Page 95 of Frozen Flames

A loyal brother would’ve told me right away.

It’s easy, so easy, right now to unleash on him, since Gemma’s emotions are equal to those of a fucking doorknob.

“I wanted to, believe me,” he mutters. “But then when you asked me if she was at her sister’s place and the answer pissed you off, I figured you guys wouldn’t make up if you knew.”

“Oh, really? I wonder why. Get out.”

I’m raging inside.

This betrayal hurts deeper than anything Gemma could’ve done to me. This one cuts deep, it stings, the wound hurts.

He should’ve had my back instead of Gemma’s.

I’m hisbrother.

He just nods over and over, doing this weird thing with his mouth before looking down, hand in his pocket as he leaves my room.

He and Gemma are both on myfuck youlist.

And I keep wishing I could prevent heartbreak’s poison from entering my veins. It’s reaching my bloodstream, turning all the pain and anger into loneliness instead.

I hear a knock on the door, and I take a deep breath before Gemma steps in, changing the lighting setting to brighten the room.

“Harvey.” She sits on the bed, arms around her bent knees like she’s done a million times before.

And she’ll never do this again.

Suddenly, it’s as if my lungs have been pierced. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that she’s moving out.

I pushed her out of my life then our home.

“Can I hold you? One last time?” I ask her, knowing I’ll regret it if I don’t. There’s no place for anger now—not when I might never see her again.

I put my hand out after she nods. She takes it, and I pull her into my lap on my wheelchair. She wraps her arms around my neck, and we hug.

I swallow, looking behind her. This girl helped me through my bleakest days. “When are you leaving?”

“Probably this week,” she mutters. “I’m not sure.”

“You’ll be at your dad’s?” I can’t even imagine how it would feel if she were to move in with her boss. I know their fucking doesn’t mean anything, but still, the fact that she was willing tothrow away our entire relationship for him tells me it might’ve been more than a fuck.

And both scenarios piss me the hell off.

“Yeah.”

We’re no longer embracing when I stupidly tell her, “I’ll do anything to keep you, Gemma.”

I want to curse myself to hell.

One, I’m not even sure that’s what I want.

Two, there’s Claire.

Yet my mind cannot deal with the pain I’m experiencing. I want to avoid it at all costs, knowing that things are about to hit the fan once Gemma leaves and I’m all alone.

I skim her collarbone with my finger one last time, knowing it’s time to let go.

“I know. People will go to great lengths when desperate. Then the routine kicks in, and we’ll be right back where we started.”

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