Page 45 of Ice Darling

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My eyes dart to Renthrow, whose jaw flexes as he pulls his gaze away from his daughter to the floor.

“I c-can’t?—”

“Please.” The word comes from Renthrow, and it stuns me into silence. His eyes slowly lift to mine, defiant yet desperate, reluctant yet resolved.

I’ve been around this man long enough that I know he isn’t the type to beg. That hedefinitelywouldn’t beg me even if a gun was held to his head.

And yet here we are.

And here he is.

And there are so many emotions.

And I should probably say no for that very reason…

But instead, I open my mouth and say, “Okay.”

Chapter Sixteen

Brenda: Sasha, it worked.

Sasha: What worked?

Brenda: Your plan to invite Cordelia over to the house.

Sasha: I thought now wasn’t a good time?

Brenda: I changed my mind.

Sasha: Why?

Brenda: I realized that it’s bad enough my poor granddaughter is suffering. The solution isn’t for Viking to withdraw into himself as well.

Sasha: You said it worked. What did you mean? Are they together now?

Brenda: Even better.

Sasha: He PROPOSED?

Brenda: No, my granddaughter is bonding with your daughter.

Sasha: I don’t understand.

Brenda: Your daughter is the only person in Lucky Falls who can meet my granddaughter where she is. Don’t you get it?

Sasha: Not really.

Brenda: My son lives and breathes for his child. And your daughter is the only one who can reach Gordie. So that means…

Sasha: He’ll fall even harder for her.

Brenda: Exactly! My granddaughter will get better and my son will finally allow himself to love again. I can finally breathe.

Sasha: Let’s not get carried away. We don’t want them to only rely on each other for Gordie. They need to see each other in a romantic light without her.

Brenda: The ball is in motion now. All we have to do is sit back and wait for those two to see what we’ve seen all along.

Sasha: That sounds lovely, but sitting back and waiting isn’t my style.

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