Page 9 of Icebound Attraction

“I am adamant, Liam.”

I raise my hands in resignation and nod.

Without another word, he leaves me with a guilty conscience. I exhale with difficulty and head for the campus café. I still have to eat.

As I approach the entrance, I see Emily sitting by one of the windows. She's with another student and seems to be enjoying herself, judging by the way she's laughing and tossing her long blonde hair back. It's been a long time since I've heard such a hearty, sincere laugh. She seems so carefree and happy. And it has to be said, too, that this girl is more of the self-aware hottie type. I bet she's a bit of a killjoy around the edges. It would be a good challenge to try and make her fall for you...

Damn it, Liam. Just let it go.

It's definitely a distraction I don't need. Besides, Coach Franklyn would cut my balls off if he realized what I was thinking of doing with our resident reporter!

I shake my head and walk straight past her without looking.

Once at the counter, I greet my best friend Chase with a big smile. He's on duty today, since he's working there as an extra, and flirting - again - with a customer. Typical! He just can't help himself!

“Chase! Still trying to win over the clientele? Do you talk to them before or after the first date about your quirks in the sack?” I exclaim to display it.

He opens wide offended eyes, and his current crush takes the opportunity to go away. I burst out laughing as he grunts.

“Coffee, I presume?” he asks.

“That's right! You're very kind.”

“You've had a rude wake-up call, from the look on your face.”

I make a little pout, as if to say ‘maybe’.

“Let me guess, the coach picked you up while you were still sleeping, and you took a beating?”

So, there are no secrets on this campus?

It's my turn to scowl. I turn towards the room and meet Emily's gaze, which seems to be watching me curiously. I try to ignore her and look away, well aware that I'm not helping my case with this asshole attitude. And yet, God knows, at this moment I feel like ogling her.

“Yeah... He lectured me and excluded me from today's training. The team's in your hands,” I reply, raising my eyebrows.

“You know he's right, Liam.”

I groan loudly.

“Don't you start too! I thought we were friends!”

He smiles.

“Your grades have to come first if you want to succeed in school. You can rank well this year and hope to attract agents for the NHL draft. But you know that's not your future either. What are you going to do if no team wants you? You're good. Hell, yeah... But you're not going to be a pro hockey player forever either.”

I know he's saying it for my own good, like our coach, but right now I don't want to hear it.

“It's okay, Chase. Can we change the subject?”

He raises his hands in surrender and serves me something to fill my belly.

We chat for a while longer until I wolf down my breakfast and get ready to leave. I notice that Emily is gone.

Disappointment creeps into my chest, which irritates me a bit. I've got better things to do than think about this girl, who isn't my kind of girl at all.

Before I leave, Chase stops me and hands me a stack of papers.

“My course notes. Since you don't have any plans this afternoon, you can make up what you missed and return them to me this evening,” he says with a wink.

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