Page 193 of Break the Ice
“Yeah, one night you, one night me… though she’s not a rag doll, so maybe she gets a rest day?—”
“No. We didn’t do that last night,” I blurt, too fast.
One brow quirks. “No, we didn’t. But last night, you didn’t touch her? Don’t you want to?”
My gaze drops to my hands. My throat works. I want to, but?—
“What are you afraid of, Elijah?”
The sound of my name in his mouth nearly undoes me.
“Is it me?” he asks.
I jerk my head up. “No. God, no. It’s not you.”
“Then what?” His voice cracks around the words. “Being with Finley is loving her.”
I flinch. Because he’s right. And I’m not ready.
When I stand too abruptly, he grabs my wrist. “Don’t run from me.”
I freeze.
Jayden loosens his grip slowly, giving me space. “If you only want to watch,” he says carefully, “I’m good with that.”
I nod once.
“If you want more… with her. With me there. Or not. I’m good with that too.”
The air leaves my lungs in a shudder.
“I want you to be happy, Eli. This can’t just be about me and Finley.” His mouth twists. “You said she wants both of us. That makes you part of this, too.”
Before I can speak, Finley drops onto the bench between us, eyebrows arched. “What are you two whispering about so seriously?”
Jayden smirks, leans in, and murmurs something in her ear that makes her cheeks flame pink.
Her eyes flash to mine, wide and bright, right before he kisses her neck.
And my chest twists, sharp and sweet.
Because every time I watch them, it hits harder.
The wanting. The fear. The pull toward both of them that feels like it might kill me if I don’t give in.
CHAPTER 59
JAYDEN
Eli’s been fishing things out of the cart all night. Every time I toss in something “unapproved,” he gives me this look—half exasperation, half a smile he’s trying real hard to hide—and puts it back on the shelf.
So, of course, I throw in another bag of trail mix just to see the vein in his temple twitch.
“We’re supposed to be shopping for dinner,” Eli mutters, setting it back like he’s in charge or something.
“Hey, we need snacks for the flight,” I shoot back, grabbing a box of protein bars he hates just to watch him put them back, too.
Finley’s watching us like we’re her own personal comedy hour, a strawberry-sweet smile tugging at her lips. “Do I need to pack you both snack boxes like you’re five?”
