Collide: A Riverbend Novel by Sara Daniell Page B

honestly
think?"
     
    "I don't know. My
experience with people sucks. I know you like making me
uncomfortable and blush. I don't know," she said, her eyes locked
on mine.
     
    "Because you're so cute
when you blush."
     
    She stared in my eyes like
she wanted me to kiss her. Or maybe that was just my wishful
thinking. I touched my lips to hers and only parted them enough to
make us both want more. "Not yet," I whispered.
     
    "Not yet what?" She asked,
her voice shook a little. She looked so confused. She pulled back
from me and scrunched her eyebrows together. "Why do you make my
heart do that? I need someone stable," she said as she shook her
head.
     
    "Why do you make my heart
do what it does? It's annoying as hell." I smiled a little. "And
not yet as in I won't kiss you or invest any more emotions in you
unless I know you want me and only me." I wanted her to look at me like I had
something other guys didn’t.
     
    She looked at me. "I
understand that. But you need to understand something about me. I'm
not stable at all."
     
    "And I am?" I
laughed.
     
    She closed her eyes. "I'm
on watch just in case there are any signs I might commit suicide.
I've tried three times." She looked away and refused to look at
me.
     
    "Damn, really?" I didn't
like that she had hurt so bad that she'd consider taking her own
life.
     
    She nodded and wiped the
tears that fell.
     
    "I'd miss you. So don't try
again, alright Princess?"
     
    She nodded and looked at
her hands.
    "It's why your mom was
worried you'd given me drugs." She shrugged. "Pills were how I
tried the first two times."
     
    "That's a good reason, and
now I get why my joking about the pills that day upset you so bad.
Sorry about that."
     
    "You didn't
know."
     
    "So, after this trip, will
your heart belong too my brother?" I hoped not even though he would
be the better choice.
     
    "No. As much as I like him,
I can’t be with him. I thought maybe I could, but I can't. I’m not
what he deserves."
     
    I tried not to smile. "What
are you gonna tell him?"
     
    "The truth." She stood up.
"I should go talk to him."
     
    I stared at her legs and
even sneaked a peek up her dress. Just when I thought she didn't
notice, the porch light showed off her red cheeks.
     
    "You sure that's a good
idea? He's sleeping."
     
    "Yes. I want him as a
friend, but I think he's going to be angry. I want to get it over
with." She looked at me. "Night, Havock."
     
    She started to go in but
stopped and took off my hoodie. It caused the dress to be raised a
little higher.
     
    "Thank you." She tossed it
to me then disappeared inside.
     
    I got up and went to my
room. I stripped down to just pajama pants and put my earbuds in. I
found Imagine Dragons on my phone and started writing words on a
blank page.
     
    The words felt like they
were pouring from my soul. My deepest desires, thoughts, her ...filled the
page.
     
    ~~~
     
    I looked at the time and
couldn't believe an hour had passed. I knew I should get some
sleep. We would be boarding a plane to head back home early, and I
wanted to stay awake for the flight. I loved to fly. Just as I was
about to close my notebook, my door opened.
     
    "I was expecting you." I
smiled. I had won.
     
    Garrett shut the
door.
     
    He didn't yell or come
after me like I thought he would. He sat down on the edge of the
bed.
     
    "If you hurt her I swear on
my life I will kill you."
     
    "I'm sure a lot of people
would add me to their hit list."
     
    He looked at me seriously.
"And I'm still her friend. I get to hang out with her without you
getting all pissed off."
     
    "Now you're pushing
it."
     
    He laughed. "I'm serious,
Havock. I care about her, and I can't lose her as a friend because
my brother is an ass."
     
    "Okay. Now apologize for
touching her thigh."
     
    "You're kidding,
right?"
     
    I shook my head.
     
    "Now you're pushing it," he said with a
smile.
     
    I looked around at all of
my clothes scattered. "I need to pack."
     
    "Need