Page 125 of Break the Ice
“Alcohol thins your blood,” Eli tells me as he makes space for Finley between us on the couch, “and you’re a bleeder, so you’re better off with the slushy if you don’t want to end up in the ER.”
“It’s a small cut,” I tell him, even though I have no intention of drinking the margaritas. I’m strictly a spiced rum kind of man.
“Small, deep, and bloody.”
“It’s just a little cut and a little blood.”
Eli’s dark stare narrows to slits. “And it was just a headache.”
Huh. This is how we’re playing it?
Shaking my head, I hold my glass out to Finley as she pours Eli some slushy.
“It’s pulped strawberries and orange juice with agave syrup and lots of ice. All natural, and vegan friendly,” she tells him when he studies the drink in his hand dubiously.
When she’s filled my glass, I clink my drink with his. “Touché, Preacher.”
CHAPTER 39
ELIJAH
Watching Jayden leave for training this morning sucked. Not as bad as listening to him tell me about how weird it was nailing our plays with Weissman, though.
“So I told him the Florida game is tomorrow night, and he needs to fucking focus on the puck and being where he’s needed instead of fan-girling over the other players on the ice. I mean, he’s had all damn summer to get used to the team.”
Finley bursts out laughing at his irate expression before she goes to messaging Kailey. It was nice seeing her around Jayden’s family. I think she and Kailey could have a lot in common as Finley discovers more about herself and the ordinary world.
“Bless him, it must be all kinds of daunting to play with his heroes. Don’t be so crotchety,” Finley tells him with a mock glare.
“What doesthatmean? Sounds like something an old lady would do, and I’m not a grandma.”
“You’re grumbling like one,” I retort, earning myself a scowl from Jayden as Finley tells him, “It’s a synonym for crabby.”
The grin on her lips brightens his face, leaving me caught between them for a moment. The world around me lightens.
A buzz flutters in my stomach, making it hard to mute the voice in my head, reminding me of the conversation with Finley before Thanksgiving.
I know that she will always love me, like I’ve always loved her. But the longer I spend in this moment with her and Jayden, the deeper I feel her affection for him.
Finley loves me, but she also loves him. And I wish I were jealous. I wish that I hated it, because that might make it easier to get up and walk away. To force her to pick him.
Because he is the better man. Jayden can make her happy and give her what she needs when I can’t.
I’ve tried. Every time I kiss her, it feels like that’s the kiss that will take me back to the boy she misses.
It never happens.
“I’m not crabby,” Jayden finally mutters, collapsing back into the sofa with a groan.
“Ah-hmm,” Finley chuckles with a smirk.
Her cheeks are flushed, and her blue eyes are beaming like a sunny sky as she goes back to her phone.
"I’m not.” Jayden turns his head so that we’re looking at each other across the back of the couch. Then he mouths again, “I’m not.”
A hollow forms in my throat at the wide-eyed expression he’s holding me with. I don’t know how it’s possible to miss him when I saw him this morning, and now we’re sitting on my couch with the television babbling in the background.
It feels like my world is off kilter without our usual routine to keep my head occupied. Being home gives me way too much time to think—about the past, the frequent calls with Lex and his insistence on me making public appearances with Finley to stop the rumor mill from spinning… Mostly, I’ve been thinking about the other night with Finley and Jayden. Touching Jayden. Being close to Jayden. Watching him… and Finley. With Finley.
