Page 198 of Ice Darling
A tear rolls down the man’s cheek.
“We clear?” I growl.
Ray nods shakily.
I stalk out of the room. Then I stall at the door and turn back. “And apologize to Cordelia.”
Chance, Gunner, and Campbell follow me out. I hear the door slam shut behind them.
“You really think he’s going to stay away?” Campbell asks as we start our slow trek down the stairs. This time, I make sure we go at a pace that he can keep up with. “Shouldn’t we get the police involved? File a restraining order?”
“The police only get involved if someone’s been hurt,” Gunner grumbles. “Don’t ask me how I know.”
“He won’t bother her again,” I say confidently.
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“No, I can’t.” I lift my chin, my chest expanding with a feeling of déjà vu. “But Icanpromise this…”
My voice warbles as I suddenly recall a memory from six years ago. It was the day my divorce was finalized. The day I held a seven-pound wailing baby in my arms and started my life from scratch again.
I looked into the face of the helpless infant who would, from that moment on, depend on me for everything—and I made the same promise to Gordie that I’m making to Cordelia now.
“…No matter what comes, she won’t ever be alone.”
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Cordelia
Mills rolls the car to a stop in front of the arcade. It’s a large, square building with a giant neon sign on the front.
Mom humphs. “They’re having a partyhere?At this dreadfully boring place?”
“It’s not boring,” Gordie argues. “It’s fun.”
“Fun? Darling, you haven’t seen fun until you’re off the coast of Saint Tropez, watching those blue, blue waters while you sip on?—”
“Mom,” I scold. “Not everyone can afford to throw a party on the family yacht.”
“These are Gordie’sfriends. If they’d justasked, I would have lent them the yacht,” Mom mumbles.
Gordie watches us with wide eyes. Seeing her expression, I realize the world of yachts, private jets, and private islands is a far cry from her normal upbringing. Honestly, that glittery world feels so foreign to me now, as well.
I’m grateful for all the privileges I had growing up, but I also felt like the Davenport money was alienating. Living in LuckyFalls, moving around as nothing but the rookie mechanic at The Pink Garage, I got to experience real life and real friendships.
I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
“I’ll unpack the gifts,” Mills says, cracking the door open.
Mom scrambles after him. “Oh, Mills. Be careful with theLe BublierI got for the birthday girl’s mother. It’s glass, so it’ll break…”
“Come on, Gordie,” I say, reaching for the door handle. “Let’s make your grand entrance.”
“I don’t think I can,” Gordie says in a thin voice.
“What?” I face her and notice, for the first time, that she’s curled against the other door, trying to make herself as small as possible.
It’s not so easy to do. That dress has a beautifully cut but bountiful skirt. She couldn’t shrink into herself if she tried.
