Page 123 of Frozen Flames

“I have to go.” I stand, knowing he’ll be able to change my mind within seconds. I’m a weakling for this man, a sucker for him and his wants and needs.

I need to think about me for once.

This is something I should’ve done from the very beginning. Maybe then he’d still be with her.

“It has truly been an honor meeting you, Harvey.” I lean down and kiss his cheek, closing my eyes. And with that, I turn and leave the love of my life.

A part of me wishes he’d stop me, beg me to stay.

Another part of me hopes he’ll let me go.

This whole thing with Harvey and Gemma and me has been a roller-coaster ride, and I need to make sense of it all.

Henrik eyes me when I pass him in the hallway, but thankfully he doesn’t say anything. I’m sure the tears in my eyes are enough of a deterrent to keep him quiet.

I leave all the PT equipment behind for now, so Harvey can keep practicing with it. I’ll need to officially end my contract with the rehabilitation center first, then I’ll come back for it.

Hopefully by then, I’ll be in a much better place mentally.

I hang on to that hope so strongly that this time when I step outside, the sun is enough to illuminate parts of my old self again.

And I smile through the tears as I drive home listening to my favorite songs and singing along.

“Where’s Audrey?” I ask my mom that evening while we’re eating dinner.

“She went to see a movie with friends.”

“That’s nice,” I remark. It’s my first time eating dinner with my mom since the whole ordeal with Gemma.

“How are you feeling, darling?”

I shrug, staring at my food. I still barely have an appetite. “I’m doing better. I quit today—for good this time.”

She sets her fork down on her plate full of pasta. “Oh, Claire…that must’ve been a hard decision.”

“It was pretty impulsive actually,” I admit, “but it’s for the best.”

“You deserve to be happy, honey.”

“Oh, but he did…make me happy, Mom. He made me so happy at times.”

She smiles and eats, then she says, “Then there’s nothing that says he won’t keep making you happy in the future.”

I look down. “I hope so.”

I’m hanging on to that flame of hope.

“Did you think about it? How a future with him would be?”

I arch a brow, wondering if she means what I think she does. “You mean because he’s disabled?” She nods. “Well, of course. I’m a nurse. I know what it entails. Besides, he might have a much different ability level down the line.”

“That’s all that matters, then—that you’ve thought about it.”

She doesn’t say more, and I know my mom. She’s not one to judge, but my tears and gloomy days since I met Harvey don’t necessarily weigh in his favor. Plus, he fell for me while being in a relationship—a clear no-no for my mom, understandably.

Audrey met him, so she knows how he is and acts around me. My mom has yet to meet him. And she may never.

God, I need to stop fantasizing about a future that may never be and craving a man that still wants his ex.

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