Page 55 of Icebound Hearts

I chuckled, handing her the spoon. “Fine, Soph, you win. Best ice cream ever.”

She grinned triumphantly. “Knew you’d come around.”

Sitting beside her bed, I watched her savour the treat, a rare moment of joy in a place that often felt too heavy. My heart twisted every time I looked at her thin frame, her delicate fingers gripping the spoon as if it weighed more than it should.

“I talked to your doctor earlier,” I told her quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.

Sophia paused mid-bite, eyes wide. “And?”

I smiled broadly, unable to contain my excitement. “They found a match for your stem cells.”

Her breath caught. “Really?”

I nod, my throat suddenly tight with emotion. “Yeah, Soph. It's me. I'm a 99.9% match.”

She stared at me, eyes filling with tears, her lip trembling before she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around my neck tightly.

“Are you going to be my super-hero, Aidy?” she whispered into my shoulder.

“I’d do anything for you,” I promised softly, holding her close. “The doctors said your odds are excellent now. We’re gonna beat this, okay?”

She sniffled, pulling back to look at me with determination. “We will.”

When I finally returned home, my heart felt lighter. Kat was sitting on the couch, her knees drawn to her chest. As I walked in, she looked up, her expression softening.

“How’s Sophia?” she asked, concern etched into her beautiful face.

I sat down beside her, reaching for her hand without thinking. She let me take it, intertwining her fingers with mine.

“She’s good. She asked me to bring you with me next time I visit,” I said gently, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “Kat, they had some news for me today—I’m a 99.9% match for Sophia’s stem cell transplant.”

Her mouth falls open, eyes widening in shock before relief floods her features. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. “Are you serious?”

“Completely.” I smile gently, cupping her cheek and brushing away her tears with my thumb. “She has a real chance now, Kat.”

A sob escapes her lips as she throws herself into my arms, clinging tightly. “Oh my god, Aiden. This is huge.” I nod as she tightens her arms around me.

“W-when is the transplant going to happen?”

“Wait, do you need surgery?” She asks, her eyes wide.

I holdher tightly, heart pounding fiercely in my chest. “I don’t know yet, but you’ll be the first one I’ll tell.” Kat nods, leaning on my chest to comfort me, and as she settled against me, I knew, without any doubt, that I am utterly screwed when it comes to this girl.

Chapter twenty - seven

KATERINA

I was in enemy territory. Stealing Aiden Knight’s clothes should not be this easy. But, to be fair, it’s his fault for leaving his closet open and unattended. Aiden Knight’s walk-in closet was bigger than my room, lined with neatly arranged suits, jackets, and an excessive number of hoodies for someone who probably never gets cold. I run my fingers over the fabric, stopping at a soft, oversized hoodie that looks too inviting to ignore.

I’ve been staying home for a couple of days now, letting myself

heal, and after the other night—after Aiden had his hands in my hair, his mouth on mine, after everything—I should be keeping my distance.

Instead, I’m standing in the middle of his closet, rummaging through his hoodies like I own the place.

I know I have my own clothes, but the second I saw Aiden’s oversized sweatshirts, the temptation became too much. I deserve this. After everything I’ve been through, after the pain, the panic, the mess—stealing one of his hoodies is the least he can offer me.

With a smirk, I pull it off the hanger and tug it over my head, inhaling the faint scent of pine and something undeniably Aiden.It’s way too big, the sleeves hanging past my hands, the hem skimming my thighs. Perfect.

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