Page 14 of Frozen Flames

“You didn’t have to make me breakfast.”

“I know,” I tell him. “But I wanted to, and I made some for myself as well. Come, come!”

He doesn’t share my enthusiasm as he nods. I leave the door open and head back to the kitchen to take a seat at the lowered table.

The house is well equipped for Harvey. Gemma told me that after the accident, his mom wasted no time renovating their new home to fit his needs, and I think that’s great. I’m sure it made some things a little easier for him.

Ten minutes pass before he wheels himself next to the kitchen chair and swiftly transfers into it. He’s still in gray joggers, except today he’s sporting a long-sleeved burgundy tee.

I stare at his handsome face, then quickly look away before I annoy him.

He digs into his food, and with each bite, the shift in his expression is obvious. I would wager a hard bet that he’s underfeeding himself, and more PT means he’ll be hungrier as well.

“How did you feel after training yesterday?”

“Fine.”

“Alright.” I give him a small smile, taking another bite. Once I’m done, I rinse everything before placing the dishes in the dishwasher.

“I’m going to take a break to digest,” Harvey says, leaving me.

I frown when I notice that he left his plate, glass, and cutlery on the table. He didn’t even bother bringing them to the kitchen sink.

I follow him as he heads to his room. He turns rapidly then, not having expected me to follow.

“You should put your dishes away after someone cooks for you.”

He shrugs without a care in the world. “I never asked you to. Good to know your gesture came with strings.”

I scoff. “You can still help, Harvey. At the very least, you saythank you. It’s not that hard.” I release a shaky breath, knowing I shouldn’t have said that, but hoping to get my point across.

He raises his brow. “Think you have me all figured out now?”

I shake my head. “No, not at all.”

“Exactly. You don’t knowa thing. And you know what else,Claire? My ass in this chair means there’s a lot of things I can’t do!”

“That’s not what I… It doesn’t have to…”

That isn’t what this is about.

“Get out.”

His words hit me to the core, and my hands are trembling. How could I be so stupid? Everything was going so well this morning, and I had to mess it up.

I stare at the back of his head, seeing him shake it while he continues gaming, as if he can’t believe my audacity.

Neither can I.

I hate confrontations, I really do. But he’s often in a confrontational mood. It’s hard not to get myself worked up if I want to reach him.

I clear my throat. “Be in the living room in half an hour.”

“Fuck your training.”

“Harvey,please.”

I leave him be. Hoping that time will distance him from his ego.

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