Page 258 of Beautiful Collide

“I told him,” she says again, her voice firmer now. “He’s the enforcer. Your defender. He can protect you on the ice. You needed someone to have your back, and now you do.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Because you would have objected.

“I knew you’d be mad,” she admits.

Welp, she’s right about that.

It’s true. I would have been.

I rake a hand through my hair, pacing the length of the room. “Jesus, Molly. You went behind my back—”

“I did it for you!” she shouts, cutting me off.

I almost stumble. In all the years I’ve known Molly, and despite everything we have been through, she’s never yelled. Sure, she’s snapped. But yell, no.

Something else is happening here. “And you’re welcome, by the way, because Dane’s been keeping everyone off your ass during practice, hasn’t he?”

Why is she acting like this? I start to walk. Why would she be so defensive about this? It’s almost as if . . . then it hits me square in the chest.

I stop pacing, turning to face her. “So, that’s why you let him fire you?”

Her mouth opens, then closes, and the guilt in her eyes tells me everything I need to know.

“You traded your job for me,” I say quietly, the weight of it settling in my chest.

“It wasn’t like that,” she says, but her voice is weak.She did.

“Don’t lie to me, Molly. Please, be honest,” I say, stepping closer. “You’ve spent years fighting to stay in that job, and now, suddenly, you’re okay with him firing you? It’s because of me.”

She looks away. “It’s done, Hudson. Can we not make a big deal out of it?”

“A big deal?” I repeat. “You gave up everything for me, and you don’t want to make a big deal out of it?”

“It’s not everything,” she says, but her voice trembles, giving her away. It is. “It’s just a job. I’ll figure something else out.”

I shake my head, closing the distance between us. “Molly, you didn’t have to do that. I didn’t want you to do that.”

“I know.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “But I did it anyway. Because I care about you. And because someone had to.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I can’t speak.

“You’re unbelievable,” I say finally, my voice thick.

She frowns, confused. “What?”

“You’re unbelievable,” I repeat, stepping even closer. “You drive me crazy, Molly. You’re stubborn and frustrating, and you make me want to pull my hair out half the time. But you’re also the most selfless, infuriatingly wonderful person I’ve ever met.”

She blinks, her mouth opening slightly.

“And I love you for it,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “You beautiful, chaotic storm. You collided into me, flipped my world upside down, and made it feel like home. I love you, Molly. Every maddening, incredible part of you.”

Her eyes widen, and she stares at me like she can’t believe what I just said.

“You . . . you love me?” she whispers.

---