Page 149 of Frozen Flames

I scoot closer to her, taking her hand.

I can’t believe she’s pregnant.

“I know we’ve said goodbye, but after thinking through what I wanted, I realized that to get a clean break, we really need to go our own ways.”

No more texting here and there.

No more of her texting Claire to make sure I’m okay.

No more letting Henrik tell me about her life.

It’s done.

I needed to apologize to her.

I palm the side of my face, being the most real I’ve been with her since the accident. “This isn’t easy for me to say, because you’ll always mean so much to me.” I look up, trying to contain my emotions.

I’m saying goodbye to the old me.

I’ve moving on and putting that part of me behind me.

And it’s bittersweet.

“I know that, Claire knows that, and I think you know it too. Me saying goodbye and wishing you well doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Remember that,please?”

Dr. Lee and I have been working through that recently, and I did have an epiphany.

I could hate what Gemma did all I wanted, but the reason why it hurt was because I loved her. The reason I couldn’t let her go was because I couldn’t face the fact that she broke my heart.So I focused on hating her. But I can see things differently now, clearer, through another lens.

She nods, tears running down her face.

“I need to do this to see where life takes me.”

“I get it, Harvey. It’s time.”

“I’m sorry, Gemma. For everything. I’m sorry for letting my pride ruin us, for staying in my head and feeding my demons instead of nourishing us.”

We hug, and finally, finally, when I didn’t think she was going to say it, she does. “I’m really sorry too, Harvey. For everything I’ve done to hurt you and betray you.” She looks away, and I accept her apology because she seems pretty sincere about it.

I smile after our final goodbye, then eventually I watch her walk away.

It’s a weird feeling—growth.

Claire

I’m finishing up my shift with Mrs. Kent on Friday when Harvey and I start texting back and forth. He texted me this week, and I’ve been waiting—more like dying—for him to ask me out again.

Audrey reminds me that he could be seeing other girls, but I think she’s wrong. Harvey wouldn’t do that. The possibility of him getting back with Gemma was always there, but not with other girls. I don’t think so.

“What’s got you smiling like that, hmm?” Mrs. Kent asks as I put my iPad away in my tote. “The complication?” she suggests, referring to one of our previous conversations.

I blush. “Yes.”

“You two made up?”

“It’s still complicated.” I chuckle.

“Well, is he sincerely sorry?”

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