Page 93 of Ice Princess

She wrenches her hand free as soon as we get on and the doors close in front of us. I retreat to a corner of the elevator,glaring. In the shiny chrome walls, I see my reflection. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Wicked dark scowl.

“What’s your problem?” Rebel stares at me. “Why are you dragging me around?”

My chest expands on a sigh.

“I get that you’re worried about your mom, but Benji’s not the enemy here. And neither am I.”

My head is pounding. I suck in a deep breath.

“Tell me. Honestly. Am I just an object to you?”

My expression shifts on a dime.What is she talking about?

“Back in the car, you held my hand to prove some stupid point to Benji. Just now, you dragged me away because you were angry with him too. I came to the hospital with you because I was worried. I didn’t sign up to be a trophy you two are competing for.”

I blink in surprise. Rebel isnota trophy to me. And I did not hold her hand in the car to ‘objectify’ her. I did it so I couldbreathe.

As I’m searching for a way to explain myself, the elevator doors open.

Rebel stalks out first.

I chase after her.

She picks up speed.

The woman is fast, but my legs are longer. It only takes me a moment to catch up. I stop in front of her, blocking her path.

Her frosty eyes fix on a point just over my shoulder.

I breathe out shakily. “You’re not a trophy, Rebel.”

She glances away.

“Look, I held your hand in the car because?—”

“Gunner.”

Quick footsteps thud down the hallway and all the blood drains from my face when I see Uncle Stewart.

The old man glares at Rebel, his mouth twisting into a sneer. “You sure have some nerve coming here when you’re the reason my sister-in-law’s in the hospital.”

Instinctively, I drag Rebel behind me and stare my uncle down. “Don’t talk to her.”

Uncle Stewart smirks. “Don’t be so dramatic, nephew. It’s unlike you.”

“Let’s go,” I whisper to Rebel. I take her hand again and circle around my uncle.

“I heard you didn’t come home last night,” Uncle Stewart calls.

Rebel freezes.

I stop moving and look back at my uncle.

His eyes track over to Rebel and there’s a glint I don’t like in them. “I can take a guess as to what you were doing all night long.”

My temper spikes and I lunge forward.

Rebel grabs my hand before I can make a move against my uncle.

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