“It feels okay,” Hadley muttered, her voice still hoarse but gentle. “It’s not too cold. Actually, it helps.”

“Good to know.” Eric gave his thigh a light tap. “Why don’t you lie down for a bit?”

“I’m fine.” Hadley gave a small shake of her head and rested against his shoulder. “I just need a moment like this.”

Earlier, the crying had left her empty, leaving nothing but exhaustion in its place.

“Okay,” Eric responded with a gentle nod, pulling her close with one arm while keeping the ice steady with the other. Though a dull ache slowly crept into his muscles as he remained in the awkward position for too long, he held still, not caring in the slightest.

The car rolled forward at a gentle pace. Without saying a word, Hadley shut her eyes, retreating into silence. Eric stayed close, keeping quiet as he watched over her.

“Eric…” She spoke up after a few minutes, realizing the swelling around her eyes had gone down and the sting had eased. Raising her hand, she took the ice pack away. “You’ve probably gone numb by now. I can manage without it.”

“Doesn’t bother me,” Eric replied with a small shrug. “Really, I’m good.” A grin spread across his face. “I lift weights every day. Trust me, this is nothing.”

That easy smile hit her hard. Hadley’s chest tightened, and a prickling heat rose to her eyes. “Eric, I need to tell you something…”

Eric went still in an instant. His eyes searched hers, and his throat tightened as he swallowed hard. Whatever she was about to say, he knew it mattered. A heavy dread crept into his chest, making it harder to breathe. With every beat, his heart slammed harder, refusing to slow down.

In a flash of panic, he reached out and grabbed her hand. “You’re worn out… Whatever it is, let’s hold off. We can talk another time, alright?”

“Eric…” Hadley flipped her palm upward and clasped his fingers, her expression tightening with emotion.

There was no waiting. If she hesitated now, she knew the words would stay buried. Without giving herself the chance to rethink, she spoke quickly. “Please listen. I think we should break up.”

Your source: glnvls.

That single sentence landed like a stone, casting a dense silence inside the car.

Wordlessly, Eric pressed a button, and the divider between them and the driver slid shut. His eyes, once gentle, turned cold. His fingers closed around hers, the sudden pressure sharp enough to make her wince. The abruptness of it caught Hadley off guard. That chill from his hand spread up her arm, sending a shiver through her and making everything feel surreal.

“Eric, I—”

“Whatever you think you said…” Eric’s voice came low and firm, cutting her off. “I didn’t hear anything. As far as I’m concerned, nothing was said.” Without breaking eye contact, he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to it. “Let’s just go home. You’re too overwhelmed and not thinking clearly right now. What you need is rest.”

“But I meant every word,” Hadley replied, steady and sure. “Eric, this isn’t working. We need to end it.”

“Hadley!” Eric’s jaw clenched, and his voice dropped to a tight whisper. With both hands, he gripped her shoulders. “Stop. Don’t say it again. I can’t take it.”

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