Page 31 of Collide

I stare at the sentence for a second, then delete it.

Too formal, too distant.

Hey Alex, this is Elena from the hospital…No, scratch that. It sounds like I’m still stuck in ER mode.

After several failed attempts, I finally settle on something that feels right.

Elena

Hey, it’s Elena. What a crazy way to meet someone new in the city! Anyway, thanks for your kindness last night.

I bite my lip, rereading it one last time.

It’s simple and sincere.

I hit send before I can second-guess myself.

Sitting back, the weight of the decision starts to sink in.

Ding!

A message comes through. I freeze, staring at the screen.

Alex

Hey Elena, It was a pretty unique way to meet, a great story to tell our grandkids one day.

Grandkids?

My heart skips a beat.

Chapter 6

Edge of Desire

Adull pain in my head jolts me awake. I blink, disoriented. Where am I? I raise my hand in front of my dazed vision and realize I’ve pulled the duvet over my head like some sort of cocoon. Slowly, I sit up, and the room greets me with nothing but shadows, the soft glow of early morning sneaking through the blackout curtains.

I glance at my phone, still in my hand from last night, and see the time—nine thirty a.m. The buzzing excitement I’ve been trying to ignore stirs in my stomach.

Three unread messages?

I grin at the screen, replaying the playful, borderline flirty texts Alex and I had shared over the last couple of days, and well into last night. A welcome distraction from all the resting and recuperating I was supposed to be doing.

I wanted to rush to the studio, get the new song out of my head before it slipped away, but Mark had insisted I follow the doctor’s orders. At least until San Diego next week.

Shifting out of bed, I walk over to the window and pull the curtains apart. Water droplets cling to the glass like crystal diamonds, making the outside world look almost magical. Thesky is dull and gray, and the rain falls steadily, blanketing the city streets in a quiet, melancholy haze.

There’s something about the way Alex texts—casual but enough to make my heart flurry.

I unlock my phone, already smiling, eager to read whatever he’s sent this time.

A dull ache pulses in my head, dragging me from my thoughts.Thanks, Alex, I think with a half-sigh. A souvenir from our first meeting. But I can’t help but smile as butterflies in my stomach dance at sight of his messages.

Alex

Say yes to the date. Don’t make me beg… unless you’re into that.

You fell asleep on me, didn’t you? Rude. Sweet dreams, Elena. Try not to dream about me too much. Or do.