Page 56 of Beautiful Collide

“Don’t even go there. I don’t want to sic human resources on you. Actually . . .”

“I missed you when you were on your Euro tour. I can already tell this season’s going to be fun.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Again, have you seen the new girl?”

“Hudson.”

“Relax, Hex, not for me. But something tells me she might be right up your brother’s alley. I might talk to Coach and see if you could work for me, so Josie can help Dane a little longer.” I wink. “If you know what I mean.”

Molly’s jaw locks. Her mouth opens and shuts, and it makes me grin.

I walk closer to her, leaning down slightly so only she can hear me. “You know, it’s kind of refreshing. For once, you’re the one who looks a little . . . what’s the word? Incompetent.”

Her eyes flash, a mix of fury and something else—something more dangerous. Possibly murder, but we’ll see.

“Screw you, Hudson.”

“Any day, Hex. Just name the time and the place. I’d love a redo.”

Her cheeks flush, and she takes a step back, her composure snapping back into place like a shield.

“You are not worth it.” Her ice-cold voice stabs me in the chest. I watch as she goes. I won this round, yet it feels bittersweet.

Even though I’ve provoked her, I don’t enjoy hurting her. It’s just better than the alternative. That’s dangerous territory because I’m already in too deep.

17

Molly

“You’re firing me again?”I cross my arms and glare at Dane from across his kitchen table.

He shrugs, leaning back in his chair with that same infuriating calm he always uses to deliver bad news. “You need to find something for yourself, Moll. You can’t keep running your life around me.”

I roll my eyes, clenching my coffee mug tighter. “And you think firing me is the solution? I have a secret for you; it’s not. You’ve tried this before, and it didn’t stick.”

“Yeah, because you refused to stay fired.” He raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my resistance. “This time, I mean it. You’re out.”

“Oh, please.” I scoff, setting my mug down with a loud clank. “What are you going to do without me? Forget your schedule? Wear mismatched socks to practice? You wouldn’t survive a week.”

“That’s what Mason’s for,” Dane counters, smirking.

“Mason can’t even remember what day it is, let alone manage your life,” I fire back. For a second, he’s silent. He knows I’m right.

He might want me gone, not for any other reason but his desire to have me live my own life, but without me, he’s a mess. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.

Running his life is easier than having to deal with my own.

Dane sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“No, I’m indispensable,” I correct, narrowing my eyes. “And you know it.”

He shakes his head, but I can see the small smile tugging at his lips. “Fine. If you won’t let me fire you, I’m loaning you out for the day.”

I blink, confused. What is he talking about? “Loaning me out? What the hell does that even mean?”

“You’re going to help Hudson,” Dane says casually like this is a perfectly normal suggestion.