Page 101 of Break the Ice
Lex glances up at Jayden, leveling him with an impassive stare. “I know what I see.”
“Then maybe you’re not as smart as Eli thinks you are.” Before Jayden says any more, Bobby tugs him away, towards Dylan and Matheo.
I don’t know what they’re arguing about or what is being said, butthe way Jayden’s looking at me—apologetically—has my thoughts spinning out.
My feet carry me to Lex. He doesn’t look up or acknowledge. Simply keeps typing on his phone… until I snatch it from him.
“I’m right here,” I snap when his dark stare flashes to mine. His nostrils flare with the hard clench of his teeth. “People have looked at me like I’m beneath them all my life, if you think your judgment is any different… you’re wrong. It doesn’t faze me.”
“It should,” he replies. “I’m the one putting out the fires you sparked.”
“You’re not doing it for me. It’s for Elijah and his image. For your reputation…” I swallow when his hand grips his phone, still in my grasp.
I don’t know many things about this world, but I know a man who is used to manipulating it to his will when I see one. My brother is one of those men, along with my father and his father. No scruples. No boundaries.
“My only care right now is Elijah. He’s the only thing that matters to me. That man is the only person I have left who has always been good to me. All my memories worth reminiscing on are of him. Of us.” Lex’s frown deepens when I refuse to let go of his phone when it goes crazy in my grasp. “I know that means nothing to you. But it meanseverythingto me.”
My whole body tightens when he takes a step forward. With a hard yank, he snatches his phone from my hand as Jayden comes up behind me.
He doesn’t need to touch me for me to feel his presence, his strength and safety as I hold steady. Refusing to let Lex’s demeanor intimidate me.
“What are the rumors?”
“Fin,” Jayden murmurs, his voice catching in the back of his throat.
“I want to know.”
Lex opens his mouth, but before he says anything, Jayden turns me to face him. Uncertainty flutters in his eyes when he takes my hand and guides me out of the room. The hallway lights are muted with the late hour, the private wing so quiet as he guides me to a secluded corner.
“Jayden…”
“It’s all stupid speculation. These people make shit up when… when…”
“Just tell me.”
“There are photos of me and you at the mall and—” He swallows. “—they’re saying you and me… that we’re messing around.”
Messing around.“Like… like…”
“Like you and me being together behind Eli’s back.”
“But that’s not true.”
“I know.”
“We’re not doing anything behind Elijah’s back… and if we were, we wouldn’t be flaunting it so flagrantly…”
“It’s ridiculous, I know.”
A long, exhausted sigh soaks over my face before he spins me to face away from him. My back is to his front when his hand smooths over my unruly hair. Long, deft fingers combing through my knotted lengths gently.
The way that I’ve been taking my anxiety out on it, it’s a frizzy mess. Every strand he touches aches all the way down to the root. It feels so good that I can’t resist my body’s instinct to melt into him again.
“It’s all bullshit, Fin.” His fingers weave through the coarse strands while he continues telling me, “Eli would never hurt himself.”
“Are they saying that? Because of the photos ofus?” When I attempt to turn back to him, one hand grips my shoulder, holding me in place.
Jayden strokes a hand all the way from the top of my head, down to my nape before he places my neatly braided hair over my shoulder. “I told you; it’s all speculative lies.”
