Page 57 of Wynter

“So…” Eirwen interrupts my quickly spiraling thoughts. “Tell me! What was it like?”

I can’t help the dreamy sigh that slips past my lips. “Amazing.”

“Wow…” She sighs too and looks wistfully ahead, clearly lost in her own thoughts. “I would very much like to do that. To fuck, as you call it. How do I find a man to fuck me?”

I barely hold back a snort. “Um… maybe try Club Vee?”

We agree to have a girls’ night with Riley and Ember sometime soon, and then part ways as we head to our seats. Xavi’s already settled in his, and my pulse spikes as our eyes meet.

“I take it that went well?” he teases as I take my seat.

My cheeks flush, and then his cheeks flush, and then we’re both blushing as he hands me a salted caramel cupcake and another cup of hot cider.

“Um… do you… that is, should I…” I flush as I try to figure out how much of what just happened with Leith I should share. On the one hand, he’s my mate, so he deserves to know. But does he need a play-by-play?

Maybe I should just tell him that Leith and I were alone in the skate rental shack and leave it at that? Or add that we fucked? Or maybe admit that he shifted while he went down on me, and again when he was inside me, and that I loved every second? Because when I looked at him, I still saw Leith, but I felt… so much more.

And suddenly, I’m burning up, even though it’s cold out. The wind does nothing to cool me off, and I take a quick sip of my drink. Then yelp, because the cider is scalding hot.

“Careful.” Xavi covers my hand with his and leans closer.

For a second, I think about dragging him to the skate rental shack. Just thinking about all those skates has me wet. And grimacing. Because that isn’t a normal way to react to skates. And I’ll forever blame Leith that I was staring at them when I had the best orgasm of my life.

Then I realize I’m thinking about having an orgasm on Leith’s tongue while sitting next to Xavi, and my cheeks flush.

“So, earlier… um…” I can feel myself growing redder by the second.

“You don’t have to tell me, Zoe. In fact, please don’t. You can have alone time with Leith—or me—without having to explain.”

“Alone time,” I whisper, my eyes locked on his. I’m about to lean in for a kiss, when there’s a commotion down below.

“Wyn!” Ghost shouts as he flies over the ice rink, levitating with that invisible magic of his.

Just seeing him makes my heart hurt, and I instinctively lean into Xavi, who pulls me into his side. And hold my breath as Ghost lands in front of the bleachers, facing the crowd.

“I love you, Wyn,” he shouts. “I never stopped loving you.”

I gasp. Because Ghost just said the words I’d longed to hear after he broke my heart. Every night, I’d sob into my pillow, wishing, hoping… and now he’s here, shouting his love so the entire rink can hear.

“Is that Ghost?” Xavi asks, giving me another squeeze.

I nod, swallow hard, and find myself unable to form words.

“Do you want me to talk to him?” Xavi gets to his feet. “You stay here. I’ll take care of everything.”

“N-no.” I shake my head and pull him back down into his seat. “Thanks, Xavi, but he’s my problem.” And it’s time for me to exorcise a Ghost. For good.

I give Xavi a quick, reassuring kiss, and make my way out of the bleachers. My stomach churns and a part of me wants to run, but I have to do this. I have to face Ghost.

And then he’s there, reaching for me, and I start backing away.

“Give me a chance,” he pleads. “Please, Wyn? I know I have nothing to offer you. But I need you like I need air.”

Tears spring to my eyes. Because I’d forgotten that he used to say that to me, back when we were together. Before he betrayed me. Before he broke my heart. Before he left.

The Terence I knew said those words every single day. And I used to believe him, until he walked away. So this? It’s too little, too late. And after all those years of hurt, I’m not going to fall for a few pretty words.

“You had your chance, Ghost,” I spit and stare him right in the eye. So he knows I mean every word. “And now it’s too late.”