Page 122 of Break the Ice
“Yeah, there is. And I agree with Coach. You keep ignoring it, but he’s right, you should speak to Dr. Armstrong. I don’t know, make it part of your stress therapy. The Sire says it’s a proven and successful method of breaking down what’s up here—” He gestures at my forehead before circling his finger between us. “—so it doesn’t mess with the rest of this. You also have me and Finley, and Lex. We’re here to help and support you. You’re not alone, okay?”
“It’s not that easy.”
Jayden only knows part of the problem. He has no real idea how messed up I am. And if I start talking to Dr. Armstrong, what’s stopping her from talking to Coach and ruining my career?
“No, it's not.” He pauses before continuing in a resolute tone that makes it impossible for me to argue back. “We care about you, your health, your happiness… but you have to let us in. You have to trust us.”
The pleading look on his face, along with his unshakeable grip on me, make me wonder—maybe I can trust Jayden with all of me, and he won’t judge me for it or look at me differently at all.
CHAPTER 38
JAYDEN
The apartment is bustling. So full of life and energy that I’m physically buzzing while I help Isla juice the limes for The Sire’s margarita jugs while he fusses over Finley and Eli. He’s always had a soft spot for Eli from the moment they met. I think he sees the same wounded shadows in his eyes like I do.
The Sire is empathetic to a fault, and seeing him with Eli makes me hopeful that he might be able to help him compartmentalize all the shit going on. He’s good at making you see perspective without being intrusive.
“Are you fucking her?” Isla asks suddenly, bringing my attention to her in a snap.
I’m certain I’ve heard her wrong, because there’s no way my baby sister just blurted out that question like it’s small talk fodder.
“What was that?”
Isla has the audacity to roll her eyes as she repeats, enunciating each word with more venom than her angelic features should allow. “Are you fucking your best friend’s girlfriend?”
“Are you fucking high or just plain fucking crazy?” I snap at her under my breath, holding her stare with a scowl while I juice the lime in my hand like it’s her brain.
“You wouldn’t be the first person,” Isla shrugs, turning one of the juiced lime halves inside out before she sucks at the leftover pulp. “You’re a good-looking guy, and she’s stunning.”
“We’re friends.”
“It’s what they all say.” She takes the lime that’s in my hand and does a poor job of juicing it while I stare at her, stupefied by her gall.
“They? Who’s they? What the fuck are you on about?”
“People in general. They can’t be trusted. They’re always one choice away from fucking you over.” The tick of her jaw grinds her teeth together as she glances down at the counter, blatantly blinking away tears.
Instantly thawing my anger. Someone hurt her, and I don’t care how much of a brat they are; nobody hurts my sisters.
“Isla, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Not anymore.” When she begins to pull back, I clasp her wrist and tug her into my side.
“Okay. Then whatwaswrong? Who do I need to fucking kill?” With another roll of her eyes, she yanks herself away from me, flipping the cutting board up with her errant hand.
Before I can pull back, the knife slices through the tip of my finger with a sharp burn. “Fuck!”
“Oh my God, Mom! Momma!” Isla panics instantly at the sight of my blood.
“What the hell have you done?” Kailey runs over.
“Oh my God, Kiki! I cut JJ’s finger off!”
Ridiculously, I have to check that she’s exaggerating because I can’t feel anything past the prickly throb. Everything looks intact, but there is a shit load of blood.
“It’s okay,” Eli pushes between me and her, closing his fist around my fingers so tight that the throb stops while he drags me to the sink as my mothers look on in horror.
“Just a little blood,” Finley says, running the water in a slow stream while Eli inspects my finger under it.
