“You sure you’ve never done this before?” Veronique asks, pursing her lips. “I literally screeched the first time I got halfway in.” She chuckles, and the other girls join in. “You’re doing incredible. Took me a full week to work up to a few minutes.”
“And not even a jolt or jitter.” Sara lifts her hands above her tub and claps a few times. Some of the other dancers stretching around the room look over at us, and my cheeks heat. Evelyn gives a dramatic bow of her head in my direction. “I’m in awe.”
“Someone must be cold-blooded,” Veronique teases.
I bite my lip and shrug, brushing off their words despite the questions that sink into me. “Must be.”
My hand flies up to my sternum, moving the neckline enough so I can run my fingers over the scar there. It thrums, radiating through me. With each echo of its magic, my pulse slows, calm sweeping through my limbs until the icy water’s threat begins to melt away. The memories spill from my mind, floating from the forefront of my consciousness as I think ofhim.
After a minute, I release my hold. My hands fall into the water and my shoulders are the only thing above its rippling surface. With each inhale and exhale, my body adjusts, first to discomfort, then a searing numb, and finally a welcoming embrace. Each lap of water, each graze of ice, wears away at the sharp and tender edges of my mind.
My fingers running through soft, silvery tufts.
The comforting weight of Jax’s wolf keeping my toes warm in the night.
His chilling gaze raking over me in the reflection.
There’s no water cold enough to counteract the warmth pooling within me.
I swallow, finally catching my breath.
Sara climbs out of the tub, and minutes later, Evelyn’s timer goes off. Once they’ve toweled off, they come over to help me stand.
“Wow,” I say, my body stinging as the warm air lashes my skin. Evelyn and Veronique each take a hand, supporting me while I get out. My legs quiver, and their grips tighten when my feet hit the ground. I’m like a newborn giraffe, stumbling a few feet with their assistance.
Sara walks over to the wall and grabs my towel, handing it to me to dry off. The three of them exchange quiet glances. I drop my gaze, scanning every inch of me that I can see, even craning my neck to try to peer at my back before I look at the three of them. “What?”
Evelyn’s eyes dart between me and her phone screen. “You know how long you just went in for?”
I shake my head. “How long?”
“Almost 15 minutes.”
“Wow.” Usually it’s recommended to work up to about five minutes when you’ve never done an ice bath before. Ten minutes isn’t impossible. It isn’t unheard of, but it’s definitely not the norm.
I’m calm. Refreshed. And I can’t help but wonder if there is some magic at play in this. Jax is still hibernating, probably after being punished for our last time together. Even with that knowledge, my heart races and my eyes dart around the room, hoping I’m wrong. That he’s somewhere here.
Everyone is talking amongst themselves. I follow the girls toward the dressing room to change into warm clothes, but I can’t help the final glance over my shoulder, full of hope only to come up empty.
No wolf. No frosty window. No soothing baritone billowing into my ear.
The only thing I find is that I’m pierced by the cleaving emptiness of missing Jax. Even though he’s away, he still manages to bolster me with the strength I need to face my fears, and it fills that hollow space with pride.
29
JOLIE
Swinging the strap of my dance bag over my shoulder, I grab myself a banana before tossing another to Lark, who catches it up high with one hand. She twists to shove it into her backpack while I peel mine, taking a big bite.
“Ready to go?” she asks, reaching for the doorknob. I can only nod in response, mouth full of mashed-up banana.
I follow her out the door, but she halts so abruptly that I bump into her backpack, nearly spitting banana all over it.
“What the fuck?”
I peek my head out from behind her and my eyes widen. Perched on our welcome mat is a rabbit with a honey coat and large, white-tipped ears, one flopped over, lopsided. It stares up at Lark, seemingly startled.
“Hey, cutie!” she coos.
