Page 106 of Beautiful Collide

“Heights. Sometimes.”

“Like flying?” I ask, tilting my head slightly.

“No, that was a fear of losing control.” She shakes her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I mean like heights, when I have no control.”

“Got it.”

I don’t really understand, but I don’t want her to stop talking, so I don’t chance it by asking her to explain.

“And so much more I don’t even know where to begin.” Her voice cracks slightly, and she turns away from me.

“I understand,” I say softly.

I don’t. Not really.

But if she’s talking, I’ll listen.

“I lied when I said it’s creeping back little by little. It’sstormingin, and I can’t stop it,” she admits, her tone heavy with frustration.

“Maybe you should—”

“No. I’m fine. I’ll get through it. I did before.” Her voice is final, resolute, the kind of tone that closes a door.

I nod, not wanting to set her off again. Whatever is triggering these bouts of panic, I don’t want to make it worse.

Molly steps away from me, rummaging through a bin on the shelf. Her movements are quick and almost frantic. She shakes her head, clearly not finding what she’s looking for.

Then she stops, her back stiffening as she looks up.

Right then and there, I know that what she needs is too high for her.

Moving to where she stands, I reach out, grabbing the box just out of reach, high enough that she would have needed a ladder if I weren’t with her.

“Let me.”

Her mouth opens as if to object, but then it shuts.

Once I bring down the box to her level, she goes through it and grabs two bottles of skate polish, then nods at me when she’s done.

I place it back on the top shelf and turn to face her.

Her chin is tilted down, and I reach out and place my hand under her chin, making her meet my stare.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

My fingers trail across her jaw.

I want to kiss her.

I want to forget everything between us.

I close the space between us, my heart pounding louder than any words I could say. There’s been nothing—absolutely nothing—I’ve wanted more than this.

I hesitate for a fraction of a second, watching her, searching for any sign she’ll pull away.

But she doesn’t.

Her chest rises and falls, her lips parting like she’s waiting for me, too.

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