Page 93 of Break the Ice
“You’re not arguing with me. Is that a good sign?” He leans forward, tipping his head to the side so he can see me when he carefully moves my hair from my face, as though he doesn’t want to mess it up. “Finley?”
“This is very stalkery,” I say, trying to close my ribs around the overwhelming sensation building in my chest. It’s so big that I might burst.
“I told you I’d keep you safe, and if I promise something, I always follow through.”
“How much of this is for Elijah?”
Jayden stills for a beat, his stare lowering between us. It reminds me of my remark last night, how he ignored it.
“He’s the best player I’ve ever played with. Right now, his head is all over the place, and like you said back at the apartment, he’s worrying himself sick. So, if this helps him quieten it up here,” he taps his finger on my temple, “then it’ll help his game too.”
“Okay.”
“I’m doing this for you, too. You’re my friend now, and I look after the people I care about. Especially when they’re a lucky charm.”
Although I snicker at his reply, his words unfurl a new, unexpected warmth through me. Jayden is so open with his feelings; something that I’ve never had before.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been told to keep quiet on all fronts. The Lord sees and knows everything, and he does not need us to vocalize what’s inside us for others to hear. They don’t need to carry our cross and we shouldn’t tempt their envy with our pride.
“I promise I’m not a stalker,” he gives me a playful smirk that scrunches his nose.
It’s the first time I notice the two small scars across the middle of his bridge. They’re etched deep like they’ve been opened multiple times. So deep, I wonder how I didn’t notice them before. Strangely, there are only a couple of barely noticeable bumps on either side, and his nose is still perfect. I don’t think there’s a part of him that isn’t beautiful. Certainly not the ones I’ve seen—inside and out.
“Obviously that’s what a stalker would say but?—”
“I appreciate all of this,” I tell him, taking an Air Tag and putting it in the coin pocket of my denim dress.
I don’t know that the tracking device makes me feel safer, however, the gesture itself does. It bolsters the feeling with Jayden. Enough so, that I’m forward with my next remark.
“We both care about Elijah, and I think we’re both willing to do whatever it takes for him to be happy and the best he can be.”
“He’s a key part of the team,” he’s quick to retort.
“You don’t have to pretend with me,” I say in a lowered tone.
Jayden diverts his darkening stare to the counter, standing taller as he pulls back. “Finley…”
“You wear your heart on your sleeve, Jayden, and that means you say a lot without saying much at all.”
“Not many people would agree with you. I’m a talker. Being quiet isn’t my forte.”
“Talking incessantly doesn’t mean you’re saying much or anything. Anyone can talk a whole lot about a whole lot of nothing.”
“That’s a very contradictory statement.”
“Doesn’t make it untrue.”
He starts placing everything back in the bag, still avoiding eye contact with me.
“Besides that, I feel it.” Deliberately, I place my hand on his chest, bringing his stare back to mine. With my palm over his heart, I allow his heartbeat to thrum through me until my own falls into sync. “I feel this—” I press my hand harder into his strong chest. “—right here.”
Jayden’s stare flashes down to where my other hand is flattened over my heart. I know he feels the current sparking through us. Even if he doesn’t verbally admit it, the fire in his eyes makes it plenty obvious.
Picking up the bag with the phone and the other two tags, he grips the hand on his chest and starts for the door, taking me with him.
Jayden guides me through the mall to the food court. His silence nags at me for saying too much. Just like the other night with Elijah.
“Do you like sushi?”
