Page 32 of Ice Cold Hearts

11

IAN

I’ve always wondered whether Oliver was a genius or he was insane. Today, I learned it’s both. Throwing Emily over his shoulder caveman-style and carrying her off certainly wasn’t a solution I would have thought of, though I’m sure no one other than Oliver would have been able to pull it off. He’s the only person I know who can read a situation and know exactly what to do.

I, on the other hand, always seem to make things worse. I was upset at the thought of Emily leaving like that, anxious that I’d never get to see her again, and angry at whoever ruined her clothes. Mix all that together at a high temperature, and voila, multiple servings of me putting my foot in my mouth.

My emotions have always been my downfall. Trying to manage them is like trying to fit a size-nine skate on a size-twelve foot. It doesn’t work and it’s uncomfortable for everyone.

It’s always been too much for the women in my life, so why should Emily be an exception? She loosened up a bit on the ride home, but it didn’t escape my notice that she’d avoided making eye contact with me at all cost.

Of course, Oliver had noticed that too. As soon as we got her settled in the living room, he nudged Alexei and pointedly looked between Emily and me.

“I’m going to raid the fridge for some snacks. Alexei, you’ve done laundry most recently. Do me a favor and grab something for Emily? I can’t imagine she’d want to stay in that dress for much longer,” he says, already backing into the kitchen.

“I’d rather see her in just the jacket and heels,” he grumbles.

Emily squirms in her seat, and I’m overtaken by thoughts of her rolling her hips like that as she rides me. A glance at Alexei and Oliver tells me they’re thinking something similar.

“Snacks first,” Oliver insists.

Alexei skulks out of the room, and Oliver disappears into the kitchen, leaving me alone with Emily.

“It’s subtle,” she says sarcastically, “but I think they want us to talk.”

I snort. “I was getting that vibe.”

The smile quickly fades from her face, and she studies her cuticles like there’s gold buried under them.

My heart plummets to my feet, and I want nothing more than to run upstairs and bury myself under the blankets.

“Ian,” she sighs.

I know what she’s going to say. This is the part where she tells me my feelings are too intense for her and she only wants to see Alexei and Oliver from now on.

“There’s something wrong with you.” Rachel’s voice echoes in my head. “No one should have feelings that intense, especially not a man. You need to be fucking medicated.”

I didn’t leave my room for two weeks after she dropped that bomb on me two months in. Even though I just got to know Emily, I know her rejection is going to hit me even harder, especially after how gentle she’d been with me over texts.

She’s still quiet.

My ears are burning.

My chest is in a vise.

Goosebumps cover my skin like hives.

Why isn’t she just getting it over with?

Oh, fuck. She’s scared of me.

“It’s okay.” I say in as soft a tone as I can muster. “Whatever it is, you can tell me. Just please, don’t keep me waiting.”

Her amber eyes are wet with unshed tears.

I brace myself for the worst.

“Ian.” Her lower lip trembles. “I’m so sorry.”

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