Page 86 of Crack the Ice

I lost count of the times she walked right up to me without a word, throwing herself into my chest and whispering “eight seconds.” I knew not to ask questions, just hold her. She’d tell me when she was ready.

Regardless, I’ll always have time for her. Eight seconds or a lifetime, she can have it all.

Always.

Thanks, Mav.

My hand is halfway to my pocket when it vibrates again.

If that wasn’t bad enough, you wound me up so tight this morning that I feel like one gust of wind is going to make me combust. You’ll pay for that. Sending me to work with a lady boner was cruel, Maverick Reed.

I cover my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to hold back my laugh until it wins out, tumbling from my lips. This freaking woman.

Monroe and Sammy give me the side eye, Sammy’s gaze dropping to my phone, which luckily has gone dark at the moment. “What’s so funny?” he asks.

I could tell him, I could make him uncomfortable, but I don’t know that she’d like that considering he read her journal or whatever it was. Instead, I give my head a soft shake and give him a partial truth.

“We’re going to have a party for the kids at book club. Lily said today was her parents’ anniversary. They always had apple pie, but the last few years, Caroline had picked it up from a fast food place. I asked Cecy if she’d make one. Pretty sure she just threatened bodily harm if I ever mentioned that as an option ever again.”

Sammy cringes. The dude hates fast food. We had it once a few years ago, he hadn’t even finished his fries before he was puking all over the hotel room.

“Cecy makes a mean apple pie.” His eyes track the kids down the ice. There’s none on the bench as we have exactly enough for two teams, but he’s got Hawk eyes, no pun intended.

“Michaels,” he yells through cupped hands. “Keep your weight off your stick.”

He turns to me when Wilson blows the whistle a few minutes later. “You’re taking good care of her, right?”

I swallow roughly. Even if he weren’t one of my best friends, I’d find that question intimidating.

“I’ve got therapy later. That’s why you’re taking the kids home. I haven’t been the best. Hell, I proved I haven’t changed as much as I thought when I ran off the other day.” I run my gloved hand over my jaw.

“It’s my goal to not only heal whatever part of me makes it impossible to stay still, but to figure out how she feels loved the most. I can love her the way I do all day long, but if she doesn’t perceive that as love, is it doing anything, or just frustrating us both?”

“You really are a wise one, you know that?” He taps me on the shoulder.

Monroe chuckles off to the side. “Damn, guess we have to stop calling you monk and start calling you Yoda instead.”

“Who said we can’t call him a monk?”

Monroe snorts, smacking Sammy in the chest with the back of his hand. “Cecy lives with him… You can’t tell me they’re not making up for lost time.”

Sammy’s nose wrinkles over the bridge, his lip ring disappearing into his lip with the force at which he’s pulling it. “Fucking disgusting.” He shudders. “I don’t want to hear about any of that.”

“The only person who talks about his sex life is Monroe, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“Damn it, Reed! Don’t mention a sex life at all when I know who that sex life is with. Jesus Christ.” His gloves slam over his ears. “Boundaries, ever heard of ‘em?”

“You’re one to talk, jackass,” Monroe chides, hitting Sammy in the shoulder.

“I bought Kait this lingerie set. You should get it for Lettie. It’s freaking–” He doesn’t get to finish that sentence before he’s pulled into a headlock, with Sammy’s gloved fist digging into the top of his head. I don’t know how long they’re locked in this altercation when a feminine-sounding cleared throat makes us all freeze.

“Men,” it says. “Or should I say, boys.”

Wilson and Andrews skate up to the bench after dismissing the team. The soft hiss of ice has me looking at them over my shoulder. Wilson’s eyes are wide, comically so, as they look over Savannah Collins.

“Sunny,” I drawl.

“It’s Ms. Collins in the rink, Reed. I’m technically your boss now.” She hikes a brow, daring me to challenge her. I won’t. I’ve known her as long as I’ve known Cecy. She’s the reason I play for this team in the first place, though I have a sneaking suspicion that Cess had something to do with that.