Lahat ng Kabanata ng Breaking The Ice Between Us : Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

By the time Andrew finally decided to respond, it was almost nightfall. The last rays of the sun were slipping through my window blinds, turning the walls of my bedroom this warm, honey-colored glow that would’ve been kind of nice if I hadn’t been losing my fucking mind all day waiting for his message.I’d spent the afternoon doing everything except thinking about it—cleaning the kitchen, folding laundry, even organizing the random shit in the junk drawer by the door. But even while I was elbow-deep in that drawer, pulling out batteries and random cables I didn’t even remember owning, my phone kept buzzing in my pocket. Every time, my heart would lurch, like maybe this was it—maybe he’d finally said something.It was always James, or some stupid email. By the time the sun started to sink below the buildings outside my window, I was jittery as fuck, my leg bouncing nonstop as I sat on the edge of the bed, phone in my hand like a lifeline.And then—finally—his name lit up my screen.And

Surprisingly, there. was. no. traffic.None of that stop-and-go bullshit that usually turned the highway into a parking lot. No horns blaring from assholes cutting in last minute, no sudden swerves from drivers who didn’t know how to fucking use a turn signal.It was weird.Like, too weird.I’d left early—because duh, I wasn’t about to be late for this collab—but I still fully expected to have to sit in at least twenty minutes of bumper-to-bumper bullshit. And yet… nothing. Just smooth, open road stretching out in front of me, the city lights flickering past like some kind of neon light show.It should’ve felt like a relief, but instead it just set every nerve in my body on edge.Because when shit starts going too perfectly? That’s when the universe decides to fuck you over.I kept one hand on the wheel, the other drumming against my thigh to the beat of the music playing low on the speakers. My playlist was on shuffle—some random mix of dirty rap songs and heartbreak anthems—and I co

Andrew finished up in the kitchen, turning back to me with a small, almost proud smile. He grabbed a couple of chipped plates from the drying rack and scooped generous helpings of pasta onto them. The sauce was thick and red, steam rising in fragrant curls. My stomach gave an appreciative little growl at the sight of it, even though I still felt jittery and out of place in this tiny apartment that smelled like garlic and warm bread.He walked over and handed me a plate, along with a fork. “Here. Eat up.”I took it, my fingers brushing against his, and tried to ignore the tiny shiver that shot up my spine. I balanced the plate on my lap as he sank down next to me, his leg brushing mine. The couch was small, old springs groaning under our combined weight.I twirled a forkful of pasta, hesitating just a second before taking a bite. The noodles were cooked just right, and the sauce looked rich and hearty. My mouth watered.But the second it hit my tongue, I knew I’d made a huge fucking mi

CAPTAIN ~I pulled back from Andrew, and for a second I just stared at him, my breath heavy, my fingers still curled at his sides. Andrew’s face was flushed. His eyes flicked up to mine, dark and heavy with something I knew too fucking well: want.But I stopped anyway. Stopped cold.I watched as his expression shifted—confusion at first, then disappointment. His shoulders dropped just a little, like he was trying to hide it, but I saw.And I don’t know what it says about me—maybe that I’m an asshole—but seeing that little flash of disappointment in his eyes was weirdly satisfying. It was like proof, in real fucking time, that he wanted me. That he wasn’t playing games anymore.My lips curled up into a smirk, and I let my thumb trace along his hard dick. “What?” I asked softly, my voice low and a little rough. “Disappointed already?”He opened his mouth, then shut it again. His eyes darted away from mine for a second, like he didn’t know how to answer.I let out a quiet chuckle, shaki

I felt the shift in the air before I could even process what I’d said.“No,” I mumbled, eyes glued to the crumpled sandwich wrapper in my lap. “I don’t regret it.”The words sat there, heavy and naked in the space between us.A confession that sounded louder than it should’ve been, even though I barely whispered it. Like the truth had peeled out of my throat before I had the chance to wrap it in humor or sarcasm or anything that could've softened the blow.And now it was just… there.Hanging.I peeked up through my lashes, unable to stop myself. Captain wasn’t saying anything. Not right away.He was just looking at me.Not like he did in class, or across the hall, or that first night we met in that shitty bar with all the neon and noise. Not with arrogance or condescension or that practiced smirk that made people either want to punch him or kiss him—or, in my case, both.No, this look was different.This one was soft. Unraveling.And there it was—the corners of his mouth twitching, li