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She plagued with my head like no other and it was the sweetest torture of all.
There were iron gates that blocked further access onto their property. I put down my window as I pulled up to the small keypad that was by their mailbox. Sucking in a breath, I punched in the code that was imprinted in my mind and hoped the Reigns had never changed it.
The small light on the keypad lit up green and I let out a sigh of relief as I heard the beep and click before the gates started to slide open. I drove my car through and headed down the drive to Winter’s house. The logical, rational part of my brain no longer existed.
As I pulled up out front, surprise struck me when I saw Winter sitting on the front porch with a mug in between her hands. She sat up straighter on the chair she was sitting in, but she didn't stand up.
Foolish girl.
For all she knew, I could have been anyone pulling up right now. Their gates could have been destroyed and I would have entered without a single thought. Winter was too trusting, but I could see the panic in her expression. She didn’t recognize my car.
I killed the engine and opened my door before climbing out. My sunglasses shielded my eyes from her, but I didn’t miss the way her face fell when she realized it was me. She absolutely despised me and it rolled off her in waves.
“What are you doing here, Malakai?” she questioned me as she stood up. Ice slid through my veins. I hated that she kept calling me by my full name.
I stood at the bottom step that led to the porch that wrapped around the front of their house. Winter had a pair of black cotton shorts on, exposing her silky skin. She was wearing an old crew-neck sweatshirt. I squinted my eyes as I attempted to make out the faded words written across the gray material.
Orchid City Country Club.
My breath caught in my throat. It was one of my old sweaters.
“I was in the area and wanted to check in on you after last night.”
She stared at me with disbelief swirling in her green irises. “Go home, Malakai.”
“Not until I know you’re okay.”
A frigidness settled within her eyes and she barked out a harsh laugh. “You didn’t give a shit about me six years ago, why would you care now?”
My jaw clenched. “That’s not true,” I told her, my voice low.
She fell silent as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her knuckles were turning white with how tightly she was gripping the coffee mug in her one hand. As I stared back at her, I fought the urge to walk up the steps to her. Her iciness slipped into my veins and I pushed back my shoulders.
“You have no fucking clue, Winter,” I practically growled at her with my voice still low. “I was an asshole and I shouldn’t have pushed you away, but I had no other choice.”
She shook her head at me. “I can’t do this with you right now. I don’t want an explanation—I don’t want anything.” She shifted her weight on her feet and I recognized the anxious tic. It was a given sign that she was going to flee. “You want to know the truth about last night? I had a panic attack… because of you.”
Her words sliced through my soul like a sharpened blade. I would never forget how bad Winter’s panic attacks could be and it literally split my heart in two. I was the one who was supposed to help her through them, not cause them.
“Fuck.” I swallowed over the knives in my throat as I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “I had no idea.”
She leaned her head to the side. “No, you didn’t. How could you have possibly known? You can’t see past your own nose.”
Winter spun on her heel, the coffee in her mug splashing out onto the porch as she turned around in a rush. She paid no mind to it and didn’t mutter another word to me before she disappeared into the house. The door slammed shut behind her, rattling the glass window panes.
I stared back at the door as my heart clenched in my chest. I deserved all of her rage and all of her hate. I’d always been broken, but I never meant to bring Winter down with me. I fucking broke her, and I was the only one who could fix her.
I would fix this.
I would fix us.
CHAPTER SIX
WINTER
Past
My ass slid across the ice as I hit it in a rush. I hung my head in defeat before planting my gloved hands on the ice. My coach stared down at me with a look of disapproval on her face. I climbed back up onto my feet and skated over to her.
