Read Love Collides (Fate's Love #3) for Free Online Page B

things with Kade that I never wanted to feel again.
    Ever.
    ~
    Six days later, I was back on American soil. I smiled at the handwritten sign for Miss Jameson as I fought my way through the crowd. Livy grinned, stretching up on her tippy toes to see me over the other families reuniting with their loved ones.
    "Staci, over here."
    "Geez, watch it, buddy." I growled at the guy almost trampling me to get to the people waiting for him.
    "God, it's so good to see you." Livy dropped the sign and wrapped me in a hug. "I got here early."
    I untangled myself and held my best friend at arm’s length. "Marriage suits you; you look so happy."
    "I am. I really am," she gushed. "Ethan's pulling the car around. Then we'll take you to Lou's. Although, I'd really like you to stay with us." Livy pouted, helping me carry my bags out of Gainesville Regional.
    It wasn't that I didn't want to stay with them, but they were newlyweds and I didn't want to crowd them. Lou and Russ were away for work a lot, and they offered me a room until I could find somewhere more permanent.
    She spotted Ethan immediately, waiting for us in the pick-up zone. He climbed out and strolled over to us. "Good to see you, Staci."
    "Hey, Ethan. How are you?"
    "Good. We're good." His eyes snapped to Livy's, and they shared a look. It made me feel a little uncomfortable, like I was intruding on a private moment, so I climbed into their car and leaned back against the leather. After traveling for the six hours, I needed a hot bath and a comfy bed.
    The driver's door opened, and Ethan climbed in. Expecting Livy to ride up front with her husband, I was surprised when the back door opened and Livy ducked in.
    "You don't have to ride with me, silly."
    Livy grumbled with a smile, "Shh, woman. I've missed you."
    As Ethan started the car and pulled out into the traffic, Livy launched into her questions. "How's Drew, and Kero, oh, and the Umpalas? Tell me everything."
    Livy had traveled with me to Portoviejo the summer we graduated from the University of South Florida. She loved it just as much as I did, but it would never coax her away from Gainesville. Not long-term.
    For the next fifteen minutes, I filled her in on the progress of the project and updated her on the family I'd been working with since I started my position there. We rolled up in front of Lou's apartment building, and Livy said, "You love it out there, don't you? When you called to say you were coming to study at UF, I thought maybe you were ready to put down roots. But I was wrong, wasn't I?"
    I shrugged as Ethan cut the engine. He climbed out, and I considered Livy's words. She knew me better than anyone did, but some things I still kept to myself.
    "I don't like feeling tied down; you know that."
    "I know, but you deserve to be happy. To find someone who will treat you right and cherish you. Someone to share your life with." She smiled sadly at me, and I laughed, but it got stuck in my throat and came out choked.
    Settling down wasn't part of my plan. The only person I could really rely on was myself. I'd given my heart away before only to have it broken in two.
    And even after all this time, it still hadn't healed right.
    ~
    It didn’t take long before the universe seemed intent on throwing me in his path. Except the universe in this tale was my best friend.
    "Ethan?" I called out into the quiet workshop. A red Chevy was hoisted in the air and a heap of tools littered the floor, but there was no sign of Ethan.
    I moved further into the vast space. Livy had filled me in on Ethan and Kade's auto shop, but it was the first time I'd been here. It looked like business was good if the cars out front were anything to go by.
    "Ethan, it's Staci. Livy sent me to get-"
    “Get what?" a deep voice called from somewhere to the side of me, and I turned trying to ignore the tingles rushing through me.
    "Oh, it's you," I ground out, scowling in Kade's direction. A smug grin broke across his infuriatingly perfect face as he