Page 33 of Frozen Flames

“What are you thinking about?” I ask her.

She shrugs. “Not much. I’mhappy, Harvey.”

Such a simple girl.

“I’m glad I went to that party the day we met, even during exams,” she says, shoving my arm lightly in a flirty manner.

“Well, if you hadn’t been there, I would’ve found another way to meet you,” I quip back.

“Maybe.” She ponders quietly. “Or maybe you would’ve moved on.”

“Gemma.” I clear my throat. “It might not seem like it, especially in college”—I shook my head—“but every man secretly wants to meether. You know? The woman that will change everything and just…be his forever after.”

“Harvey…” She sets her hand on my arm before she kisses my cheek. I stare into her eyes, knowing that the words are on the tip of her tongue—the words we’ve both skirted around lately, but both know we’ve felt.

“Besides, who am I kidding? You would’ve chased me around campus if I didn’t go after you,” I tease.

“Is that so?”

“Yup.I’m kind of hard to resist.”

She grabs the back of my head to pull me forward, her lips brushing over mine before she says, “You know what you are, Harvey? You’re special.”

“I am pretty darn special, aren’t I?” I flash her a bright smile, and deep down, my ego’s rejoicing, committing her every word to memory. “I’m so happy you’re finally mine, Gemma.”

I close the space between our lips, kissing her softly, enjoying the chain reaction of her body’s proximity to mine.

We met on her campus while I was drawing in my sketchbook, surrounded by friends. Two things drew me to her: one, she was hot, and two, she was reading a fantasy book. Something about the hot nerd appeal and her mysterious vibe when I approached her and threw the drawing I made of her in her lap hooked me from the get-go.

And I know we’re only twenty, but there’s this aura surrounding her, her silences coaxing me closer to her, hoping for more of her thoughts and words.

I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. Not that I haven’t really been into some of the girls I dated—I have—but with Gemma, it’smore.

It makes me understand some of the poetry I’ve read throughout my life.

It makes me feel seen and understood.

Loving Gemma has been a gift, and I don’t take it lightly. I see her and suddenly my bad days pale in comparison to her face and her laugh and justher.

Even the rhythm of my heart has changed since we met.

The butterflies in my stomach are swimming, my palms are sweaty, and my smile is almost constant.

The only way I know how to measure my feelings for her is to compare it to my love for extreme sports. Not many thingsin life can compare to falling in love other than the thrill for adrenaline.

Plus, she makes me a better person.

I love who I am and who I’m becoming with her.

And I hope that never goes away.

Harvey

“This is great, Dad. All we’re missing is the strippers,” Henrik says, taking a sip of his beer.

My dad rolls his eyes, ignoring him as he trails to the master bedroom to put away his luggage and possibly get five minutes away from Hen. The guy wouldn’t shut up during the drive to the bungalow that my dad rented for a boys’ weekend.

“Henrik, get off your phone for once in your life,” I tell him.

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