Page 223 of Iced Up Love: Part Two
“I want to go public.”
“No.”
It comes out immediately. Flat. Final.
“Absolutely not.”
Jackson turns to me, something tightening in his expression.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“It’s not safe,” I say, my voice low and controlled. “Not right now. Not with everything that’s still unresolved.”
“You married her,” he snaps back. “You already have that claim. You already have the protection. That’s yours.”
My jaw tightens.
“But I don’t get to live like that,” he continues, his voice rougher now. “I’m being pushed back into the spotlight whether I like it or not. I don’t get to step away from it.”
His hand drags through his hair.
“And I’m doing that because she asked me to. Because I want to be there. But I’m not going to stand in front of cameras and pretend I’m not in a committed relationship.”
“It’s not safe,” I repeat.
Zach steps in before it escalates.
“It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.”
My gaze shifts to him.
“It’s not about putting her fully in the spotlight,” he continues. “It’s about not hiding her either.”
A beat.
“I’d like that too.”
And then... her voice.
“I would too.”
That stops me. Not them. Her.
I look at her fully.
“What about your past?” I ask. “Everything you went through. Are you comfortable putting yourself back into that?”
She exhales slowly.
“Not exactly,” she admits. “I don’t think I can handle my face being out there just yet.”
Then she steadies.
“But I don’t want to hide it forever either. I’m not ashamed of my relationship with the three of you.”
Silence settles. Then she looks at me.
“And if something goes wrong… I trust that you’ll handle it. I trust that you’ll keep me safe.”
