hudson’s arms as he whispers,he misses me, is okay.

I’m more than okay, actually. I’m excited because despite being tucked away in a shadowy pocket far from prying eyes, I’m here with Hudson. How does he make everything feel so safe yet dangerous at the same time?

After a few more seconds, we separate, and Hudson steps back, leaning casually against the wall. He crosses his arms at his chest, and his black T-shirt clings to him in all the right places.

The sight of him makes my heart race. He’s a shot of coffee to my system. A live wire ready to explode.

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