Page 23 of Break the Ice
She nods, eyes glossy.
I lead her in. I’ve stood in this doorway too many times to count, memorizing the deep lavender walls, the purple-and-white blossom canvases above the gray upholstered headboard, the sink of the long-pile silver rug under bare feet. Imagining her in it and telling myself it was stupid.
Her head turns, slow, taking it all in. I circle with her, watching her face—the quiver in her mouth, the fluttering lashes, the small twitch of her nose that always betrays her.
I’ve loved this girl every day of my life. Because of her, I know what love is. And pain. And everything that hurts and still matters.
Now that I have her here, I don’t know where to put my hands or my words.Can I be what she needs out here?She’s a rare flower that survives the transplant and blooms in foreign soil. She adapts. She thrives.Can I keep up?
“Is it okay?” I tried to make it perfect. I know it isn’t. “Anything you don’t like can be changed. If there’s anything you need, I’ll get it for you.”
“No, Elijah,” she murmurs, stepping into me until her chest brushes mine. My heart misfires. “It’s beautiful.”
“Okay.”Say something else.Nothing comes.
“It’s yours… For you.”
“Mine.” Her smile dulls at the edges. The tailspin starts in my gut, spirals out—wrong, wrong, wrong.
“Wait, Fin… I…”
My phone vibrates, then again.
“You should get that,” she says gently, releasing my hand.
“Okay.” I don’t move until I force myself to look.
Can’t sleep. Everything spins. Sucks.
My body is already leaning toward the door.Go check on him.Dizziness is standard with a concussion, and melodrama is his coping mechanism, but the need to see him breathing, upright, alive—yeah.
“Is he okay?” Finley’s voice catches me off guard.
I shrug before I can stop myself.Words. Use them.
“Why don’t you go and check on him?” Her hand strokes my shoulder.
I want to. But I don’t want to leave her alone. Not yet.
Want to come over?
I’m in bed
And you can’t sleep. Come on. I’ll put a movie on.
No screens 24hrs
The phone IS a screen
So bored
Audiobook
Headaaaacheeeee
Sleep it is
Finley snorts softly, brows climbing with a crooked grin. “He’s right next door. You can knock and talk to each other.”
