Page 60 of Frozen Flames

I shake my head, burying my face in my hands, knowing I can’t excuse my kissing him.

Even though I more than enjoyed it.

I can’t excuse it—it wasn’t right.

And I don’t know how I’m supposed to text Gemma back or even face her in the mornings from now on.

Perhaps we can be villains and heroes in different people’s stories, depending on their perception of us. Perhaps in this story, in Gemma’s eyes, I’ll always be the villain.

The wait is killing me. All I know is that I can’t wait until Monday to figure out this dilemma. Which is why I’m heading to Harvey’s now—to apologize.

I’m freezing when I get out of my car and walk to the front door. My hands are shaking.

Just do it, Claire!

I stand tall as I ring the doorbell. The sight that greets me destroys me. When Harvey opens the door, he looks like he hasn’t slept in months. His face looks sullen and devastatingly sad.

“What do you want, Claire?”

I swallow, realizing he might’ve been completely honest with me when he told me off yesterday.

“I wanted to apologize again.”

He chuckles, palming his face with one hand before he shakes his head. “And you thought you’d do that by coming over on the weekend when Gemma’s home too?”

“Your…your van wasn’t here. I checked before.”

He sighs, leaving the door open for me to step in out of the horrid cold. He wheels to the living room as I remove my boots and coat before following him to the couch.

I join him there, on the other end of it.

He eyes my white bodysuit tucked into light jeans with a curiosity that should not be in a taken person’s eyes.

“If you’re here because you’re thinking of quitting, you can’t,” he says in a monotone voice.

I stare at him, his audacity an insult. “I might not be able to keep working with you—”

“Yes, you can,” he interrupts me. “You’ve been doing it, and you’ll keep doing it.”

“It’s not the same! I like you now, youknowthat.”

I see his Adam’s apple move as he gazes ahead at the turned-off TV. He seems hurt and heartbroken, and somehow I don’t think I’m the perpetrator.

“And what do you think I feel? You think I go around kissing other girls because it’s not working out with Gemma?” He huffs. “I clearly like you too.”

“You do?” I can hear my heart swell and sing a lovely melody in this moment. It shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.

“Of course I do, silly, but that doesn’t mean liking someone trumps loving someone.”

Oh my God, my heart.

And just like that, sorrow merges with the joy I felt, seeping deep into the marrow of my bones. Perhaps I’ve underestimated my crush on him.

I’m playing with my nails when Harvey leans closer and simply grabs my hand, urging me to stop.

“Don’t quit on me,please.”

“That’s not a fairthing to say.” I’m not quitting on him. I worked hard to figure out a good training program that can help him down the road.

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