Page 117 of Home Ice

Kasen snorts. “When have I ever been a nice person to you?”

“In all those small moments you forget to hate me.”

He eyes me for a moment. “You know I don’t though, right? Hate you.”

“I know. And I know one day that you might even love me.”

“What, like you love me?” he asks in a mocking tone.

“Exactly.”

The smart-ass expression falls away. “Maybe … I sort of already do.”

My heart squeezes with all the hope I try to keep hidden. “That’s good enough for me.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

TAI

Ihead outside with the two coffees in hand, and Hawke leans across the passenger seat of his car to throw the door open for me. He hasn’t stopped humming since he picked me up, and no matter how many times I ask what’s up, he shakes off the question.

I hand over his coffee and watch as he takes a sip. “How is it?”

“Good, why?”

Some of the tension leaves me. “Dad wanted to give it a try.”

“He made that?”

“Mostly, yeah.”

“Couldn’t taste the difference.”

I finally take a sip of my own, and Hawke is right. Dad did good. “Will I ever stop being a pedantic stress head over him?”

“Nope.” He gives my knee a squeeze before starting the car. “But I think it’s sweet.”

“At least someone does.”

Hawke’s still wearing that ridiculous smile.

“Where are we going?”

“To our spot.”

“Really?” His happiness must be infectious because it sets up camp in my chest as well. “Any reason?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“No, but the weird mood and going there makes me think there might be.”

He turns his head to throw his grin my way again, eyes creased behind his sunglasses. “Since when is being happy weird?”

“Since you called me and said I had five minutes to get my ass dressed, or you’d drag me out of the house in a towel if you had to.”

Hawke cackles. “Kinda wish you weren’t so speedy.”

“I’d already been home from practice for an hour. Of course I was showered and dressed.”