Play With Me ✔️|| 2 || Off the Ice Series

15 | Arden

I wake up to the sound of the wind whistling through the trees, once again too close for comfort to one particularly annoying man.

A shiver wracks through me as I remember how I woke the day before, nestled into Jason's arms.

I shiver, but not from the cool morning breeze.

I sit up, careful not to disturb Jason as I move out around the hut. The ground is cool beneath my feet, and the scent of salt and the ocean fills my lungs as I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

But it's not so easy when I know he's still right there, just a few feet away.

I'm stubborn, and I've always been good at keeping people at arm's length, but something about this situation, being stranded on this deserted island with Jason, the man I've tried so hard to forget makes it feel like the walls I've built around myself are slowly crumbling.

And I hate it.

I hear him moving behind me, and I brace myself for the inevitable banter, the jokes that he uses to keep things light even when everything feels so damn heavy.

But when he speaks, it's not what I expect.

"Morning," he says, his voice still a little rough from sleep.

"Morning," I reply, turning to face him. He's leaning back against the wall, looking the picture of perfectly relaxed and slightly sleep muddled, arms crossed over his chest, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Sleep well?" he asks, and there's a playful glint in his eyes that tells me he knows exactly how I slept - curled up against his chest, using him as a pillow. . . Again.

I scowl, trying to muster up the stubbornness that has always been my shield. "I've had worse."

His grin widens, and he steps closer, his movements slow and deliberate, like he's testing the waters. "Oh yeah? I'm guessing I didn't make the worst list, then?"

I roll my eyes, but I can't stop the small smile that tugs at my lips. "You're still in the top ten."

"Ouch." He places a hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "You wound me, Arden."

"Somehow, I think you'll survive," I shoot back, but there's no real bite to my words. It's hard to keep up the pretence when he's standing so close, his presence warm and solid, a comfort I don't need. My gaze flits away, focusing on anything but him.

His gaze softens, the teasing banter fading as he looks at me like he's seeing something more, something deeper. "We'll get through this, you know."

I nod, staring anywhere but him. "I know."

But as much as I want to believe it, the truth is, I'm scared. Scared of what's waiting for us out there in the wild, scared of the predators we might encounter, and most of all, scared of the feelings that are slowly creeping back to the surface—the ones I thought I'd buried long ago.

Staring at him, I feel myself start to pull back a bit but then Jason is talking, the banter I'd expected when I first awoke starting.

• • •

I exit the shelter, my bare feet crushing the leaves and sticks under my weight, the tranquillity of the island almost suffocating. Jason had gone to get more food, exploring the day away but I wanted to relax and maybe I'd even used it as an excuse to put some space between us.

Here there is no noise, no rush. No demand for us to get up early, to chase after a dream or money.

Here we just exist, waiting.