Page 42 of Collision

Chapter nine

Ben

Flowers were delivered to the office bright and early this morning - a garish bouquet of pinks and whites and muted purples - and they are currently sitting on Mikaela’s desk as a near constant reminder of the truth.

She has a guy.

She has a smart, talented, British guy who she doesn’t push away and who she doesn’t want to hate.

She has a guy and I, at two o’clock in the afternoon, have a raging headache.

“I need some air.” I huff to no one as I get to my feet and rummage in my desk drawer. I’m halfway through searching for my phone when the door opens and closes quickly and I glance up to see Max staring at me with a wounded look on his face.

“What now, Kingford?” I bite at him as I shove the drawer closed.

“It’s Mik.”

My heart shudders and my anger skitters away.What about Mik?

“What?” I try to keep a tone of indifference and end up with a shaky voice. “She needs you to pass on more messages?”

“I think she’s in a bad situation.”

My stomach twists. My throat dries up. I say nothing.

“And I know,” he continues, “that it’s none of my business but she told me about the other night and I just think that - as much as I hate to admit it and as much as she denies it - she’d listen to you on this and not me. So I’m breaking her trust and I’m asking you to help.”

“Max,” I sit back down, gesturing to the seat opposite me, and try to keep a calm head, “I don’t understand.”

“I know you two kissed. She told me two days ago and then Josh showed up and he was acting really weird - like possessive and cold - and he yanked her out of the bar so quickly. Physically. He was pulling at her arm and I know she was in pain, it was all over her face, but then when we got outside he was kissing her and she said it was fine and she left with him, but I don’t think it was fine and I don’t know what to do.” His hands shake as he speaks and I feel something inside me snap.

Josh hurt her?

“And you’re only telling me this now?” Rage fuels my mind.

“I didn’t know what to do.” His voice is so fragile it almost hurts and I nod tightly. “She won’t talk to me.”

My eyes drift to where she’s sitting, the pale pink blouse covering her arms as she pushes out of her chair and moves across the space to the small shared kitchen with her head down. I don’t think past what Max has said, not even to glance in his direction and utter a response. I just get to my feet and start walking.

I push into the small space behind her and watch as her shoulders tense in response to me and her face twists away.

“Mikaela.” Under the husk of my voice is thinly veiled contempt, even to my own ears, and my hands are balled into fists.

“Not today, Ben. Please.”

“He hurt you?” I choke on the words and she flinches. I hate that she keeps fucking flinching. It’s all the confirmation I need. “I’m going to fucking kill him. Is that what those flowers are? Some form of shit apology? I’m going to rip his fucking head off of his shoulders.”

Every cell in my body is vibrating with the need to move, to do something, and my breath comes thick and fast. When she turns to me her eyes are wide and her lips tremble.

The room feels too small, like the whole place is closing in on us and she could get hurt. I back away, my voice still tumbling from me with words I know she doesn’t need to hear but I can’t stop them.

“Tell me what to do, Mik. Tell me what you want me to do, because I want to kill him and if I leave this room I am going to hunt him down and I am going to make sure he fucking hurts for hurting you. So please, just tell me what you want me to do, because I’ll do it.”

“Ben.” Her voice is stern even though she still looks fragile. “Just stop.”

My words dry up and I stare at her as she places a hand on my arm.

“He didn’t hurt me.”Lie.“I’m okay.”Another lie.“I don’t need you. Thank you, but I don’t need you.”Truth.

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