Page 7 of Beautiful Collide

“Oh my God.” She’s laughing now, and I can’t even be mad at it. She’s that beautiful. “You did. That’s why you’re acting so weird.”

“I’m not acting weird.”

“You’re still here, aren’t you?” She brushes past me to grab something from a shelf. “That’s weird.”

“Well, excuse me for being concerned about strange noises in a closet,” I shoot back, helping her grab the grip tape off a shelf a solid two feet taller than her. “Next time, I’ll let the angry lady with the wrench handle it.”

“Good plan.” She slides the tape into her back pocket. “And for the record, it’s Molly, not angry lady.”

“Hudson.” I relax my arm when she ignores my outstretched hand.

She narrows her eyes, studying me in a way that both thrills and unnerves me.

“Oh.” Her head bobs up and down. “You’re the new player.”

I take a step forward.

She takes a step back.

Interesting.

“I am.”

“And what exactly are you doing in the storage room?” She swallows, pulling her shoulders back. “You would’ve already had to be in here to hear me dig for the tape.”

I shrug, trying to downplay it. “Wrong turn.”

Her eyes squint, scrutinizing me. “I find that hard to believe.”

“How do you figure?” I ask, defensive.

“This hallway is at the opposite end of where a player would ever be, so the fact that you’re in here feels pretty targeted. Are you following me?”

I scoff. “Why would I be following you?”

“No idea. Just asking.”

“No. I took a wrong turn. That’s all.”

“Yeah, okay. Well, on that note, new guy, I have to go.” She starts walking toward the door but stops in her tracks. “Oh, no.”

I rub my brow, getting whiplash from this conversation. “What?”

“Tell me you didn’t close the door.”

I follow her gaze to the now closed door. “I did. So what?”

“No.” Her hands shoot to her scalp, tugging at her thick hair. “No, no, no.”

“What’s the problem?” I inquire, sensing her rising panic.

She tosses her hands up. “Seriously?”

“Yes. Seriously.”

“The door is broken.”

“Okay.” I shrug. “So what?”

---