Page 219 of Beautiful Collide

There it is.

A real smile.

“Okay,” she says, her voice quieter now but steadier. “What’s next?”

I grin. I love seeing her like this. “Next, we take a little walk. You ready?”

She nods, her hands tightening again.

As I lead Gracie out, I hold Molly tight. “Now close your eyes.”

“What?” Her voice is full of shock.

I move my head so my lips are at her ear.

“Trust me, Molly. Believe I’ll never let anything hurt you.”

As her muscles loosen, I can feel that she is giving me her trust.

The feeling is unlike anything I have ever felt before.

78

Hudson

It doesn’t takea rocket scientist to know something is wrong the moment I spot Anna when I enter the barn.

I came out here to grab the jacket I had left, but now it seems my trip will be for a different purpose.

To talk to my baby sister.

We aren’t that close, but I’d still do anything for her.

I step closer to where she is, and she must hear me because she looks up from where she’s sitting on an overturned bucket. Her arms hug her knees.

Her long hair spills down one shoulder, hiding part of her face, but I don’t need to see it to know she’s upset.

Anna’s never been good at hiding how she feels.Especially not from me.

“Surprised to see you here.”

“Why?” Her nose crinkles.

“You hate the smell of hay.”

“Maybe I’m getting used to it.”

“Doubtful.” I step closer inside. “People don’t just start to like the smell.”

A beat passes, and Anna doesn’t argue.

Yep.

She’s not okay.

I drop down onto the ground right in front of her. “What’s going on, Annie?”

She shrugs. “Nothing. Just . . . thinking.”

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