Page 95 of ICED
There’s a beat of silence. “You didn’t have to…”
“I did.” Because I can’t do nothing. Because last night’s fear is still sitting in my bones like rot.
“I want you to feel safe, Maya. You and Lila. This guy’s discreet. Knows what he’s doing.”
She exhales. “Okay. Thank you, Owen.”
“I’ll meet him there. You don’t have to stay if you’re not comfortable.”
“No, I want to. I want to know what he finds.”
“Okay, well I’m just getting changed and then I’ll pick you up. We can go together and then when he’s finished how about I take you and Lila out for pizza?”
“Lila would love that, thank you.”
We hang up and I take one last breath in the empty corridor before heading out.
Ollie claps me on the back as I pass. “Go get your girls secured, Jacko.”
I nod, jaw tight. Because I will. Because I have to.
No more maybes. No more waiting for something to go wrong. I’m done playing defence.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
MAYA
By the time Owen picks me up from the bakery, the scent of croissants and burnt sugar is clinging to my clothes, and my whole body hums with exhaustion. He doesn’t say anything at first when I climb into the truck, just gives me a once-over like he’s checking for cracks.
“Hi,” I murmur, pulling my seatbelt on.
“Hi,” he echoes, soft and warm. Then, “You look tired.”
“I am. But I’m fine.”
He starts the engine, then pauses before pulling away from the curb. “You sure?”
I nod, though the truth is I’m not. I haven’t been since the alarm went off last week, never mind last night’s episode. Sleep has been patchy at best, and every creak in the floorboards sends my heart racing. Still, when Owen reaches across the console and threads his fingers through mine, some of the static in my chest fades.
He drives with one hand on the wheel, the other cradling mine, like he needs the contact as much as I do. The truck is warm and quiet, just the low hum of the engine and the occasional turn signal click. We’re pull up outside my block of flats and Owen throws the truck into park before he leans over the centre console.
“What are you doing?” I ask, eyebrow raised.
“Just taking a second.” He turns toface me fully, his expression unreadable for a moment. “I’ve been thinking about kissing you all day.”
My heart skips. “Is that so?”
He leans in slowly, giving me time to pull away if I want to. I don’t.
Our mouths meet in a kiss that’s soft at first, tentative, testing. Then my fingers find the collar of his jacket and tug him closer, and he deepens it with a low, breathy sound that sends heat spiralling through me. His hand cups my jaw, thumb brushing the corner of my mouth like he’s memorising it.
When we finally part, he’s smiling, eyes still closed. “Been wanting to do that properly.”
“Me too,” I whisper.
A knock at the window startles us both. Owen jerks back, and I twist around to see Ollie standing there with an infuriating smirk.
“Hope I’m not interrupting anything life-changing,” he says as we scramble to compose ourselves.
