Page 154 of Collide
No. Not really.
He shakes his head, smirking, but it’s softer now—sad, even. “No, you’re not. You’re saying what makes it easier. What makes sense.”
I bristle. “Broderick?—”
“Relax,” he adds gently, cutting me off. “I’m not asking for anything. I just needed you to hear me say it.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
The silence that follows isn’t comfortable this time. It’s thick with all the things neither of us dare admit.
After a moment, I finally whisper, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Broderick laughs quietly, shaking his head. “Too late, El.”
The sound of the nickname he’d given me on his lips—like it means something more—makes my heart clench.
Before I can speak, he nudges my foot gently with his, the corners of his mouth twitching into something resembling a smile.
“Besides, I’m a big boy. I’ll live.”
I giggle, relieved that at least he’s trying to lighten the mood.
“Yeah, you really need to lay off the steroids,” I quip back.
Broderick barks a laugh so hard, it breaks the tension with ease. The dimples returning to his face.
His grin turns playful. “That said, I fully expect you to buy me a drink tonight to make up for all this emotional trauma.”
I smile, shaking my head. “Fine. One drink.”
“Two,” he counters, smirking.
I narrow my eyes, playing along. “One and a shot.”
Broderick chuckles, and this time, it’s real, warm and deep. “Deal.”
For a moment, things feel lighter.
But deep down, I know this isn’t over.
Because no matter how much I try to pretend otherwise, his words cling to me.
And no matter how hard I try to shut it out…
I keep wondering about the what-ifs.
What if I had let him kiss me that night?
What if I had met him first?
Will it be easier after this weekend, after the wedding? When we’re no longer circling each other out of obligation?
Surely then, it’ll go away.
Won’t it?
Chapter 21
