Page 76 of Bitter Truths

His lips part, his eyes heating through, and he brushes a strand of hair off my face before leaning in. My heart almost explodes—and then nothing.

Pulling back, he smiles mischievously and says, “Let’s go play in the snow.”

“Now?” I grumble, heat surging in my cheeks when he smiles.

Does he know I’m flustered?

“Halsey?”

“Hm?”

“You there?” Aaron chuckles.

Turning to him with an absent smile, I say, “Let’s go play in the snow.”

“What?” His grin widens. “Now you’re talking.”

And with a sad smile, I watch him get ready before turning back to the window and touching the cool glass, my mind and heart a million miles away.

∞∞∞

Now that we’re here, I’m regretting my suggestion and damning my life because Aaron found the tallest hill I’ve ever seen and miraculously had sleds in the garage for us to use. I didn’t envision sledding when I said it, more like making snow angels or a snowman in our front yard or some shit.

Now I’m staring down the slick snow hill dubiously as Aaron positions the sleds with a wide grin. When he spy’s my expression, he chuckles. “C’mon, don’t be a wimp.”

Raising a brow, I stick my tongue out at him and sigh. Carpe diem, right?

Settling on the damn death trap, I gasp when it shifts, glaring at Aaron when he laughs before smiling because his dark eyes are lit up with joy.

“Ready?”

I nod, shrieking when he gives my sled a push, and off I go, staring at my doom as my stomach flips around and the sled bumps over the snow.

My heart soars in my chest before swooping, and at the bottom, I skid to a stop, hit a root or something, and upend in the coldness, laughing when I flip onto the crunchy snow.

Aaron sails past me with a laugh, upending much the same way I did. With a chuckle, I walk over and stare down at him.

He grins. “That was awesome.”

“Ha,” I cackle but follow him back up the hill.

We slide down several more times before a larger group arrives, and our quiet afternoon is overcome by chaos.

To my dismay, I spy Griffin and Miranda. She steps from the SUV and into his arms, and he hugs her briefly before turning away with an absent smile, looking directly into my wide eyes.

His face drops before he shores it back up into a cool smile, and I turn away, my heart thumping painfully in my chest.

I did this. I sent him away, and while there’s still a bruise of hate in my heart, it’s surrounded by need and love so feral I can’t breathe for it.

Rubbing my chest, I follow Aaron back to the top and sit down beside him with a smile, refusing to ruin his fun even though I’d rather be anywhere but here. The truth of the matter is, if Griffin loved me so damn much, he’d be pining over me. Instead, he’s got a girl on his arm, and it’s no fucking skin off his back. I’m the only fool still clinging to what can never be.

I can’t crawl out of the morass, and briefly, I wonder about Dr. Marks’ words about whoever saved him and if there isn’t a similar path for me. But does it have anything to do with his assertions about my submissiveness?

After that, all thoughts flee as I’m sailing down the damn hill again, and this time, I fly over a small dune and face plant on the other side.

Not so fun this time, I think as I sit up and wipe my face.

“You okay, chica?” Aaron calls out.

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