Page 108 of Cold As Ice

“I’m so fucking proud of you.” Pulling her into my arms, I held my sister tight, trying to tell her everything I couldn’t say.

I’m sorry.

I’ll try and be better—to earn your trust and forgiveness back.

I love you.

This version of my sister wasn’t the same girl I’d met back at the beginning of the year. Gone were the hesitation in her eyes, the crippling self-doubt, and anxiety. She stood tall now. Owning her flaws and embracing them.

I knew Noah was partly responsible for the sparkle in her eyes. But it was more than that. It was Connor and Ella, Harper, Dayna, and the rest of the guys.

Rory had found her place among my friends and their girlfriends.

And she deserved it.

Even if her acceptance had become my alienation.

It wasn’t her fault. But watching Rory flourish after everything our mom had put her through only made me more convinced than ever that Susannah Hart had broken something irreparable in me.

“Oh, Austin.” Rory hugged me back, and I swallowed over the ball of emotion lodged in my throat.

I could feel things, that wasn’t the issue. I just didn’t know what the fuck to do with those feelings.

“Come on, let’s get this over with.”

“For real?” She pulled back, smiling through the tears she didn’t let fall. “You’ll come in with me?”

“I came this far; might as well go all the way.”

I only hoped I didn’t live to regret it.

* * *

The house was exactly as I remembered.

It had been over three and a half years since I’d stepped foot inside the place, but it could have been all of a minute.

Portraits and framed magazine covers littered the walls, countless younger versions of Mom staring back at me. Everything was pristine, from the clinical white walls and polished marble surfaces.

Susannah Hart’s home looked as sanitary and flawless as her image.

Even though there were slightly more lines around her eyes, she still looked immaculate in a fitted midnight blue skirt and blouse. Her hair was pulled into a tight ponytail that hung down her back, tight enough to act as a natural facelift.

I smirked to myself.

Some things never changed.

“You came,” she said, pulling Rory in for an awkward hug. “Austin.”

Barely a glance in my direction.

Lovely.

My sister flashed me an apologetic smile, but I didn’t need her fighting my battles. Not here.

Not with the woman who hated me almost as much as I hated her.

“You had something to tell us?” I said, hoping to move this little family reunion along.

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