Page 104 of Frozen Flames

“Claire, I’m not sick.”

“I know. At least physically you’re not. You still need toeat.”

The house is quiet, save for the sound of Claire cutting vegetables while I watch from my wheelchair in the kitchen.

It’s surreal to me that Gemma no longer lives here.

Though it doesn’t feel much different. I mean, she just left, but Gemma hasn’t been present in our relationship for a whilenow, and even when she was home, most of the time, it felt as if she wasn’t.

“Do you need any help?”

She shakes her head. “No, you relax,” she assures me.

I transfer myself to the dining chair and spend half the time looking out at the backyard, which the spring weather has turned into a mixture of mud and snow.

The other half I spend staring at Claire. She’s wearing light jeans and a white T-shirt with simple gold jewelry. Her beautiful red hair is tied back, and I’m mesmerized as I watch her move around in the kitchen.

And the sight stirs something deep in my chest.

Harvey

Being around Claire lessens the heartbreak.

It reduces the pain.

On Tuesday, I end up training with Claire, which helps me mentally, but once she’s gone and I’m waiting for Henrik, despair keeps me company instead.

Reality set in once I checked Henrik’s room and saw none of Gemma’s things. No more bookshelves full of fantasy books. Judging by the way Henrik’s college textbooks are shoved all over the place and he just moved in, I’d say the guy has no respect for them.

It isn’t going to be easy at first to get up every morning and notice all the changes in my routine without Gemma in it.

Claire’s still distant on Wednesday. I suppose I should be glad that she’s allowing me space, but it also bothers me. Her distance worsens my suffering because being close to Claire is like a breath of fresh air on a sunny summer day.

It’s powerful and potent and mind-altering.

It only took one conversation, one look, and a few words here and there before an avalanche of longing and wanting andfucking feelstook over me and it was too late—I was completely reeled in.

I’m a better person since meeting her, and she’s influenced me a lot even though I have a long road ahead.

A part of me wants to say fuck it and kiss her senseless, but I know I won’t regret committing to myself for a little while. It’sproving to be a hard task, though, especially when she looks cute in her jeans with a light blue cardigan.

“You did well today. I’m proud of you…for pushing through PT.”

I swallow. “I couldn’t do it without you, Claire.”

She smiles before she says, “Nonsense, you can do anything.”

Yeah, except fucking walk like I used to.

I don’t tell her that. I don’t want to be responsible for wiping that smile off her face.

Claire makes us a beef stew loaded with veggies for lunch. Once we’re done eating, we clean up, and I watch her finish up the last of the dishes.

“You’re a really good cook,” I compliment her.

She beams. “Thanks. I find it relaxing.”

I snort. “We have very different ideas of relaxing. Mine used to be jumping off cliffs.” I smile at the memories, wishing I could recreate them just once.

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