Page 127 of Break the Ice
I don’t know what to tell her without creating more questions that I can’t answer. Not without destroying her.
“It's hard to do when I’m stuck here. It’s either this,” I gesture around me, “or every person in my life telling me what to do. Coach, Lex, the doctors, fuck, even the PT team is on me. How am I meant to chill when I can’t get a damn second to decompress in the way I know how without the two of you spiraling on me?”
“Oh.” Finley rolls onto the tips of her toes, bringing her forehead level with my lips as she tells me, “I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t see it that way. I didn’t understand. That I’m... I don’t know... I just don’t want you to be sick again.”
“I know, Angel.” My lips ghost over her forehead before I press a kiss to it.
I can’t think past the throb taking over my entire body, a pulsing need that builds and builds until we're pushed together and I can feel all of her touching me.
“I love you, Fin, even whenI’mcrotchety,” I chuckle over the bridge of her nose, placing a quick peck on the tip.
“Yeah, I think Jayden’s got you figured out, Elijah Sylkes. You’re a big grump.”
“Called it,” he says, taking another step back.
Something’s off in spite of his smile. It doesn’t reach his eyes, and his brows are pulled together funny.
“Okay, well, I’m going to head home,” he says with a sigh, as though he doesn’t live next door.
Finley sags into me as she turns to face him. Disappointment weighs her deeper into my arms.
“I thought you were staying for dinner,” she murmurs as he cautiously inches closer.
Jayden’s hands hang on either side of his body until Finley offers himhers. I expect her to close the distance between them, but instead, she coaxes him to her.
It’s so silent. The most quiet I’ve had in years when he steps right into her, his body sandwiching hers to mine.
All I can hear is my pulse quickening to a hard, relentless pounding.
What do I do now?
What does this mean?
Jayden’s stare finds mine. Searching. Asking...
All I can do is nod.
Slowly, he lowers his lips to Fin’s forehead. With his eyes locked on mine, he presses a firm, lingering kiss.
“Don’t go,” Fin whispers.
“It’s getting late...”
Lifting her face to his, her whole body burrows into mine. “It’s not even dark.”
“Lucky...”
Jayden glances between me and her.
“Stay,” is all I can say as he presses another kiss to her forehead while edging away from her. From me.
“For dinner...” Finley adds, her voice is as hoarse as mine, and anticipation for his reply has her tensing in my hold.
Before he says anything, Finley’s phone blares from the couch. Jayden pulls back, and reluctantly, she checks it.
“Shoot,” she huffs as she answers her boss’ call. “It’s Summer, we’re planning when I’ll start at the office.”
Jayden is still standing there looking more conflicted than I’ve ever seen him. His hands are stuffed in his pockets as we watch her hotfoot towards the bedrooms with an “I’ll be right back” before she disappears out of sight.
