Page 98 of Frozen Flames

“I mean…anyone would feel betrayed,” I reassure him.

What is wrong with his brother, seriously?

He nods. “You can sit, Claire. I don’t know how long they’ll be.”

I sit on the edge of his lowered bed, not wanting to make myself too comfortable, even though I spent the whole weekend dreaming about what it would feel like to spend time with him in a comfortable,singleway. How it would feel to kiss him freely and sit on his lap and play with his hair.

I look away. “So you guys decided to have Henrik move in with you?”

“No.” He snickers. “Henrik decided to move in with me, temporarily, as he has his own place. My family probably thinks I need someone to watch over me.”

“They’re just looking out for you, Harvey, but I’m sure it’s frustrating for you,” I say. “When is Gemma moving out?”

He stares me dead in the eye. “Sometime this week, I guess.” I nod. “We broke up, clearly, but I still need time.”

“I know,” I tell him, appreciating that. The last thing I want is for him to reel me back in only for something to happen with Gemma again.

It’s best we keep our distance until she’s fully moved out of here and out of his life. And that might take more time than I’m willing to wait around for—I have no idea.

He wheels closer to the bed and takes my hand. “Thank you, Claire.”

I swallow, my body tingling all over, goose bumps covering my arms. I want this man in a lot of ways. Hopefully the current distance between us will be worth it. Hopefully it’ll make us stronger.

A part of me feels naive, though, to have gone in such a short amount of time from taking professional space to agreeing to wait for him and Gemma to clear the air. My sister would shake her head, that’s for sure. She would tell me to play hard to get.

“I’m doing this for us. I know I messed up in a lot of ways, but I’m trying to do it right for once, okay?”

“Okay.” I smile, hoping his words are truthful.

“This isn’t even about her at this point, Claire—it’s about the unknown.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Oh, Harvey, don’t take me for an idiot! You might fear the unknown, but we both know how you feel about her.”

“That’s the thing. I do care for her, and I’m soangryat her, but most of all, I’m terrified of letting go… I’m scared of losing myself.”

I take it all in, each and every one of his words before I tell him, “I think in life we’re willing to avoid looking like quitters at all costs when maybe, just maybe, that’s the biggest lesson. To learn when to let go…of people, of things. Maybe that’s whathurts most, our need to hold on.” At my words, he touches my cheek, and with the smallest touch, my body ignites like the heavy flames of a forest fire. “I do see where you’re coming from, Harvey, and…thank you for being honest with me. Anyway, it’s been a rough week for you. Let’s talk about this later, okay?”

I don’t want to get my hopes up. I don’t need to hear that he doesn’t love her. Perhaps he’s not in love with her like he says, but that doesn’t mean that the love they shared has died already.

Theyjustbroke up.

I know he needs time.

And that I should focus on myself.

He looks at me with such softness in his eyes. “I really am sorry I’ve put you through this.” He clears his throat. “I should’ve never done that to Gemma either. At the same time, I can’t hate myself for feeling this way about you.”

“Harvey…”

He wraps his hand around my neck while both of our breathing accelerates as he leans his forehead against mine.

Right then and there, Henrik barges in the room, shocked by the intimate moment he’s witnessing. His eyebrows shoot up, and he looks like he has a few choice words for Harv.

Instead, he says, “I’m going to lunch with Gia and Gemma. I’ll be back later.”

He doesn’t even give Harvey a chance to respond. The door shuts instantly, and Henrik’s out of the house with his friends not long after.

“Are you okay?” I ask Harv, not understanding why Henrik would be hanging out with Harvey’s cheating ex-girlfriend, yet knowing it’s not my place to question it.

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