Where The Ice Gives Way Chapter 119

**Charlotte**

The kitchen is warm when we step inside, full of breakfast noise and the smell of toast. Blake is at the counter talking to Mara, one hip resting against the cupboards, his hair still damp from our shower. He turns the second I walk in, and his arms open. I step into them without thinking. He pulls me in close, his chin brushing the top of my head for a second before his hand settles at my back. 

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

Charlie cocks an eyebrow at her over his toast. “Morning…?” Annabelle snorts behind me and moves to the counter, grabbing a mug. “All good if I grab a coffee, Mara?”

“Of course, sweetheart. Help yourself.” She waves her over to the coffee machine with a smile, and I follow Blake over to the table. Theo leans back in his chair, looking between the girls with a smile I now know means trouble. “Well, this is new.”

“Don’t even start, Theodore,” Annabelle mutters, and I can’t help but grin when I see how much that name gets under his skin.

Jessica ignores everything, her whole attention on Charlie, and I bite back a smile as I watch it unfold. Gareth watches it from where he stands near the counter, coffee in hand, his eyes moving between us before settling on Blake. “You boys have got practice today. No 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 bond hums with it, that instinct to stay, to keep me within reach, to not leave after what happened at the diner.

“I could always stay,” he says, half cocky, half serious. “I didn’t get captain for nothing, you know.”

“No,” Gareth answers immediately. “She’ll be fine here. Your mum and I aren’t going anywhere. Charlotte might even have some fun.” He gives me a playful wink and ruffles my hair as he passes.

Mara glances over her shoulder from the stove. “And if you hover any harder, I’ll put you to work before you leave.”

Theo snorts. “Please do. I’d pay to see that.”

Blake ignores him, his focus back on me. “Are you good here? I don’t have to go. I can miss the whole game if I need to.”

I nod, giving him a little shove on the arm. “I’m okay. Seriously. We’re not sacrificing hockey. You go, have fun, shove Theo around a bit more.”

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.” 

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. Hockey stuff. Look at that. You’re ready.”

Theo claps once. “Efficient. I like it.”

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

“I’ll be 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 nods far too casually. “Yeah. We have room.”

Theo’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 he follows Jessica out. The door shuts behind them a moment later.

Mara turns back to the stove, humming softly under her breath as she moves a pan off the heat. Gareth stays where he is, watching me with that look that sees too much and makes it impossible to hide. I pick at the sleeve of my jumper. “Do you think I could go to the game tomorrow?” Gareth’s expression softens. “I don’t want to put anyone in danger,” I add quickly. “But I know it matters to Blake, and Charlie, and I want to be there.”

He steps closer and rests one hand on the back of a chair. “I wouldn’t let you miss it, okay? I’ll make sure there are security measures in place so you can be there for the boys.”

My throat tightens a little. “Really?”

“Really.” His voice stays firm. “We’re protecting you, Charlotte. We’re not taking your life away.”

I nod slowly, letting that sink in. Mara claps her hands once. “Right,” she says, already opening a cupboard. “That’s enough heavy talk before breakfast has even cleared.” She pulls out a mixing bowl and sets it on the counter with a solid little thump. “You look like you need to use your hands for something.” Gareth smiles into his coffee as Mara starts lining things up across the bench. “What are we making?” I ask.

“Cakes. Slices. Whatever we feel like.” She ties an apron around her waist, then tosses one toward me. “The pack will eat anything sweet, and Sophie will need food for the fundraiser this weekend.” The guilt twists again, but this time, I have something to do with it.

Mara pushes the flour toward me. “Measure two cups, darling.”

I step forward, tying the apron around myself. I scoop the flour carefully, and Mara reaches over and turns on the little radio by the window. Some old song crackles through the speaker, and she smiles as she starts cutting butter into cubes. “Do you know this one?” I shake my head. “Well,” she says, nudging my shoulder with hers, “then today you learn.”