Collision Read Online Free PDF Page B

you?”
    “Good.”
    “Just good?”
    “Yep.”
    “Are you not in the mood to talk?”
    “I’m kind of busy.”
    “Doing what?”
    Stalking a girl. “Working.”
    “This is your vacation. You aren’t supposed to be working.”
    “Well, I am.” Working on seeing this girl.
    “Okay…well, your sisters and I were hoping we could come for a short visit while you’re there, the three of us. Candice has to work and can’t get any time off.”
    “Oh.”
    “Do you think that producer friend of yours would mind? I’ve always wanted to see the Appalachian Mountains, and I’d also like to see the Biltmore Mansion.”
    “I’ll talk to him and see if there’s a good time.”
    “Really?”
    “Sure. I just want to wait a little while. I don’t want to spring anything like that on him when I just got here myself.” Actually, I wanted more time to figure that Kei girl out.
    “Okay, sweetie. Well, what else is going on?”
    “Not much, I—”
    Just then, Kei appeared. She walked out the kitchen door and started watering plants.
    “Mom, love ya, but I’ve gotta go!”
    “Cab—”
    I hung up on her, threw the binoculars on to the ground, and ran to my front door before regaining my composure and swinging it open.
    “Oh, hey.”
    She turned and glanced at me before going right back to watering. I thought it was odd that instead of squatting down to water the lower plants, she bent all the way over at the waist.
    “Are you good?” she asked without looking at me.
    “Yeah.”
    “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
    “No. I didn’t hear you at all. Didn’t even know you were out here.”
    “Splendid.”
    We were silent as she leaned over the flowerpots, watering while I watched.
    The quiet made me anxious, so I told her, “You know, I’ve been sitting in that chair in there for hours, trying to spot some nature.”
    She stood up straight and looked over at me. She seemed confused. “Okay?”
    “But not one thing has walked in front of the window. Not even a bird.” Liar.
    “Is there food out for them?”
    “Food?”
    “Yes. It’s in the entryway closet. Birdseed and corn. You understand? Food?”
    “I know what food is. I just didn’t know there was some for animals. Or that I had some for the animals. You know, to feed them with. I didn’t know that part.” Bail, dude. Seriously, you’re dying here. Bail!
    “Well, let’s go have a look-see.”
    Nevermind, don’t bail just yet. Look-see? Seriously, could this chick get any more adorable?
    She put the water canister on the ground and walked around the side of the guesthouse. “Yes. See, there’s no seed. Go fetch some food, and we’ll put it out for them.”
    I ran back to the house, threw open the closet door, grabbed the two bags, and ran back to her before she could disappear again.
    “Oliver tries to keep the bird feeders full, but it’s early summer, so I’m sure the birds are going through it fairly quickly.”
    She opened the container, and I poured the seed inside.
    “So you’re a nature lover?”
    “Yes,” I lied. “Love it. Practically a tree-hugger.”
    “A tree-hugger? What is that, a type of religion?”
    “No. It just means that I recycle and rent fuel-efficient cars.”
    “Bravo. I suppose we should all do our small part to save the planet.”
    “Right on.” Right on? If my fans heard me, they’d be embarrassed they ever found me attractive.
    “Well, if you love nature, then you’ve come to the right spot. There’s a lot of it around.”
    “I’m stoked about it.”
    She couldn’t contain a small chuckle at my ridiculousness. “Stoked? Right then.” She closed the feeder and hung it back on the branch. “All right. Now you simply spread the corn around and then go back inside. You’ll see birds and deer before you know it.”
    “Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    After giving me a pat on the shoulder, she walked toward the main house.
    Don’t let her walk away. Say something. “Did you bring the