Page 51 of The Heart of Winter

"Yes. Unlike you, my job works a little differently," he snapped.

"Alright, alright. Sorry for, you know, caring about my own uncle and wanting to make sure everything’s okay."

He sighed. "Sariel, everything’s fine. I’m just really busy. I need to stay focused. This is important business for Malden Pharmaceuticals—it’s a deal with a foreign government, and I can’t afford distractions."

"Okay, sure, sure. Forgot for a sec that you’re a big deal and super busy."

I heard another annoyed sigh, but he didn’t say anything.

"Take care. Let me know when you’ve got a bit more time to actually talk to your nephew."

"Yeah. Sure."

And he immediately hung up.

What was that about?

Maybe I really was overthinking it. He could just be busy. But it was interesting that he was getting involved with that program again, after all the trouble it had already caused him.

Fucking lunatic.

***

Days went by.

Then a whole week. And I still barely saw Winter, just a few instances when we happened to pass each other in the hallway. A couple of times, I even slowed down, thinking I’d say something, but he’d quickly avert his eyes and walk away.

I had to physically restrain myself from following after him, from trying to start some kind of… something.

What exactly was I even hoping for? I kept scolding myself for these ridiculous attempts to reconnect with him. Despite that brief, weird moment between us, there was no obvious way forward, no natural bridge leading me toward him.

And besides, why even try?

A few days later, something caught my attention. It wasn’t about Winter this time.

I was heading to my car when I saw Skye walking toward his own, and right beside him… was that Soren?! But where was that unremarkable little beta guy, his boyfriend? Liam, I think, was his name. I hadn’t seen this guy around at all. It was weird. The two of them got into the car together and drove off.

I had no clue what was going on, but it wasn’t my business. Maybe Skye had finally made some progress in wooing that strange beta?

Well, to each their own.

***

Another week passed. The weather was turning more November-like, not that it was too noticeable here in the South, but I was always sensitive to even slight temperature changes. It made me even less inclined to leave the house.

I spent hours either at the breakdance club, sweating through practice, going wild with my routines, getting lost in the movement, or drawing new sketches filled with elves, icy kingdoms, and mint-haired, wide-eyed kids. Just… my life.

Where was the change I so craved?

Stuck in sameness, in the everyday grind. Empty days.

Sometimes, I was tempted to call Blue again, but whenever I texted him, he brushed me off with vague excuses about having too much work.

And then there was Winter.

My need to interact with him was growing stronger by the day. It was weird. I just wanted to see him, even for a moment. Before I knew it, I was coming up with the dumbest excuses to be in places where I might run into him.

And sometimes… I felt like he was doing the same thing!

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