Page 50 of Icebound Attraction

I jump.

“Yes, perfect! Thank you so much!”

Our conversation distracts me from Liam and his companion.

I keep glancing briefly over my shoulder, however, and see Liam embracing the beautiful blonde.

A new wave of jealousy washes over me.

Rha! Go away, you horrible feeling!

After our coffees, pastries and quick chats, Cassy bids me farewell and heads off to her class. As for me, I head for the library. I've got to write the article on the last game and I can't waste any more time.

Today, it's relatively empty. That's a pity. The soft murmur of people around me always helps me to concentrate on my work. I sit down at a table with my documents and laptop in front of me, ready to launch into my work.

But even with the best will in the world, I can't concentrate. The image of Liam and the blonde keeps looping in my head. They seemed so intimate with each other, as if there was something between them...

Silly girl! There must have been something between them! Liam has a reputation and you're just another number on his list.

I sigh in frustration, lean back and close my eyes for a moment.

After all, I'm the one who put distance between us. And obviously, he doesn't want a relationship right now either, or at least he can't afford one. But at the same time, he defended me and said he cared about me, right?

Damn it...

I had hoped that working at the library would help me get my head in order and distract me from my feelings, but the opposite seems to be happening. Every time I try to start a sentence of my article, I stall. I can literally feel the sting of jealousy attacking my heart, the questions looping around me, and I hate how much it affects me.

Suddenly, a hand rests on my shoulder, startling me, and when I look up, Maddie is next to me.

“Hey, what's up, sweetie?” she asks me softly.

I sigh again and shake my head.

“I can't concentrate on my article at all.”

Maddie sits down next to me and smiles encouragingly.

“Sometimes it's hard to clear your head, especially when you're battling thoughts of all kinds.”

I nod in agreement.

“Yes... I thought the library would help me.”

But it reminds me even more of Liam...

She places a comforting hand on my arm.

“What's on your mind?”

I hesitate for a moment before telling her everything.

My conversations with Liam, our study sessions, our night, then our agreement, my feelings getting tangled, my jealousy...

Maddie opens her eyes wide and hiccups in surprise at times, but she lets me empty my bag. Once I've finished, I look up at her in shame. She's my best friend, and yet I've kept all this from her.

“Wow... Emily... Wow!” she exclaims, as if shocked.

“I'm sorry, I should have told you.”

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