Page 59 of Broken Hearts
“We can’t keep doing this. We agreed that it was best to give each other space.”
“Well, I don’t agree anymore. I want to talk to you and tell you about my day. You were my best friend.” She’s crying and fuck, that guts me. “I think we should get back together.”
“You don’t mean that. You were miserable. We both were.”
“Things were busy. I got overwhelmed. I took you for granted. I won’t do that again.”
“Carrie, I’m always going to care about you, but that isn’t what I want. I don’t think it’s really what you want either.”
She sniffles.
“Neither of us can move on if we’re holding on to the past.”
“I know.”
I sit on my bed and hang my head. “Are we good?”
“I will try to call less, but I’m not giving up on us.”
I let out an exasperated sigh away from the phone. We talk a few minutes longer and I get off the phone not feeling any better about the situation than I did when I called her, but at least I’ve said what I needed to.
* * *
I giveSienna the rest of Saturday but she doesn’t text. First thing Sunday morning, I head to the rink. If I know Sienna, she is already here even though their practice isn’t for a few hours. I’m not the least bit surprised when I spot her, skating around the ice looking graceful and strong. I change into my skates and then hang off to the side, watching her as she runs through her program.
Chin held high, cheeks red from the chill of the ice, resolve and confidence radiates from her. She’s stunning. This can’t be over.
I step onto the ice as she’s coming around. She slows and stops in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, smiling, chest rising and falling as she catches her breath. She glances down at her watch, something I’ve noticed she does a lot to check her heart rate.
I shrug a shoulder. “Might have missed you.”
“In the twenty-four hours since I saw you last?”
“Absolutely.”
She laughs lightly and skates over to grab her water.
“I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“Rhett, I’m not mad at you. I get it.”
“But you ran off at the ass crack of dawn with some vague bullshit about texting me later. Then you didn’t. You don’t want to keep hanging out?”
“I like you. I’ve had so much fun this past week, but I don’t think I’m capable of being a rebound.”
I push off and go to her. “You’re not a rebound. Carrie and I are over. We’ve been over. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the way I do right now.”
“Which is?” She smirks. She’s fishing, but that’s fine. About to get yourself a whale, girl.
“I like you.” I tip her chin up with a hand and lean in, lower my voice. “A lot.”
She lets me brush my mouth over hers, but then she shoves off from my chest skating backward. “Prove it.”
I arch a brow up and follow her to the center of the ice. “Here?”
“Yep. I’ll skate you for it.”
