Page 249 of Beautiful Collide

I march up to the front door, and when I’m there, I knock before I lose my nerve.

In the past, I would have used my keys, but with Josie living here now, that’s not going to happen.

My foot taps on the pavement as I wait.

Luckily, it only takes a moment for Dane to answer, his broad frame filling the doorway.

His brow furrows when he sees me. “Molly? What are you doing here? You okay?” Always the protector.

“I need to talk to you.” He narrows his eyes at my words. “It’s important.”

He steps aside, motioning for me to come in.

“What’s going on?” he asks, closing the door behind me.

I turn to face him, my hands clasped tightly in front of me. “It’s about Hudson.”

His jaw tightens, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. He’s ready to kill him. Down, boy. “What about him?” he grits out. “What did that asshole do to you?”

“He didn’t do anything to me. He’s hurt.” I bite my lip. “He got injured on the farm a week ago. His wrist—”

“Wait, what?” Dane cuts me off, his voice sharp. “How bad is it?”

“Bad,” I admit, my stomach twisting. “He won’t go to a doctor because he’s afraid Coach will be pissed. He’s been hiding it, but with practice starting soon . . . I don’t know how he’s going to pull it off.”

“That idiot,” he mutters under his breath. “Why didn’t he tell anyone?”

“Because he’s stubborn.” I sigh. “And because he’s an idiot who thinks he has to do everything on his own. But he can’t. He needs help.”

“And I’m supposed to help him.” It’s a statement, not a question, and a pissed statement at that.

I nod. “Obviously. For one, you’re my brother, but also, and more importantly, it’s literally your job to protect him. Whichmeans you can make sure no one hurts him. You can buy him time to heal.”

Dane crosses his arms. “And what if someone finds out? What if he hurts himself more?”

I swallow hard. It feels like there is a lump in my throat. “If that happens, then we figure it out. But right now, none of that matters. All that matters is he has someone who’s got his back.”

Dane lets out a heavy sigh. “All right. I’ll do it.”

My shoulders slump forward. “Thank you.”

“But”—he holds up a finger—“there’s one condition.”

I knew it was too good to be true. “What condition?” I ask.

“You have to agree to let me fire you.” If my brother feels bad about his demands, he doesn’t let on. Instead, his expression is blank, and for a second, I think he’s joking. But when he doesn’t laugh, my stomach drops.

“What?”

“You heard me.” His tone is firm. “You’ve been living your life for my career, and it’s time to stop.”

“This isn’t about me,” I say, my voice trembling. “It’s about Hudson. He needs you.”

“And I’ll be there for him,” Dane says, stepping closer. “But only if you promise to let me do this. To let me fire you. For real this time.”

I shake my head. He can’t do this, can he?Yes, he can. “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. I’ve never been more serious,” he says, and panic rises in my chest. “Molly, I love you. But you deserve more than this. You deserve your own life.”

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