Collide (Collide, #1)(101)

“I’m serious. You have to get the hell up. Let’s not forget you have a funeral to plan. And, at this point, it may not be for Daddy with the mood you have me in.” He grabbed a mug from the cabinet and looked to his watch, noting the time to be a quarter past seven. Gina didn’t move, so he figured he would up the ante. “I’ve never physically assaulted a woman in my entire life, but you have me second-guessing my morals. Get up. Now.”

That caught her attention.

Sluggishly, she sat up and rubbed her hands over her eyes. “Why are you in such a rush to get me out of here?” she asked, yawning.

“You never did cease to amaze me,” he huffed, shaking his head. He took a sip of his coffee. “Never.”

She rose from the couch and walked into the kitchen, her body still lacking her jeans. “Come on, Gavin,” she sighed, grazing her hand against his jaw. He jerked away from her and took a step back. “What the heck’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes bulging. “You used to love when I touched you. You’re acting as though I’m contaminated.”

He placed his mug on the counter, a frown marring the space between his brows. “Everything about you is contaminated,” he whispered through gritted teeth. “I need to get in the shower. When I get out, if you’re still here, I will physically remove you.”

He went to walk away, but she grabbed his arm. “I still love you,” she cried out. He yanked his arm away from her. “Leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life, Gavin. Please. We can work this out.”

“Like I said, when I get out of the shower, if you’re still here, I’m removing you myself.” His tone this time said not to f*ck with him. He headed toward his bedroom, but before entering, he turned to face her again with a smirk plastered across his face. “And, by the way, I’m completely head-over-heels, please-don’t-wake-me-from-this-f*cking-dream in love with someone else. She’s everything you’re not and then some. So I guess I owe thanks to you for that. Thank you, Gina, honestly. Thank you for leaving me and f*cking up my life for a while. It was the absolute best thing you’ve ever done for me.”

With the smirk holding steady on his face, he graciously bowed in her direction, laughed, and turned toward his bedroom.

“Fuck off, Gavin,” she spat, her eyes wide at his final denial of her.

With that, he closed the door to his bedroom but not before letting out one last throaty laugh.




The heavenly smell of freshly baked New York Everything bagels wafted through the air of the taxi Olivia and Emily were sharing. As heavy sleet pelted against the vehicle, rumbling like coins dropping from the heavens, it was all Emily could do to not reach into the bag and start eating one.

“I can hear your stomach growling over the sleet,” Olivia chirped. “Here,” she said, handing Emily an apple. “At least eat this for now before you get to his place.”

“But I want to eat breakfast with him,” she replied, accepting it. “That was the whole point of me picking up bagels. They’re his favorite.”

Emily looked out the window and took in the sight of the mess New York had turned into overnight. Plows worked furiously through the streets, trying to remove the wintry mix. Considering it was the last two days of October, Emily was shocked by its assault, but nonetheless, she was also thrilled. Upon waking, she retrieved a message from her phone that said the school was closing for the day, relieving her of having to go in. Her plan was a surprise visit to Gavin’s place. Knowing that he didn’t go into work until later in the morning, she was overly excited to grab a few hours with him.

Olivia cocked her head to the side. “Right, like you two are really going to eat,” she laughed. “Just eat the damn apple.”

Shaking her head, Emily took a bite. “We are going to eat…” she paused, drawing up a mischievous brow. “And then I’ll send him to work a happy boy…after I allow him to feast on other delectable items,” she whispered.

Both women laughed.

Not realizing how hungry she truly was, Emily finished the entire apple.

“Uuugh, I’m so jealous that you have today off,” Olivia grunted as she stretched her arms out. “Maybe I’ll become a teacher, so when shit like this happens, I can play hooky.”

“You’d be miserable. You love working at the art gallery.”

“I could become an art teacher at a school.” Olivia shrugged and reached into the bag of bagels. She snatched one out and took a bite. “On second thought, you’re right. I’d be miserable. I don’t do kids that well.”

Emily laughed.

“Hey, buddy,” Olivia quickly called out to the driver. “I get off at the corner here. You might wanna slow it down, considering the streets are covered in potential death.”

The gruff-looking driver rolled his eyes. “I got you to your destination on time,” he clipped, pulling over in front of Olivia’s workplace. “You’re still alive, so no worries. That’s $22.50,” he said as he turned to face her. “Without tip,” he added, smiling.

Olivia rolled her eyes right back at him. She started digging in her purse. “Yeah, yeah, I know how it works. Keep the change.” She handed him $30.

His smile widened.

Pulling the strap of her purse over her shoulder, Olivia turned to Emily and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Okay, so other than going to eat breakfast and then f*cking the shit out of your millionaire boyfriend before he goes to work, what are your plans for the day?”