Page 42 of Break the Ice
“The pine nuts are going to burn, man,” I say, throwing a dry dishcloth at his face to be sure he snaps out of the frowny trance he’s in.
“Good save, seventy-four,” Christina croons under her breath, collecting the glasses on the counter and heading for the balcony with a quick kiss to Finley’s shoulder as she does.
Just as the atmosphere inches towards awkward the oven beeps. Finley heads straight for it, only for Eli to get there before her.
“Let me,” he murmurs taking the oven mittens from her.
While he takes the tray of roasted vegetables out of the oven, Fin turns off the timer.
“You can do whatever you want,” Eli tells her as they’re side by side. His mouth is at her ear when he continues, “I don’t want you to rush into anything you don’t want. You don’t need to, sweet girl.”
“I know.”
The instant she smiles at him, the tension around his shoulders melts away.
“Good. There’s no rush for anything. I got you now.I got you, Fin.”With a light peck to the top of her head, he places the tray on the counter next to me, giving me a grateful nod before he goes back to watching over the pine nuts.
“This smells incredible,” Finley hums, leaning over the hot tray and breathing in the aroma of roasted butternut squash, garlic, and sage.
“Don’t inflate his ego,” Eli calls over his shoulder.
I can sense his stare on her, on me… and it’s making me hyper aware of how close I am to his girl.Again.
Near enough that I can smell the florally herbal musk of her hair as I grip the edge of the counter, trying to dispel the throbbing in my hand—the one she brushed earlier—before I pull away to check if the water for the pasta is boiling. Even with the space between us, her scent clings to my lungs. Then it combines with Eli’s woodsy one, and it is the best fucking smell I’ve ever known.
It’s so perfect, so broad and encompassing that it’s addictive. Like they are together. Balanced and beautiful.
I have no reason to be jealous of either of them, except Elijah’s become her moon. Orbiting around Finley. It’s an aura that’s always there. Always bright.
I’ve never seen anything like it. Never known a pull like it. Except when I’m around them, it wrenches me in too. Whether I want it or not. It’s a force, so natural, so strong…
It’s easy to forget that I’m not a part of them. Of what they have.
This is why I can’t touch Finley. Because touching her is like touchinghim.It leaves me reeling with no anchor to ground me.
I should hate the hold she has on Eli. I should hate that she’s such an integral part of him.
I don’t.
“Are these done yet?” Eli asks, shaking the skillet over the hob. “Do they look toasted to you?”
I clear the frog in my throat, swallowing past the tightness there before I attempt to answer.
“They have to catch, Elijah,” Finley responds before I can. “Once they turn a light gold, they’ll toast fast. It’s getting them to the gold that requires patience.”
“Patience,” Eli groans back at her.
“It’s great practice for it.” She croons like she’s going to boop his nose, instead she combs his messy hair from his face.
I’m enthralled by the slowness of her actions, the tenderness softening her eyes.
Until he freezes on her.
Instant devastation dulls her shine from the inside out. It’s tragic. I know firsthand how it feels when Eli goes from easy to tense. The distance it stretches between us.
I know it, and my stupid heart breaks for her.
Stupid damn heart.
