Page 24 of Icebound Hearts

“I can imagine.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “Your family must have been a wreck.”

I laugh because he doesn’t really know how true his words are. “They were, but not just because of that. My heart thing happened right after my parents split up, and they were both pretty caught up with their new lives, so Reese was the one who was really there for me through it all. Emotionally, anyway. My folks took me to the doctor and stuff, but they were too distracted to really listen to my fears or support me through it.”

Sawyer’s expression hardens, a hint of anger flashing through his gray eyes. I’m touched by the thought that it’s anger on my behalf. “I’m sorry, Violet. That’s really shitty of your parents.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, surprised to feel the burn of tears at the backs of my eyes. I haven’t gotten emotional about the ordeal I went through as a teenager in years, but something about the empathy in Sawyer’s expression is hitting me right in the chest. I shrug, blinking quickly. “Anyway, I guess maybe that’s why I’ve never been interested in trying to find love. I already had my heart broken once.”

“Literally,” Sawyer notes, his gaze flicking down to the scar on my chest quickly before moving back up to my eyes.

“Yeah. So I don’t think I could stand to do it again.”

Silence falls between us. My face feels uncomfortably hot with his gaze locked on me like this, and my stomach flutters as he keeps staring at me as if searching for something.

“I wouldn’t want to see your heart broken, either,” he finally says, his voice soft. “It’s a good one.”

I know he’s probably just trying to be nice, but the butterflies in my stomach flap even harder as his words wash over me. The heat creeping beneath my skin spreads until I’m sure I’m blushing all over, and even the slightly chilly water isn’t enough to cool me off.

Chapter 9

Sawyer

Traveling for away games is usually a bit stressful for me because of Jake. But as I get ready to head out for a few out-of-town games, I realize that this time, I’m not at all worried about leaving him at home. I know he’ll be happy as a clam and well taken care of.

He’ll be with Violet.

When I step into the living room with my bags, I pause in the doorway. The two of them are sitting at the kitchen table, working on a puzzle together. That’s not something I’ve ever been able to get Jake to sit still long enough for, but Violet’s a natural with him. I think he just enjoys spending time with her, so it doesn’t really matter what they do.

I can relate.

“I think you’re onto something, bud,” Violet says as she watches Jake examine a puzzle piece before attempting to slot it into place. “Try turning it around. Sometimes you have to try a few times before you find exactly the right fit.”

Her words tug at my heart because she’s spot on, although she probably didn’t mean it that way.

“Kind of like trying on clothes, right?” Jake asks, and she laughs and nods.

“Yeah, kind of. I bet you’d know a few things about that consider how fast you’re growing, huh?”

“You have no idea,” I answer for Jake, alerting them both to my presence. “I swear I have to buy the kid a whole new wardrobe every month or so.”

“Daddy! Are you leaving?” Jake asks and jumps up from his seat to come careening toward me. He throws his little arms around my leg, and I pick him up to hug him.

“In a few minutes, yeah,” I say and kiss his forehead. “But you’re gonna be okay with Ms. Violet, right?”

“Yeah…” His eyes fall away from mine, but I thumb his chin to bring them back.

“It’s okay to feel sad about me leaving. But I’ll be back soon.”

“I know. I’ll miss you, but me and Ms. Violet can watch you play on TV, right?”

“Of course.”

Jake throws his arms around my neck to hug me tight, and I hug him back. We’ve done this more times than I can count by now; but saying goodbye to him, even for a few days, never really gets any easier.

Violet stands and meets us in the kitchen doorway, leaning against it. “Got everything you need?”

“As far as I know, yeah.”

“I’d offer to mail you anything you forgot, but I doubt it’d reach you before you come back home.”