Page 57 of If Our Hearts Collide

“Oh, you’re still bitter over that?”

“You legit caused us to lose.”

“I carried our team.”

“Psst,” I hiss, sticking out my tongue.

Then he reciprocates, and I nearly fall out of my chair.

Why is he so lighthearted all of a sudden? What has changed? He’s usually so stern and rigid, hiding behind his hard exterior shell.

When it’s my turn to get served, I take a small scoop of the meat and an even smaller scoop of the mashed potatoes. I’m just not feeling very hungry at the moment, with everything that’s going on. Plus, my feet hurt horribly from the blisters I got trying to rush through the gardens at a speed I could barely maintain. I should have just parked my ass on a bench and refused to walk.

Most people think I’m stubborn anyway. I might as well rock that label while I can and embrace the shit out of it.

“Nice shirt,” Collins says softly.

I look down at the teddy bear printed on the front and then back up at my annoying bodyguard. “Are you mocking me?”

“Never. Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Your mood swings are giving me whiplash,” I sneer, as Momma turns her back to put the serving bowls on the buffet table.

He places some meat into his mouth, chewing it up. “Likewise.”

I spin my fork into my potatoes, swirling them around on the plate. Stabbing some meat, I take my first bite and close my eyes over the taste. Momma is the best cook. She can make a thirty-cent pack of ramen turn out amazing. However, when she really tries—like she did today—she can make magic happen.

“This is really delicious,” Collins says to the table. “Thank you for inviting me in.”

Suck-up.

I spare a glance his way, and right as I do, he looks over at me at the same time. Quickly, I grab my phone and check through my text messages, settling in on the unknown number. Scanning through the detailed message, I see that the apartment I chose to rent can be accessed now. I just need to get the key from the lockbox near the mailboxes. Seems easy enough.

I already wired over my deposit and rent payment. Digital signing of documents makes life so much easier than having to physically go during business hours to fill out forms. I am basically all set.

Anxious to meet my roommate and get started on figuring out how to move my stuff from here to there, I decide that going there tonight to check out the location and logistics would be best. I can take pictures, measure out some of the dimensions, and brainstorm on how I want my space to look.

Being in Hillsboro, there is no taxi service that is local. If I need to hitch a ride, I have to give a lift company in Portland ample notice so the driver has a chance to get here to pick me up. So, I Google a company and fill out the form to reserve a ride in about an hour. By then, dinner will be over and I will have had a chance to throw on some normal clothes that don’t make me look like I am eight.

“So, Collins, do you have any summer plans?” Dad asks, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his wine.

Collins clears his throat, places his napkin down onto the table, and then gives a half smile. “Just work.”

“Now, that doesn’t sound like fun at all,” Momma says with a pout. “No time off to travel and relax?”

“Actually, Mrs. Hoffman, I?—”

“I thought I warned you before to never call me such a formal title.”

“Oh, ha.”

“That is basic rule number one in this household,” Momma says, keeping her voice stern, but conveying through her eyes that she is really joking.

He dips his head. “My apologies.” He spares a glance at me, and I can’t seem to take my eyes off of his. “I recently had a break in my schedule. The time off was good, but I really like to keep busy.”

“Maybe you should find a hobby,” I interject. “You know, like take up painting or learning a musical instrument… Or leaf collecting.”

Collins’s eyes lock on mine. He knows I’m being sarcastic.

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