Page 17 of Cold Mercy

I stiffen, looking away toward the window.

“I'm fine,” I say coldly. “And my eating habits are not your business, Reed.”

He leans back, crossing his arms over his chest, looking at me with zero sympathy.

“Thank God they aren't,” he says dryly. “But if you pass out in the middle of the lilies, I’m the one who has to carry you out. And you are heavy.”

My head snaps back to him. I blink, genuinely shocked.

“Excuse me?” I choke out. “What did you just say?”

He takes a sip of his drink, unfazed.

“I said you're heavy.”

I stare at him, mouth agape, ready to dump my drink over his head.

“Heavy with attitude. That adds at least twenty pounds to the load,” he adds.

I pick up my burger, holding it with deliberate calm. Then, looking him dead in the eye with a smile that is sugar-coated poison, I swing my leg and kick him squarely in the shin under the table.

He winces, though the amusement doesn't leave his eyes.

“Ouch.”

“Careful, Reed,” I say sweetly, taking a bite. “Keep talking, and I’ll aim higher next time.”

“Don't threaten me with a good time.”

✽✽✽

The day went smoothly, better than expected even, but I’m done with talking and pretending to be fully present. All that remains is to help choose Elizabeth's wedding dress, and after that, the next time I see any of them will probably be at the wedding.

It’s not that I’m treating their wedding like something to check off a list. I just know I’m not ready to return to their lives as the Sophia they knew before. I’m a ruin, stitched together in the wrong places. Hearing things in my head no one should ever hear, and I refuse to drag that darkness into the middle of their happiness. They deserve light. I’m not going to dim it.

Thomas pulls up in front of my gate and parks. He turns off the engine and glances in my direction.

“Well,” he says, leaning across the console as I open the door. “We survived without killing each other.”

“Yeah,” I say, letting out a small breath. “I’m glad we got it done.”

I stay seated for a moment, my hand on the door handle. It feels too abrupt to just get out.

“You were good company today,” I admit quietly. “Didn’t expect you to be that tolerable.”

He huffs out something that’s halfway to a laugh.

“High praise from the ice queen,” he says, almost amused.

“I’ll see you at the wedding,” I respond.

He shakes his head like he can’t help himself.

“Maybe before that, we might run into each other again…you never know.”

It’s the first time today he sounds genuinely relaxed. I open the door and step out.

“Don’t mistake obligation for friendship, Reed.”