Page 68 of Carved in Ice (Made of Steel 3)

Liza sat up with a start. “Summer?” She shifted away from Eli. “What are you doing here?”

Eli groaned.

Interfering. I swallowed hard. “V let me out.”

“That’s great.” Her voice sounded squeakier than usual. She slid off the bed and Eli groaned again. His hand moved like he was reaching out for her.

I recognized that noise. I recognized that movement. He did the same thing whenever I left his arms. That groan was the smallest noise. But it meant everything. I was just wrong about the meaning. Because I thought it meant he loved me.

I blinked away the tears forming in my eyes. “I should leave you two alone.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I…”

“No,” I s

aid. “Really, it’s okay. I’m just going to go. I’ll come back when he’s awake.”

“Summer.” Her voice had lost the squeakiness. She just sounded sad and tired. “This isn’t how it looks. I was upset when V said he loved you, but I wouldn’t…it’s not what you think.”

I shook my head. How could she possibly know what I was thinking? I didn’t even know what I was thinking. My stomach was twisted in knots. I felt nauseous. I stepped back again, this time stepping on the metal tray. It screeched as it slid on the floor.

“Summer?” Eli’s voice was groggy. His eyes focused on me. “You came.”

Liza grabbed her jacket and rushed past me without another word.

I wanted to go over to his bed. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to tell him everything was going to be okay. But I couldn’t move. And the longer I stood there, I realized none of it was true. I wanted to want to go to him. I didn’t actually want to. Honestly, I’d rather retreat with Liza. I cleared my throat. “Of course I came.”

He didn’t tell me to come closer either. He didn’t say anything at all. It was like a light switched on and whatever we had was left back in the darkness.

“I wanted to come sooner,” I said. “But V locked me in the apartment.”

Eli didn’t say anything. His eyelids drooped like he was about to fall asleep again.

“He wouldn’t let me leave. You can even ask Liza. I came as soon as I could.” The lie came out before I could stop it. I had gone to Miles. I deserved to be looked at the way he was staring at me.

“V’s been here,” Eli said with a yawn. “A few times actually.”

So? “I know.”

“He was trying to protect you. I get that.” Eli shrugged his shoulders like it was nothing, but his eyes narrowed at me.

“Do you? Because you look mad at me.”

“Mad that you didn’t come sooner? Why would I be mad about that?” He didn’t let me respond. “I almost died, Summer.”

“I wanted to be here.”

“Did you? Because it doesn’t really seem like you did.”

“I…”

“Did you know that I got an infection after the operation? Did you even care enough to ask V or Liza about how I was doing?” He laughed even though it was the opposite of funny.

Was he on painkillers? I looked at the IV in his hand. Probably. “I kept trying to get to you. I…”

“I needed you, Summer. And obviously you didn’t feel the same.”

A lump had formed in my throat that wouldn’t go away.

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