Page 73 of Beautiful Collide

“Can you just go?”

“Me? You can go.”

“Find your flavor of the night already, and do us all a favor.” Her voice drips with distaste.

My back goes ramrod straight. “You think you know me, but you don’t.”

“’Cause you aren’t a player.”

I throw my hands up. “You know what? You aren’t worth it. Throw your walls up. Lie. I don’t have time for this shit.”

“Walls? What the hell do you know about my walls?” she shoots back, her voice rising over the noise.

My jaw tightens for a moment, the tension hanging thick in the air between us. “I know more than you pretend I do.”

Her expression stiffens, a flicker of something crossing over her face. “Fine. I’ll go.”

For a heartbeat, everything seems to fade away, and I can once again see her all those years ago. A part of me wants to pull her close and ask her what haunts her.

But I decide to let it go and let her walk away.

24

Molly

It’s game day.

Today is game five.

And we need to win.

I have a bunch of stuff to do before the boys get on the ice, but first, I need a cup of coffee.

Grabbing my phone out of my bag, I fire off a text to Dane and Josie.

Molly:Anyone want to meet me for coffee? Apparently, there’s a new coffee shop attached to the hotel.

Josie:No can do, but Dane said he’d meet you.

Dane:Give me ten minutes.

Molly:See you soon.

Grabbing my jean jacket off the chair in my hotel room, I head toward the hall.

I have a few minutes, as I’m early, a habit I have grown accustomed to since working for my brother, so I decide to take the stairs.

Stairs are a safer bet when you don’t love enclosed spaces.

Swinging the door open, I step inside the stairwell and start my descent.

The sound of my shoes clinking the concrete echoes around me. Since my room is only on the fifth floor, it doesn’t take me too long to make it to the ground level. Climbing back up won’t be as fun, but at least I’ll be caffeinated. It will be my workout for the day.

I throw the door open and head into the small hallway before entering the lobby and making my way out the front door.

The coffee shop is attached to the hotel, but the entrance is outside.

It’s brisk today despite it being early May. The weather hasn’t decided to be cooperative.

---