Page 24 of Frosted Hearts

"Pleaseeeeee," she begs, battering her eyelashes at me and clasping her hands together in a begging manner. "Steel likes you so I'm sure he'll say yes. He did yesterday."

"Ha, probably not considering I handed him his ass last night after dinner," I whisper to myself like an idiot.

"He isn't still mad at you," Grace answers, bumping her shoulder into mine. "I asked him earlier when I apologized for getting him into trouble."

"You did what?" I almost shout, pushing my laptop off my lap and onto the coffee table in front of me so I don't accidentally knock it onto the floor, because that is something I would definitely do.

"I told him sorry for getting him yelled at," she shrugs like it's no big deal. "It was my fault, after all, and I didn't want him to kick us out or something. It hasn't been terrible here, at least not like I thought it would be."

"Grace," I sigh, shaking my head. "You didn't need to do that. The issues between us aren't your problem. Us adults can handle it."

"I wanted to help," she frowns.

"I know and I appreciate it." I bump my shoulder against hers trying to cheer her up some. "I'll go talk to Steel and see what we can do." Leaving her on the couch, I stand and head down the hallway in the direction of our rooms. I hadn't seen Steel in the dining room or kitchen, and since I took up residence in the living room this morning to study he hadn't even tried to step foot in there near me, which leaves the office or his bedroom. I'm really hoping that he's going to be in hisoffice and not his bedroom. The office is neutral territory, the bedroom... eh not so much.

"Steel," I call out when I get close to the office.

"In here," he answers me. His voice comes from the office causing me to let out a sigh of relief. I'm so happy that he was in there and not the bedroom. Thank god for small mercys. Stopping at the edge of the doorway I see him turned, looking at me, waiting. "What do you need, Illeana?"

"I know that Grace apologized for getting you in trouble last night. Thank you for letting her." That wasn't what I meant to say at all. I had every intention of ignoring what happened last night and not bringing it up again. There went that plan, right out the window. Same with my brain it seems.What the hell is wrong with me?

"It wasn't her fault. There was no reason for her to apologize which I told her. It was my mistake," he answers, his words sounding slightly detached. I don't blame him for the cold shoulder. Hell, if I was him I would probably kick me out of the room right now. "Is there something else you needed?"

Well, here goes nothing.

"I know you don't want us going outside at all, and I understand. However, I was really hoping that maybe we could go for a short hike today. Grace really enjoyed getting to be outside yesterday. I saw a difference in her from how she was behaving during our first couple of days here. I understand if you say no, but I told her I would ask when she asked me." I pause and wait for his answer, knowing full well what it's going to be.

"Sure, we can all go for a short hike today. It looks like it's going to be a nice day. The same rules apply, you both stay within sight and reach of me at all times, and no yelling," he responds, shocking me.

I'm frozen to the spot looking at him, my jaw open not knowing how to respond at all. This was not what I was expecting him to say at all. I was expecting a hell no, or a what the fuck is your problem, not him saying yes to us. "I... uh...okay," is all I can think of to answer.

"When do you want to go?" he smirks but hides it quickly. Not quick enough for me not to see but quick enough. I'm almost positive he's enjoying toying with me like this.

"Uh, I guess whenever you're ready," I answer, trying to wrap my head around what the hell is going on right now.

"We'll leave in ten minutes then. I'll meet you both at the front door," He turns away and goes back to working on the computer, leaving me entirely confused, staring at the back of his head.

I pinch myself trying to figure out if I really am awake or not. This is seriously the weirdest day ever. Knowing me just standing here staring isn't helping, I turn and make my way back to the living room where I find Grace sitting exactly where I left her.

"Sooooo," she prompts, barely containing herself.

"He said yes and to go get ready now. He will meet us at the door in ten minutes," I respond, still questioning if that really happened. My sister doesn't hesitate, immediately jumping off the couch to go run upstairs to grab her snow gear. We probably should have left it down here but I didn't want our stuff cluttering the entryway, so once it was dry yesterday, I made her put it back up in her room.

After a moment, I turn around and head back down the hallway to the room I was given. Passing the office space I had last seen Steel in, I notice he isn't there, and his bedroom door at the end of the hall was shut. Shit! I didn't think I stood there staring after my sister for that long. I should probably hurry before they end up leaving me behind. At this point, I wouldn'tput it past Steel to do exactly that. After all, he did give us strict orders to stay inside when we first arrived.

It didn't take me long to change into all my winter gear but I was definitely the last to finish. When I walked out of my room Grace and Steel were standing by the front door waiting.

"Hurry up, Slowpoke!" Grace demands as she bounces up and down with excitement.I've honestly never seen a kid so excited to go out in the snow, I know I wasn't at her age. Snow and cold weather isn’t really my thing but I hate being cooped up in the house even more than the snow.

I wish I had this girl's energy, though. Mentally rolling my eyes, I plaster on a fake smile and head toward them. I know how excited Grace is to get outside, so holding back my remarks is the right thing to do. One person is already pissed off at me in this house, I don't need another.

"Alright, let’s head out. If you start to get tired, let me know and we will turn around to come back," Steel instructs as he opens the door for us to begin our hike.

"Thank you!Thank you! Thank you, Steel!" Grace shouts excitedly as we make our way back to the cabin. We'd been out hiking for a half hour now and I was cold, tired, and ready to head back to defrost.

"What did you promise her that has her so excited?" I question Steel from behind him. The two of them have been thick as thieves on this hike so far. I don't think I like it. I don’t want Grace to become too attached, it will only hurr her more when we finally leave this place and him behind.

"Oh, nothing much," he answers at the same time he pauses to turn around and face me. "Just that we would build asnowman when we get back to the cabin." He shrugs and turns back around to watch Grace. "Don't get too far ahead!" he shouts after her.

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