Page 45 of Frozen Flames

“Sure. Though I must admit, I’m an amateur.”

“It’s fine,” I reassure her. “I’ll teach you.”

We have a quick breakfast before we settle on the couch to read.

“Every time you read this book, you’re beaming,” I tell her, her blush greeting me in return. “I can see the appeal for women, especially back then.”

She nods. “I think what I love the most about it is how flawed yet strong each of them are.”

“Yeah, I get that,” I admit.

“Sometimes I can’t help wondering what it’d be like to live during those times. I think I would’ve fit in well.”

“I think so too.” I snicker. “You’re nice, feminine, and ladylike—whatever that means.” I roll my eyes, then continue. “Not to mention a little submissive.”

“Harvey!” She taps my arm gently with her foot. “I amnotsubmissive.”

“Oh, but you are.” I chuckle. “There’s nothing wrong with that. It doesn’t make you any less strong, Claire.”

She smiles at my declaration then continues on pensively. “I wish I could go back in time for one night and dance at a ball in a nice gown and be flirty but not too flirty with Prince Charming. Don’t you wish you could do that?”

I ponder her question for a second before shrugging. “Maybe, just to have that one flirty dance with you.”

She’s beet red now, and I look away, sure she’s about to tell me off when she says, “You would look handsome in a suit and with your hair done nicely andproper manners.”

I keep quiet, knowing if I say more, things might get out of hand. But as I clear my throat, I can’t help replaying her compliment over and over in my head.

She doesn’t press, and instead she continues on with the story, and I listen to her intently, her voice filtering out each and every dark thought I’ve carried with me since this morning.

Later in the afternoon, we head to my room to game.

“Harvey, I’m serious, go easy on me,” she pleads.

I nod and proceed to show her the game console and explain quickly how the game works. I pick a racing game, thinking it’ll be easier for her.

“You really do suck, Claire,” I tell her once we start playing.

“Shut up! This isn’t fair. You play all the time.”

She’s right, yet it doesn’t stop me from teasing her about it.

I don’t know how I’ve gone from waking up wondering about my life to enjoying my time with Claire, but here we are. As always, she surprises me.

It makes me happy that she’d take the time to do something she doesn’t like for my sake.

Gemma and I used to always game together. It was one of our things, until it wasn’t. Maybe when I asked her not to ride a motorcycle again, she decided to stop gaming with me in return.

An eye for an eye and all that shit.

Or maybe she doesn’t want to be around me anymore.

It’s hard to tell.

“I can understand the appeal… It’s definitely distracting,” Claire assures me as we play.

“Yeah, it’s a great escape.” From the corner of my eye, I catch her staring at me, but luckily, she says nothing.

I’ve always loved gaming, even more so since the accident. It’s much easier to be a fictional character, where nobody cares if you’re disabled, than to face reality.

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