Page 206 of If Our Hearts Collide

“Where are you going?”

“Upstairs to test my limits.”

Collins catches up with me. “Fucking hell, Penny. What has gotten into you tonight?”

“Not sure, but I can say with one hundred percent certainty that it isn’t a dick.”

“Seriously. You are scaring me.”

“I’m deprived, Collins!” My hands fly out in exasperation. “I’ve spent the better half of a year trying to dig myself out of an emotional abyss, just to finally think I was connecting with someone who worked there, and then to have my brothers—it had to be them—scare him off.”

“He was an asshole.”

I glare at him. “So you scared him off.”

“He wasn’t good enough for you.”

I let out an exaggerated exhale. “Then I went to a speed dating event and no one chose me. No one. You know how humiliating that is? Then, I went from that hellish revelation, just to go outside and make out with you and then have you reject me. And I know you want me. I can feel it”—I motion with my hand back and forth between us—“so denying it no longer works. So either do something about it or watch me walk right upstairs and see if anyone has the balls enough to play with me. Because I came toplay. I’m done treating life like a spectator sport. And I most certainly don’t need your permission—or anyone else’s for that matter. If you don’t like it, call for backup. You and whoever his name is can watch me live my best life. Just save me some popcorn. I’m a slut for popcorn.”

When Collins says nothing, I keep walking. I move through the crowd, past the bartender who will no longer serve me, and sidestep Daphne who appears to have her mouth stuffed with some guy’s cock.

Yeah, I’m still a little bit bitter she and Collins had a thing. It might have only been a contractual thing, but it was definitely still more commitment than I ever got from him.

When I get to the stairs, I propel myself up them, despite feeling my feet hurting from all of the walking.

Why did I choose these heels? They hurt so badly.

I feel Collins’s presence behind me, without even having to look. Everywhere I go, he isn’t but a few steps away. Yet, there’s a distance between us that I doubt will ever lessen.

Push and pull. That’s what we do.

“She told you, didn’t she?” he asks.

When I get to the last step, I turn and glare. “Who?”

He motions to Daphne down below. “She told you about the contracts?”

I look away, not wanting to get Daphne in trouble. She was convinced if Collins were to find out that she would get kicked out of Limit-X. “I found out on my own, and I’m curious how many women you have arrangements with while here, since you claim not to use your Sky View apartment as a fuckpad. Or was that all just one big, orchestrated lie? And I know people will lie for you. You probably scare the shit out of them.”

“I never lied to you, Penny.”

“Withholding the truth is basically the same thing!” I snap. “All you men are the same.”

“Quit deflecting.”

“I would have found out on my own. I’m not some stupid, young girl. Eventually I would have been brought out of the dark, so don’t start thinking about retaliating against the person who just sped up the process.”

“This place isn’t for you, Penny.”

Defiantly, I tilt up my chin, as he takes a step closer. “Then who is it for, Collins?”

“People who have a thirst for the dark.”

“And how do you know what I crave when I don’t even know my own limits?”

“Go home, Miss Hoffman.”

“Go to hell, Mr. Stone.”

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