Page 74 of Break the Ice
It’s always beenhimfor me.
Elijah.
“Here, there, and everywhere,” Jayden says, tearing his eyes from me and onto his lap.
We fall silent for a beat. The murmur of the other diners’ conversations smothering us with the heated weightiness that's got my senses frazzling along with all the straight lines and boundaries that I’ve been indoctrinated with. Every second that passes, the preconceptions of what I’ve wanted and dreamed of blur.
“You’re talking like it’s dirty or taboo, but I like eating clean. I don’t miss meat or any other animal produce. Besides, there’s a reason why I have the better muscle definition.”
“Whoa…” Jayden sits taller, leveling Elijah with a glare. “That’s a low blow, Sylkes.”
“What can I say?” Elijah leans back in his chair, stretching out so that his fitted button down pulls taut across his chest and abs.
When he spreads his thighs wide, his knee touches mine. The contact shoots a wave of electricity through me, sparking in my belly when he holds it there.
With his elbows resting on the arms of his seat, he gestures down his body with a grin. “Lean and clean is the dream, Morrow.”
“Fucking asshole.” Jayden bursts out laughing. I can feel his body vibrating with his amusement when his foot brushes mine. The touch is gasoline to the spark the contact with Elijah brings to life.
My entire body bursts into flames. The feeling is extraordinary. Emboldening and freeing in a way that goes against everything I’ve ever been preached to.
Gazing between the two of them, I can’t help taking in the way Jayden’s mirth broadens Elijah’s smile. His whole body loosens at the sound, and an inkling of jealousy fists my heart synonymously with the relief that the boy I knew is still in there, waiting to be brought out of his shell again.
How can I envy Jayden for finding him when I’ve desperately needed to see him?
I can’t.
I won’t.
Because all it proves is that we’re somehow linked together. My love for Elijah has lit a bone deep affection for Jayden and the way he cares for Elijah… for me.
I don’t know what that means, but I know that it feels monumental. Intrinsical to the people we are and that we are growing into.
The drive homefrom the restaurant was quiet. Mostly because we were all too stuffed to do more than just breathe while Jayden drove us back. The radio humming in the background with the upbeat music he enjoys.
“Remember,” Jayden says when the elevator doors ping open and we walk out, “workout tomorrow morning.”
“Slave master,” I mutter back with a chuckle.
“Me? No.” He pauses in his backward saunter with his hands on his hips.
The long sleeves of his white henley are pushed up his thick forearms, showing off the corded muscles as they bulge beneath his tan skin. He’s the physical embodiment of tall, dark, and handsome. Especially when he smirks at me, knowing full well that I’m doomed to check him out even though I shouldn’t.
“I’m the fun guy, Lucky. Good time should be my middle name?—”
“Right behind Rio.”
“Matheo? Right?”
“Yeah,” Elijah answers at the same time as Jayden sucks in his lip.
Because the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of their teammate is the conversation I overheard between Jayden and Matheo.
Where he goes, you follow.
So in sync.
The more I observe Jayden and Elijah together, the more it replays in my mind.
