Page 2 of Break the Ice
The words land heavy. I can’t breathe past them.
“The Wolves traded me to Los Angeles.” His voice stays even, like the words don’t change everything. “I signed with the Comets. Training camp starts Wednesday morning.”
“Oh.” It scrapes out of me. “You’re leaving?”
“I have to go tomorrow.”
I search his face for some sign that he’s teasing. Elijah doesn’t tease about this. About leaving.
“We talked about this,” he says softly. “It’s time, Fin. It’s—what’s wrong?”
“Presley just signed with the Wolves.” My voice cracks. “I thought… I thought I’d finally see you play. That we’d…”
He shakes his head. “And I signed with the Comets.”
There’s no hesitation in his tone. No regret.
“Why?”
“Because the Wolves traded me.”
I hear what he isn’t saying.
“You asked for it,” I whisper.
Elijah doesn’t answer.
The disappointment sinks like a stone in my chest. “Why?”
His jaw works as he tips his head back toward the trees. “Because I can’t be near him.”
Presley. My brother.
My stomach knots as Elijah’s eyes meet mine. “You think you know him, Fin, but you don’t. He’s a fucking monster.”
I slip my hand into his, the familiar heat of his palm anchoring me.
“Come with me,” Elijah murmurs.
“I can’t.”
“Why not? This is what we always talked about. Leaving. No rules. No expectations. Just us, Finley-James. Like the birds, remember?”
The birds. Free to fly where they want.
“My grandma’s sick,” I say, voice trembling. “She raised me, Elijah. She’s been good to us. I can’t leave her to them. They’ll just let her die and call it God’s will.”
I untie the leather braid from my wrist and knot it around his instead. “It’s not my time to leave.”
Elijah’s arm curves around my waist, half protest, half plea. “I can’t leave you here.”
“You can,” I whisper against his jaw. “If I tell you to.”
“Don’t say that,” he murmurs, forehead pressing to mine.
But it’s already decided. He has to go. I have to stay.
“Finley… please…” His arms crush me closer, his breath warm against my hair.
