Page 27 of Faking It with the Ice Queen

“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite disaster. How’s the fake girlfriend gig going? You seduce the Ice Queen yet?”

Grace groaned. “Oh my god, Aunt Lucy,please.I kissed her. In front of her whole family.”

There was a pause, followed by the sound of Lucy laughing hard. Grace pulled the phone away from her ear, grimacing as the laughter turned into a little wheeze.

Finally, Aunt Lucy blurted out, “Atta girl! Look at you—living the dream. So? How’d it go? Sparks flying? Fireworks? Or did she run screaming into the snow?”

Grace sighed, quietly explaining, “It was...intense. Way more than I expected. And maybe a lot more happened later. Okay, definitely a lot more happened. And it didn’t feel like just sex; it felt different, more somehow. I think she felt it too, but...”

Lucy quietly implored, “But what?”

Grace shivered as a breeze tickled her bare legs. She leaned back against the glass door as she sighed.

“She’s avoiding me. I tried to ask her if what we had was real, and she just clammed up and left. It’s driving me insane, Aunt Lucy. I just…what if sheneversays anything?”

Lucy sighed, the playful tone in her voice softened into something more serious.

“Sweetheart, people like Elara don’t exactly come with a user manual. You gotta understand, someone like her, all buttoned up and in control? She’s spent years building walls to keep herself safe. It’s not about you. It’s about her learning to let someone in.”

Grace rubbed her temple.“So what am I supposed to do? Just wait around while she decides whether or not I’m worth it?”

Aunt Lucy scoffed.“No, no. Waiting’s not the right word. Youstep back. You give her space and let her come toyou.If she cares—and it sounds like she does—she’ll find her way. But you can’t force her.”

Grace stood in silence for a moment, working up the courage to continue. “And if she doesn’t?”

The pause on the other line was long as Grace heard Lucy shifting on the other end of the line, as if she’s choosing her words carefully.

“Then you have to walk away. I know it’s hard, but you can’t build something real if you’re the only one showing up for it.”

Grace felt her heart break at the idea. “I don’t know if I can do that, Aunt Lucy. It’s already starting to hurt, and we’re not even real.”

“That’s the thing, Grace. Real relationship or not, it sounds like your feelings are. And that’s okay. Just.. don’t lose yourself trying to break down her walls. If she’s worth it, she’ll meet you halfway.”

Grace closed her eyes, letting Lucy’s words sink in. The air felt colder now, but the knot in her chest loosened just a little. “Thanks, Aunt Lucy. I really needed this.”

With a smile in her voice, Lucy said, “Anytime, kid. Now go on. And remember, no more crazy stunts unless you’re gonna call me right after.”

Grace laughed despite herself, feeling just a little lighter. She said goodbye and hung up, staring out over the snow-covered landscape. Elara’s walls might be high, but for the first time, Grace thought she just might be worth climbing them—if Elara let her.

Grace waited for Elara to return, determined to crack that icy exterior and get back the Elara she had seen last night and this morning. She jumped at the sharp knock at the door and padded over to look through the peephole.

Although she figured it wouldn’t be Elara knocking, her heart still dropped in disappointment when she saw a hotel worker with a tray in their hand. She stood there, looking out the peephole for a moment longer, dumbfounded and disappointed. The staff member knocked again and called out, “Room service.”

Grace sighed and pulled the door open. “I didn’t order room service.”

The hotel worker shifted his weight nervously. “Ms. Silver asked for this to be delivered to you.”

Grace rolled her eyes as she motioned for him to enter. As he lifted the cover, Grace noted that only one serving of breakfast was plated. She felt frustration heat her veins as she turned on the worker.

“And didMs. Silvertell you when she would return?”

The poor man looked like he was going to be sick as pulled out a white envelope and relayed his message. “She included this note and asked that I ensure you received it.”

Grace stiffened, but guilt at causing the worker such discomfort bubbled up in her stomach. She sighed as she looked at the eggs Benedict and cappuccino. Putting on a smile, she turned back to the staff member and turned up the charm. “Thank you so much. I appreciate you doing all this.”

Spotting Elara’s wallet on the table, she strode over and grabbed all of the cash—a hefty three hundred dollars—and handed it over to the man.

“For your troubles.”

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