FALLING FOR THE ICE KING

Chapter 22

All too soon, we’re back at the apartment. The drive was so short, it didn’t matter that neither of us spoke. He signals into the bay and then, quick as lightning, he’s at the passenger door. I gather up my bag and step out. He ducks his head to check on Jack, who is still napping, and then shuts the door. We walked a few steps across to the entrance of my building.

“Thank you so much for today. I had a really good time.”

“I’m glad. We did, too.”

He shifts a little on his feet and then produces a paper bag from his back pocket.

“I saw you looking at these just before Jack tripped. When you took him outside, I grabbed one for you.”

I look at him. His ocean-blue eyes stare nervously as I open the packet. Inside is the white and grey dreamcatcher I was admiring.

“Oh, Damien, this is so lovely of you. Thank you.”

I stare at the talisman as it dangles from its string.

“You’re welcome,” he says and gently brushes the back of his finger against my cheek. It’s fleeting, but it definitely happened.

“I have to get him back. If I don’t wake him up soon, he’ll be in danger, even at age seven, and Charlotte will kill me.”

“I spent the whole day with her at the spa and she didn’t mention us going out today at all.”

He rolls his lips.

“Yeah, I didn’t tell her. I didn’t want her to make a big thing out of it, to then spend the day with you and freak you out. I erred on the side of caution.”

I nod but don’t say anything.

“Vivi,” he says, his voice gravelly. “Would it be okay to text you while I’m away? It’s a long trip.”

“How long will you be gone?” I ask.

“Ten days this time.”

Between me being insanely attracted to him, the to-do list I’ve imposed on myself, the fight I wage daily for my own well-being, and how nice today was, my head is spinning.

Add to that I’ve only met this man three times and typically in the company of others, I don’t know what the hell is going on. But I say yes. Ten days seems like a long time to go without speaking to him. That’s crazy though, right? I only just met him.

He nods and starts to walk backwards.

“Today was really great. I’ll text you. See you soon, little Vivi.”

He smiles a bright white smile and then he’s back in his expensive car pulling on his shades and signaling out of the car parking spot. I stay rooted to the pavement, looking at the dreamcatcher and back to the car as it travels farther away from me.

The world seems a little brighter since I woke up this morning. Like stripes of color are slowly seeping into and stretching through the sky as thin rays of sun beam through breaking clouds after a storm passes. It’s translucent, almost invisible, but definitely there.

I walk through the lobby, stopping for a quick chat with Frank.

“Good day, Miss Vivi? Out enjoying the nice weather?”

“It was lovely, thank you, Frank. We had a walk around some of the park with an ice cream. How’s the day treating you so far?”

“Can’t complain. I like to keep busy. Julia is on tonight with Eric. You need anything, you ring down.”

“Thank you, I will. See you later.”

He tips his hat as I make my way up to the apartment. I hang my new dreamcatcher off of the curtain rail in my bedroom and the sun catches the tiny clear beads, sending sparkles around the walls and ceiling.

I unbuckle my sandals and pop my bag on the hook. I sit for a while, wishing I could speak to my mom and tell her all about this amazing man I’ve met, but before I get too deep in that thought, Sia comes through the door, doing her usual “Honey, I’m home” routine.

She must be making headway on her case because she’s coming home much earlier than what I know of her. Sometimes we’ve spoken at eleven at night and she’s just been getting in from work.

“Sia, you’re not getting behind on your work because of me, are you? You seem to be getting home at a reasonable hour instead of burning the midnight oil in your office.”

“Oh, come on, Vivi, have I ever let anything get away from me or out of control? Well, except that time in Greece on the night that shall never be repeated.”

I have to stifle a laugh. She ended up naked in a neighboring hotel pool. We never found any of her clothes and she still doesn’t know how she came to lose them in the first place.

“Seriously, they’ve had enough eighty-hour weeks out of me for them to never dare question why I leave the office when I do. Plus, we’ve got a while until trial, and I’ve got the best associate in the firm, so…”

She shrugs.

“Theo will be here soon, so you best get to telling me all about your day, unless you want him to hear me cross-examine you.”

“Okay then, go get comfy and I’ll get the wine.”

“No,” she shouts, “I’m in the mood for piña coladas. Your conditioner has been teasing me all week and now I want one.”

“Have we got the stuff?” I ask.

“You know it.”

She winks and goes off to get changed.

I whiz up the Caribbean concoction and order us warm chicken salads from a restaurant close by. She sits, settling herself in, ready to hear about the day.

“So, when Damien arrived today, he had Jack in tow. His school was closed and there was no one else to watch him at short notice.”

She nods, sipping the delicious drink.

“When Jack found out I was new to the city, he—”

Sia starts laughing.

“You’ve been at the American Museum of Natural History, haven’t you?”

I nod, smiling.

“He’s making it his mission to get everyone to take him. He’s on maybe his fifth visit and he keeps dropping hints to Theo.”

“Yes. I think the movie has done a number on him.”

“Definitely,” she chuckles.

“Anyway, so Damien took us for lunch and we had pizza. Then we spent the afternoon following Jack around. After, we had ice cream on the edge of the park and walked a little. He dropped me off a bit ago, and here we are.”

“So what was it like being with him, then? Did you get harassed? Do you like him? Want to spend more time with him?” she asks, barely coming up for air.

“We got stopped a few times by fans, but it was nothing really. During the day I caught him looking at me or he found a way every now and then to touch me and he’s very kind. Look, he bought me this.”

I go and fetch the dreamcatcher.

“Oh, wow! This is perfect. I hope it helps,” she says. “OMG, did you talk to him about things? Did you—”

“Not so fast, Sia,” I interrupt.

“I didn’t say anything or feel upset or get quiet. Maybe it was Jack, or the fact that it really is so bloody good in there.”

“Okay then, so answer my question, would you like to spend more time with him?”

I find myself saying yes without any hesitation.

“Vivi!”

She’s almost shrill.

“This is so good. Another friend is exactly what you need.”

I nod my agreement, but when I look directly at her, she’s smirking with an eyebrow raised.

“For God’s sake, don’t get ahead of yourself, Sienna. It wasn’t that long ago I was unable to shower or leave the house.”

“I know. But look how far you’ve already come.”

At that, we clink our glasses and there is a knock at the door.

“Hasn’t he got a key?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says matter-of-factly. “But he doesn’t want to just waltz in now that you’re here.”

“Oh, please, tell him not to worry about that.”

“Okay, I will.”

She opens the door, and it looks like her bones melt at just the sight of Theo. He pulls her in for a less-than-PG kiss and I go into my room to give them a minute or two. I get changed myself and then return to the living room for more piña coladas and the food that Theo picked up.

“So, how was your day with my famous hockey star cousin?” he asks with a cheeky smile.

“Oh, he was okay. The best part about it, though, was your other cousin. The really cute one.”

“Either my family group chat is about to explode, or you’re gonna tell me a whole lot about natural history over dinner.”