Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 119

Chapter 119 We’re Protecting You

Charlotte

The kitchen is warm when we step inside, full of breakfast noise and the smell of toast Bar resting against the cupboards, his hair still damp from aun shower. He turns the second weak. without thinking. He pulls me in clase, his chin brushing the top of my head for a second retre stat

Jessica drops into the chait beside Charlie with a bright smile “Morning”

Charlie cocks an eyebrow at her over his toast. “Morning…?” Annabelle shorts behind me and moves for the countert good it i grab a coffee, Mara?”

“Of course, sweetheart. Help yourself.” She waves her over to the coffee machine with a smite and low Base over to leans back in his chair, looking between the girls with a smile I now know means Irune “Wel, ms ste

“Don’t even start, Theodore,” Annabelle mutters, and I can’t help but grin when I see how much that wine

120

Jessica ignores everything, her whole attention on Charlie, and I hite back a smile as WIT i umont Garesh watt has it from where stands near the counter, coffee in hand, his eyes moving between us before setting on Blake. “You may have gut mactice today. Yo skipping this one with the game on Saturday.”

Blake doesn’t look at him straight away. “I know.”

“Then you should be getting to it.”

Blake’s body tightens just enough that I know what he’s thinking before he says anything the bomb Jums with 6, he sunce keep me within reach, to not leave after what happened at the diner.

“I could always stay,” he says, hall cocky, hall serious. “I didn’t get captair to nothing wh trhow”

“No,” Gareth answers immediately. “She’ll be fine here. Your mum and anging anywhere. Charakte might en love some du “He gives me a playful wink and ruffles my hair as he passes.

Mara glances over her shoulder from the stove. “And if you have an hati. 21 put sốc 12 wax Nitre wou eers

Theo sports. “Please de. I’d pay to see that

Miako ignores him, bix locus back on me

Are you good has

nod, giving him a intle shove on the aimh.

16:37 Wed, Jun 24

Chapter 119 We’re Protecting You

Charlie stands, finishing the last of his toast. “Let’s go before we’re late and Coach decides to make us skate until we die.”

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Blake still doesn’t move. I reach across the table, grab a piece of toast, and shove it into his hand. “There. Breakfast.” He looks down at it, then back at me. I step around him, grab his bag from where it’s sitting near the bench, and press that into his other hand too. “And there How key stuff Look at that You’re ready.”

Then slaps once. “Efficient. I like it.”

Blake gives him a look, but I can see the corner of his mouth twitching.

“Til he fine,” I say again. “I’m staying here, with your mum and dad, behind closed doors and patrol and whatever else Gareth has crawling around the property.”

Gareth lifts his mug slightly. “Plenty.”

Blake exhales through his nose, then finally leans down and kisses my forehead. His lips linger there for a second longer than they need to. “You link me the minute you’re not okay,” he murmurs.

I roll my eyes, but I nod anyway. “I will.”

“I mean it.”

“I know you do.” His hand brushes my jaw once, then he forces himself to step back.

Jessica and Annabelle gather their things without asking why I’m not going to school. They don’t make a big thing of it. They didn’t pester me last night about why I needed cheering up, either. They just came, filled my room with blankets and noise, and treated me like I was still someone worth laughing with. Good friends, I realise, don’t always need the whole story to know when to stay. Annabelle hugs me first, quick and firm. “Text us if you get bored.”

Jessica throws both arms around me after her. “Or if you need us to come back tonight. I’m very available for emotional support and

snacks.”

I laugh. “I’ll remember that.”

Jessica turns toward Charlie as everyone starts moving for the door, then hurries a few steps to catch up with him. “You can ride with us

to school if you want.”

Charlie pauses, one hand on the strap of his bag. “With you?”

Jessica mods far too casually. “Yeah. We have room.

Thea’s mouth opens immediately, and Annabelle points at him without even looking. “Not you.” He closes it again, and Charlie shakes his head, but he’s smiling as be follows Jessica out. The door shuts behind them a moment later.

16:37 Wed, Jun 24

Chapter 119 We’re Protecting Yon

Man turns back to the store unumg sulth de

with that look that sees to mud and make jepuasi i

game tomorrow

Gareth’s expression sutver

Charlic, and I want to be there

He steps closer and rests our hand or for back of a quar

place so you can be their for the boys

My throat tightens a little “Realiy

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