Page 95 of Icebound Hearts

Both my mom and dad showed up together, which confused the absolute shit out of me, but I refuse to overthink it.

Not tonight. It’s Christmas, and I just want to enjoy it.

Aiden’s auntie Maria, came with Sophia, and their presence makes me nervous as hell. It’s the first time our families are meeting, and I can’t shake the anxiety that something might go wrong.

I try to stay calm, but on the inside, I’m freaking out.

My mind is racing, my heart hammering in my chest, and I’m so distracted that I’ve asked Aiden’s mom to repeat her questions three times already.

It’s bad.

Needing air, I quietly slip away from the kitchen and head toward the backyard. As I push the sliding door open, a wave of cold air hits me, making me shudder. Wrapping my arms around myself, I take a deep breath, hoping it’ll help settle the restlessness inside me.

But it doesn’t.

“This isn’t working,” I mutter, rubbing my arms up and down in a desperate attempt to warm up.

The back door slides open behind me, and I turn to see who’s followed me outside.

The moment my eyes land on him, my lips twitch into a small smile.

Aiden.

He steps outside, his expression soft as he studies me. “Angel face, why are you out here in the cold all by yourself?”

I shrug, glancing away.

He doesn’t hesitate. He closes the space between us and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.

The moment he touches me, my entire body relaxes. I let out a shaky breath, finally feeling like I can breathe again.

“What’s going on, baby?” he whispers.

I shake my head, taking another deep breath. “I-I don’t know.” My voice wavers, but I push forward. “Sometimes, it feels like I have this whole anxiety and panic attack thing figured out. There are days when I feel so happy, like I’ll never have another attack again… but then there are days like today.”

I pull back slightly, staring at the stars as I continue. “My heart

has been hammering out of my chest all day. I keep shaking, and the worst part is… I don’t even know why. I had a great day—shopping with the girls, spending time with my mom— but my body still feels alert.” Aiden listens carefully, his grip tightening around me.

“It used to only happen when something triggered me,” I admit, “But lately, it just happens. And it scares me.”

Aiden sighs softly before pressing a lingering kiss against my neck. “Thank you for telling me,” he murmurs. “I know it must

be weighing on you a lot.”

I nod, tilting my head back to blink away the tears threatening to spill. You are not ruining your bad bitch makeup, Katerina.

I swear, if Aiden ever heard the way I talk to myself in my

head, he’d probably run for the hills.

“How can I help?” he asks, his voice full of genuine concern. “What can I do to make it go away?” I smile faintly, turning in his arms to face him. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I whisper, “You already are. Distracting me from my thoughts helps a lot.”

Aiden presses his lips together in a thin line before nodding. “Okay, distraction… Anything else?” I shrug, but before I can say anything else, he suddenly pulls away.

Then—the betrayal.

Aiden bends down, grabs a handful of snow, and chucks it at me. A squeal leaves my lips as I bolt off the deck and into the backyard.

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