Page 74 of When the Ice Melts

Addisyn’s attention quietly pulled up stakes and moved away. Her younger self would have hung enraptured on every word out of Brian’s mouth and then forsworn wine aged in hickory barrels forevermore. Now she was just disgusted with it all.

Fake.The word kept rolling in her brain. Every time she heard it, she felt a little bit sicker.

Fake.

Fake.

Fake.

That couldn’t be who she was, could it? Couldn’t be her only identity.

You are a child of God!

The phrase darted into Addisyn’s mind with startling suddenness. Weird. Avery used to say that all the time. She was always telling Addisyn not to do this or that—because she was a child of God and should act like it. Or at the end of a bad day, she’d give Addisyn a big hug and say, “Remember, you are a child of God.”

A child of God.

Addisyn rubbed her thumb absentmindedly over the bowl of her glass. Certainly Avery would never say so now. What child of God would be caught dead with a man who’d seduced her, going voluntarily back into his clutches, and drinking wine while she did it?

“—don’t you think?” The interrogatory tone of Brian’s voice made Addisyn jump. He was looking expectantly at her for a reply.

“I’m—I’m sorry. What?”

Brian looked a little annoyed. “Addisyn, I’ve been talking to you. Have you heard anything I’ve said?”

She evaded his eyes. “Not everything.” She made an attempt to drink a little more wine.

He sighed. A heavy blanket of silence descended over them both.

He’s darkness, Addisyn.Her sister’s words were coming back in full force. Addisyn set her wine glass back on the tray. She couldn’t drink anymore.He’s darkness... He’ll make you like him...

She flinched at the touch of Brian’s hand on hers. “Baby, look, I know you’re a little nervous.”

Nervous?She turned and stared at him.

“About performing, I mean.” He smiled—doubtless it was meant to be reassuring. “But I promise you, you’ll do just fine. And I’ll handle all the legal matters for you, the contract and everything,” he was quick to add. “You just focus on skating. And that beautiful face.” He tipped her chin up with a crooked finger and kissed her lightly on the lips before she could push him back.

“I’ll always be with you, baby.” He squeezed her hand before releasing it. “Always.”

He leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes, evidently not waiting for a response. Addisyn looked out the window again. Brian’s words both infuriated and terrified her.

Nervous? About skating? Oh, she could have laughed if it weren’t so pathetic. She’d never been less nervous about a performance in her life. What did it matter? If she did well, she was stuck with Brian. If she did badly, well...she was still stuck with Brian.

Because he would always be with her.

There was no escape. Addisyn gazed down below the plane. A thick blanket of clouds had rolled in. She couldn’t see the ground anymore. When had she lost sight of her footing the first time?

Probably whenever she allowed herself to be pulled off course. To be swayed by the man next to her right now.

She folded her arms over her stomach. The wine was disagreeing with her. Or maybe it was just her conscience.

No, she hadn’t gone with Brian because she wanted a gold medal anymore. She hadn’t gone with him because he’d been persistent. She hadn’t even gone because she felt anything for him besides repulsion.

She’d gone because she had burned so many bridges with the people who loved her that Brian was all she had left.