Wild Collision (Us 4)

Cannon motions for us to pile into his Land Rover. Somehow Mia and I end up in the very back. My legs are squished, but it’s not entirely unfortunate since she ends up plastered to my side. Her soft curves press into the hard planes of my muscles and it makes me smile. Opposites in every way, and yet we fit.

The drive takes at least an hour before Cannon parks at some golf place. How on earth the guys found this place is beyond me.

I groan in relief when I stand on solid ground again and can stretch my legs. They’re stiff from being in one position for too long.

“So … we’re playing golf?” Mia asks, blinking up at the lit sign.

Fox shrugs, leaning against the side of the black SUV. “Golf, food, booze, what more could you ask for?”

“Hot chicks,” Rush interjects, “but Hollis and I got that part covered.” He flicks his finger from Kira to Mia. “Unfortunately that leaves the two of you alone—too bad, so sad.”

Cannon pulls out a cigarette, placing it between his lips. “If I want a girl, I’ll find one.”

“Maybe you should. You’re getting too grumpy, Grandpa. I think your joystick needs a rub down.”

Cannon gives Rush the finger and I stifle a laugh.

Mia shakes her head and mutters, “Boys.”

“Offended princess?” I joke.

She chokes. “Hardly. I’ve heard much worse. I grew up on a tour bus, remember?”

“I bet you heard some things then.” Suddenly I pale. “Did anyone ever—”

“God no—they knew better than to do that. My dad would’ve killed them and smiled while doing it.”

I reach out to her, unable to stop myself, and wrap a red curl around my finger. Her breath stutters, her eyes flicking from my finger to my face, her lips slightly parted.

“I don’t like the idea of anyone touching you,” I admit. “Not like that.”

“My body is mine to do with as I please,” she says, shoulders squared. Ever the fighter, but she doesn’t back away from me.

“I know—but you deserve to be worshipped not used.”

She gasps slightly at that, almost like my words have hit something in her.

The others begin heading inside the building, but I don’t want to move. I want to stay right here, in this parking lot with her, in this moment where I can feel something shifting, changing irrevocably.

Even if she walked away from me right now, never spoke to me again, I wouldn’t be the same person I was before.

She reawakened a part of me I lost sight of.

Now, having it back, I won’t let go again—I only hope I get to hold on to her too.

I stand there, wondering whether I should reach for her hand or do something, like a nervous teenage boy all over again.

She saves me from doing something stupid by pointing over her shoulder. “We should go in.”

“Yeah—yeah, right.”

We walk side by side into the building. The others are waiting, someone having already paid, and we head to a bay on the top level.

Fox, bouncing on the balls of his feet, starts entering everyone’s names into the system.

“What is this?” Mia asks, taking a seat on the couch beside Kira and Rush—I take the empty spot next to her. “Like bowling but golf?”

“Yep,” Rush says, stretching his arm behind Kira. “Prepare to go down Little Hayes.”