Page 24 of Carved in Ice (Made of Steel 3)

“You do seem happier,” Liza said. “I’ve never seen you smile so much.”

“Thanks, Liza.” I guess?

“So let me get this straight,” V said. “You’re just magically mentally stable after a chat with Eli…the disgraced detective?”

“Look, V…” Eli started.

“I’m not talking to you, Eli. And the answer is no, Sadie. Dr. Miller’s already on his way. It’s too late to cancel.”

“She said no, man,” Eli said and dropped my hand. “We don’t take orders from you. Get it through your thick skull.”

“Sadie,” V said, ignoring Eli. “Please.”

“Why don’t you just take the appointment? He’s your therapist. And I’m doing better. Really.”

“So that’s it? You’ve been in a terrible mood for months and all you needed was to fuck Eli to feel magically better, like a common hooker?”

Eli stood up. “If the next words out of your mouth aren’t an apology, I’m going to beat the shit out of you.”

“Stop.” Jesus. “Both of you just stop. I’ll talk to Dr. Miller, alright? And thanks, V.” I didn’t say it sarcastically. I meant it. If there had been any doubts in my mind that I was making the right choice by being with Eli, they had just evaporated. A common hooker. Fuck him. I stood up and started walking away from them.

“You’re welcome,” I heard his voice rumble from behind me.

It made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

***

“There you are,” Eli said as he walked into his bedroom. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” He sat down next to me.

The mattress sagged slightly which made me fall into his side. I snuggled into his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around me.

“I told him if he ever talked to you like that again that I’d kill him,” Eli said.

I laughed. “Thanks, but I’m pretty good at handling his wrath.”

“You don’t have to talk to Dr. Miller if you don’t want to. No one is making you.”

I looked up at him. “Actually I was hoping you’d see him with me. Talking to him actually was kinda helpful. And maybe we could learn a little more about each other too.”

“Yeah, of course.” He pulled me closer.

“I do need to tell you a few things. Before we meet with him. Just in case it comes up. I don’t want to blindside you.”

He didn’t respond, he just waited.

“I’ve slept with V. It was a while ago but…”

“I know, Summer. And if I’m being honest, I’d really rather not hear the details. All I care about is that it’s over.”

“It is.” I swallowed hard. “There is one more thing. I also slept with Miles.”

“What? When?” He dropped his hand from my shoulder.

“The night before the explosion. I thought I was going to die. It meant nothing. I mean…I thought it did. I guess I hoped that it would. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Miles. But it was completely one-sided. I gave him a letter about who I really was because I thought I was going to die. I wanted him to know the truth. And he hasn’t given Summer Brooks a second thought since. I’m pretty sure he’s dating someone new.”

“You told him you were Summer Brooks? That was incredibly dangerous. We all agreed…”

“Yeah, but it didn’t even matter. He doesn’t care. Whatever we had when we were kids is over. It’s been over for years now. I was just trying to hold on to something from my past.”

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