Twisted Collide: The new sports romance in the Redville Saints series
Twisted Collide: Chapter 75

Time has a way of moving fast when you don’t want it to.

It’s been two weeks since I fell. My ankle is healed, and my concussion is no longer an issue either. While I should be happy, and I am, of course, I’m also disappointed that Dane won’t need to visit me as much.

Now that I’m officially healed, I can move back into the guesthouse again, and although I know Dane will still want to see me, he won’t feel obligated to come over and “grovel.”

Since I’m feeling one hundred percent better, I know where I’m going, and where I’m going is to watch the Saints play.

It’s a home game, and I texted Molly to tell her I’m coming with Sherry.

“Thanks for coming with me,” I say from the passenger seat as she drives us toward the arena.

“Are you kidding me? I’m delighted you asked me. Robert is always on me to go to a game, and I always say no.”

“You do?”

“Yep, gotta keep them on their toes. That’s my motto,” Sherry says as she makes a right turn, going in the direction of the arena.

“That’s funny. How long have you guys been together?”

“Seventeen years.”

“Wow, really, that’s a long time.” The idea of a couple being together brings me hope. My mother never had boyfriends. Never brought any men into our house at all. I always assumed it was because of me, but now after everything, I understand it was to protect me. Being a parent must be hard. I pivot to look at her while she drives, my brain going a million miles a minute until I finally ask the question that has been on my mind for some time.

“You never thought about having kids?”

She shakes her head. “We tried, but it never happened.”

“Sorry,” I mumble under my breath. Foot meet mouth. I’m well aware you’re never supposed to ask a woman about kids, but apparently, my curiosity won out.

“It’s okay. I have everything I need . . . and that includes you, Josie. I want us to be a family. You, me, your father, and even your mom. Think you’d want that?”

My throat feels tight and my tongue heavy.

These are words I’ve always wanted to hear, and now I’ve heard them from more people than I ever imagined. The car around me blurs. From the dashboard to the window, everything becomes fuzzy with my unshed tears.

“I’d like that.” As I blink away the water collecting, my cheeks grow damp.

Is this what it’s like to get everything you’ve ever wanted?

I think it is.

I’m a little late, but that’s okay. I hurry to my seat but can’t replace Dane’s number on the ice. Looking toward the penalty box, I spot him. With a quick glance at the board, I see that he has thirty seconds left in his penalty. Dropping my gaze, I try to catch his attention, my arm lifting in the air. It’s as if he knows I’m here because his head tilts up, and our eyes lock. Instantly, his demeanor changes, and a smirk pulls at his lips.

I can’t help but smile too.

The whistle blows, and after a few seconds with a quick nod in my direction, he’s back on the ice. It’s obvious to me that he’s fueled up because he bolts toward a loose puck and takes control of it, skating with fury. There’s only one member of the other team between him and the goal. The crowd roars with excitement as he approaches the goal. It’s exhilarating to watch. I jump to my feet, cheering him on.

He pulls back his stick and fires a shot into the net. The entire arena erupts as the horns blare, music plays, and Dane just scored.

A couple of hours later, I continue to watch from the stands the rest of the game as the Saints kick ass. Dane is on fire. It’s so exciting. I feel like I’m part of the game. My voice is hoarse when the Saints finally win.

Molly and I head down to the lockers, but before we get there, Molly stops in her tracks when she sees Dane talking to some man. Her eyes narrow, and she crosses her arms over her chest. Whoever it is, it pisses her off.

“I have to go,” she says, storming off in the opposite direction before I can even stop her.

A second later, the man who was talking to Dane walks by. He has a smug look on his dirty face. The man looks like a creep. Once he’s gone, I head in the direction he came from. When I get to Dane, his tight jaw reminds me of the day I fell. A shiver runs up my spine. I don’t like seeing him like this. I hate it. Something is bothering him, and something tells me it was that man.

“Hey,” I say.

He looks up at me and gives me a small smile. He’s trying. I can tell. But it’s like he’s haunted by whatever they talked about.

“Let’s get out of here.”

We start to walk to the exit. I haven’t been here since the accident, and when I step outside, I’m transported back to that night. To the desperate feeling I had when he wouldn’t talk to me, when he wouldn’t let me in. As we step out into the crisp air, I take a deep breath in. It smells like burning leaves. I love it.

“Why are you smiling?” Dane asks.

“Just thinking about winter.”

“It’s almost here.”

“It is, and I love it.” I smile brightly.

Together, we walk toward his car. Neither of us has talked about if I’m going home with him. My car isn’t parked here. I got a ride with Sherry, but I told her I would get a ride home with Molly. Of course, that was a lie. I always planned on asking Dane, but now I’m not sure it’s a great idea. It’s not that he’s being mean, but he’s being short and preoccupied.

When we are standing beside his car, I walk toward the ledge. The same ledge I fell from.

“Dane.”

“Hellfire. Don’t you dare.”

I take a step up. My heart hammers in my chest. I shouldn’t be doing this again, but I need him to know I trust him. I need him to be the man I know he can be. I need him to let me in.

“Help me walk the tightrope.”

His eyes go wide. He looks at me like he’s never seen me before, like he’s having an epiphany. He crosses the space. No questions asked. No hesitation. He reaches out, his arms wrapping around me so there is no chance of me slipping.

“Why do you do it?” he mutters.

“Walk the tightrope?”

“Yeah, why?”

“For you. To show you how easy it all can be. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other.”

“And after everything, you still trust me?”

“I do. And do you know why?” I stop walking and pivot my body to face him. The ledge isn’t that high on the side he’s standing on, so he still towers over me.

“Why?”

I reach my hand up to cup his cheek. “Because I love you, Dane Sinclair.”

He pulls me toward him, picking me up until my legs are no longer on the ledge or ground. Then he walks us back toward the car and places me on the hood.

“Say it again.”

“I love you, Dane Sinclair.”

“I love you too, Hellfire. But can you make me a promise?”

“Depends what it is?” I challenge because I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.

“No more walking the tightrope, okay? I’ll be your gravity if need be.” He leans in and places a kiss on my lips. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he deepens it.

“Take me home,” I say against his mouth.

“Whatever you want, Hellfire. Whatever you want.”

“I want you.”

“Good, ’cause you’re stuck with me now.”

“And you’re stuck with me.”