Page 118 of Ice Queen

My eyes fall to the floor. “Overall, they’re less frequent. But they only happen on the road.”

“When you aren’t with Ms. Kaitlyn?”

I nod.

Kait squeezes my hand, but doesn’t interrupt.

“Is that normal?” I ask because I’m not stupid enough to think Kait solved all my problems. But I'd like to believe she plays a pretty big part.

“Your nervous system is relaxed around her.” Dr. Williams puts the remote down on the table. “When you’re on the road, it’s easier for it to fall back into the patterns it had before it realized it was safe enough to relax.”

Safe.

“So basically, I need a doctor's note so I can bring my girl on the road with me, is what you’re saying?”

Uproarious laughter fills the room, and it’s the first time I’ve felt free within the confines of these walls.

Kait and I walk out hand in hand, and as soon as we get to the sidewalk, I put her hand over her head and spin her around. When she’s made a full rotation, my hand finds her hip, and I pull her into me, swaying right here in the middle of the city.

“I love you,” I whisper, leaning in to place a kiss on her lips.

“I love you, too.” Her chin leans against my chest, and for a moment, we just stare at one another. I wonder if she feels like this is a fever dream, too. Her eyes slowly close, and her cheek takes the spot of her chin. Her arms wrap around my waist, holding me together in a way only she can.

I revel in the way she feels pressed up against me, like her body was custom-made to fit me, the same way her soul was made to soothe mine. I inhale deeply, pulling comfort from her strawberry and cream shampoo before I place a kiss on the top of her head.

I squeeze a little tighter, thanking the universe for putting her in my path. There is no world in which I exist without her. She’s part of me, so deeply woven into the fabric of who I am, that nothing could ever separate her from me.

All too soon, she pulls away, grabbing my hand and pulling me down the street toward my truck. “Come on, Casanova! We’re going to be late.”

She’s right, but I’d like a few more of these stolen moments with her before the chaos starts. I planned to have a make-out session in the back seat, but the way she’s bouncing up and down tells me I’d better just suck it up. She’s too excited, and I’m not going to make her late for her own event.

I watch in real time as her excitement fades into nerves the closer we get to Tattered Pages. Alexandria James is having her launch party here today, and Kait thinks we have to do all the setup. Little does she know, Mandy and Hannah linked up, and all our friends have been there since seven this morning doing just that.

“Relax, mi reina.” I grab her hand and let it rest over my thigh.

When we stop at a light, I notice the way she’s rolling her lip against her top teeth. “Kait,” I say at the same time I squeeze her hand. “Why are you so nervous?”

She sighs. “There’s so much to do, and I want it to be perfect.”

“It will be.” I kiss the back of her hand as the light turns green. “You’ve already had her sign there before. You know how nice she is, right?”

“Yeah, but this is different. This is a release party. It’s big, and it needs to be…” Her voice trails off as we round the corner and she sees the big banner out front already. “Perfect,” she whispers.

I don’t even have the truck in park before her seatbelt is off and she’s reaching for the door. “Kait.”

My warning falls flat as the door opens when I finally stop. Jumping out after her, I grab her hand before she can cross the street. “Don’t run from me, please.”

Her lips part, eyes searching my face. “I wasn’t…”

I brush a piece of hair behind her ear, then cup her cheek, leaning for a kiss. “This is your day, thank you for letting me be part of it,” I say against her lips.

“Oy!” Monroe calls from the other side of the street. “Quit macking and get in here already.”

My head falls against Kait’s, a soft, disbelieving laugh tumbles from me. “Unbelievable,” I whisper.

Kait’s eyes widen, slowly turning to face the store where all our friends now line the street. A united front, showing up for her when she didn’t even ask for it.

“You did this?” She looks up at me, tears pricking at the corner of her eyes.