Page 119 of Break the Ice
Shifting onto my side, I watch the clock on my bedside table. The numbers go up more slowly than ever. 04:59 takes so long to change to 05:00 that I get up before my alarm goes off, even though I’m breaking my doctor’s orders right off the bat.
Before I know it, I’m out of bed, dressed, and heading downstairs to the gym. The quiet that should be peaceful is echoing with all the regret and frustration throttling me. So much so that when I get to the gym and I hear Jayden’s loud music, I all but run inside. Even if I know he’ll berate me for being here.
“Quit it, Asshole.” A familiar female voice calls out over the deep beat of the music as I open the door.
I’m tempted to turn back and go for a brisk walk on the beach instead. Jayden doesn’t get much time with his family outside of the holidays, and I don’t want to intrude on him and his sister.
“Stop whining,” he tells Kailey, squirting her with the bedazzled drink bottle in his hand. “Put your ass into it, Kiki, this isn’t a leisurely stroll.”
Although she flips him off, she picks up her pace on the treadmillwhile he checks his phone. I’m about to back out when his eyes flash up at me, and another voice asks, “Shouldn’t you be resting?”
I look over my shoulder to find Finley standing right behind me. Her striking blue stare is narrowed on me.
As my eyes roam over her tight athleisure outfit, I can’t catch my breath for the life of me.
I’m a moron.
A screwed-up idiot.
Any other man would’ve given Finley what she needs.
Me?I couldn’t hack it past her kisses to my chest.
It felt good, and I was down. Then she braced herself on my arms, and every time her tongue lapped at my skin, the nightmare came back to me. Clearer and brighter until I could hear it roaring in my ears like I was back in that hotel room in Colorado with Ryker’s weight grinding on me.
“You okay?” Finley smiles at me tentatively.
The awkwardness from last night is lingering between us. And it makes me feel like even more of a bastard that I deflected the talk about us to her and Jayden.
“Yeah, you?” I smile at her, allowing my feet to close some of the distance between us.
The fruity scent of her hair surrounds me as I take her hand in mine and lace our fingers together. Because I can’t not touch her. I can’t not want her.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Jayden invited me to come work out with him and his sister this morning,” she tells me as Jayden comes up behind me, perching his elbow on my shoulder and says, “I’m pretty certain this isn’t going slow.”
“Isn’t today your off day or something?” I deadpan at him, only for my straight face to quiver with a smile when he beams his megawatt grin at me.
“Thanksgiving, curmudgeon,” he throws back, sticking his tongue out at me while his stare sweeps to Finley, looking for her approval.
“That’s a good one,” she chuckles.
“Yep, the female equivalent is termagant, which adequately describes my baby sister.” He glances back at me and then at mine and Finley’s joint hands. “Which brings me back to your question. Isla’s in a shitty mood, so we escaped down here,” he says, nodding at Kailey on the treadmill.
“What he means to say,” she calls, lifting herself off the belt beforeshe stops the machine and gets off, “is that she’s in major bitch mode because she hasn’t had a carb in months.”
“I’d be grumpy, too,” Finley whispers as Kailey ambles past Jayden and me, straight to her.
“I’ve told her the cure, but you can only lead a horse to water,” Kailey croons, holding out her hand to Finley. “I’m Kailey, JJ’s nice sister.”
“Stop it,” he chuckles, playfully tugging at Kailey’s braid while he assures Finley, “Isla’s nice... she’s just intense when she’s training.”
“If you say so.” Kailey shrugs, linking her arm with Finley’s and leading her towards the mat on the other side of the room.
Before her hand slips from mine, I give it a squeeze, so she knows that I’m still here. I’m still hers. Even if I’m not worthy of her.
“Well, Finley...” Kailey sinks down onto the mat, taking Finley with her. “JJ’s told me so much about you. I feel like we're besties already...”
A bright flush erupts across Jayden’s cheeks as he mutters a slew of curses under his breath.
