Page 120 of Break the Ice
“We’ve lost her,” he mumbles, leaning into me so that his side is pressed into mine while we watch the girls fall into conversation and the occasional laughter.
“Fin needs this. More girls... friends...”
“Yeah, but...” Jayden levels me with a goofy grin. “I’m not sure she’s ready for Kailey.”
“Looks to me like they’re getting on,” I say as Finley glances our way with a beaming smile.
Her wistful stare locks on mine for a beat, beckoning to that place in me that was made just for her. To be hers. Then her eyes roam to Jayden, and he melts into me. Even his goofy grin softens into pure adoration.
“So,” he nudges me with his elbow, “are you ready to ease some of your stiffness with me?”
Every muscle in my body clenches at his words while a bone-deep heat flushes up my body to my face. The tips of my ears are throbbing as I follow him to the mat in the opposite corner of the room as the girls. They’re both still chatting while powerwalking on the treadmills.
“Are you sure you’re okay to do this today? You’ve been home one day, and?—”
“If I don’t get back to normal, I’ll go insane. And if my conditioning slips, it’ll be another red flag for Coach.”
“Fine, but I’m taking it easy on you. Nice and slow.” He drags a step in front of me before he starts bossing me around.
I’m still so flushed from his remark, my pulse is already halfway to pounding before we’ve even started.
“Are you sure I look okay?”Finley asks as we head across the way to Jayden’s place. She smooths over her jean skirt before tugging on the cropped hem of her white t-shirt at her sides.
She looks cute and sexy all at once, with her long legs exposed all the way to the middle of her thighs. Nobody does understated as incredibly as her, with half of her hair on top of her head so that her loose curls cascade just off her face, the light brown bringing out the blue of her eyes.
Finley is perfect.
“Elijah?” She takes a step back, bringing all my focus back to her question.
“You look great.” Lightly clasping her hand at her side, I tug her closer while my other hand molds to her face. “You're beautiful, sweet girl.”
“Elijah…don’t.” Her eyes drop between us, wrenching at my chest. “Every time you say those things and touch me like this… I get the wrong idea, and?—”
“I’m sorry about last night,” I tell her quickly, smoothing my thumb over her plush lips like it’s the fix to the hurt I’ve caused her. “I’m not running away from you. There’s a lot going on right now, and my head is messed up.I’mmessed up.”
But I still love you.
I will always love Finley. Even if it means I have to let her go, so I don’t taint her with my bleakness.
“We all have our quirks and faults—” She stops with a frustrated grimace when Jayden’s door opens.
“Oh, hey,” Jayden greets, glancing between us. “I was about to knock.”
“Us, too,” I tell him, caressing my thumb over her cheek before I pull back, keeping my hand laced with hers.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything…” Jayden backtracks a couple of steps before Finley grabs his hand to stop him.
Their fingers knot together naturally as she coaxes him towards us with a light pull. “You interrupted me freaking out about nothing.”
“What’s nothing?” He winds his arm up and over her shoulders without releasing her hand, so that we’re all sandwiched together side by side, both of us holding Finley’s hands.
I don’t want to pick.Her retort flashes into the forefront of my mind again as I take in their connection, my stare roaming to where her hand is still clasped with mine. Tight. Unwavering.
When Finley doesn’t elaborate on her reply, Jayden looks over the top of her head at me, and I tell him, “She’s worried about her outfit.”
“What? Why? You look hot, Lucky,” he says, lowering himself into her line of sight before he boops her nose. “I like it, it’s cute.”
I feel the effect his compliment has on Finley when her hand squeezes around mine in a death grip that shoots a frisson of electricity up into my chest.
