Page 44 of Ice, Love, & Other Penalties

Ty: Good one, but that’s not it.

Indie:You want us to become frequent Wandering Backpackers.

Ty: :facepalm: emoji

Indie: Fashionable Wizard Bookworms?

Ty: I’m proposing the ultimate no-strings arrangement. Friends with Benefits. Strictly physical, no emotions allowed.

Ty: Hello, is this thing still on?

Ty: I can see the three dots dancing, either you’re trying to figure out a way to let me down or just thinking about the specifics.

Ty:What do you say, darling? We become each other’s haven in the night, a sanctuary from the cold, a place where warmth isn’t just felt but shared. Then, as the dawn whispers the arrival of a new day, we part, no strings attached, no promises made. It’s an adventure, a fleeting journey we take together, knowing full well it ends with the morning light.

Indie:I don’t know . . .

Ty: Consider all the amazing things we can do together—no complications.

Indie: Can I think about it?

Ty: Just don’t draw this out more than we have to, darling.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tyberius

Myra goes to bed reluctantly. Not only did she want a bedtime story, but also Rigby to be next to her while I read it.

It’s been a month since Indie began to stay with her when I’m away for games, but it seems like it’s plenty of time to shift the dynamic of our little family. And where is she when I need her?

Avoiding me because I kissed her senselessly. Not only that, I also told her that we could become fuck buddies.Okay, maybe I pushed her too far. On Tuesday, she sent her sister Lyric, pretending that there’s some kind of emergency she had to control. Yesterday, it was Jude who came to watch my child. The general manager missed the game because his sister is avoiding me.

This time the excuse was, she had to go to California to help one of her mom’s clients—it was very important. Doubtful. And since she’ll stay the weekend there, tomorrow Myra is invited to a sleepover with Cora and her cousin. I wanted to say no but what’s the alternative? Miss the game?

Knowing she might not come back, I texted my agent about finding a replacement nanny ASAP. Not really in his job description, but it might be smart to stay away from Indigo Walker before I do something worse—like becoming addicted to her mouth and her body. Or running out of favors and not being able to go to my game.

Though, Byron’s response dumbfounded me. He said he was already on it, but what I want isn’t available. Apparently, he’s friends with the Deckers and Indie reached out to him—clearly also desperate to extract herself from this situation.

So here we are: two desperate people trying to solve the nanny problem because this attraction burns too hot to sustain a professional relationship. Logic dictates that I forget about my proposition, respect her wishes and keep my distance.

But I don’t follow fucking logic, only Tyberius rules. Also I haven’t spoken to her in days. So, I grab my phone and text her.

Ty: I know you said you need time, but how long will it take you to make a decision?

Indie: Definitely more than a few days. Why are you messaging me?

Ty: Well, I decided to be proactive about my own issue and messaged my agent, Byron Langdon. It seems like you two know each other.

Indie: Yep, family friend. He found a couple of people and I interviewed them, they definitely wouldn’t work.

It doesn’t sit well that she’s adamant to leave the job.

Ty: So you want to get rid of me.

Indie: We kissed, Ty. Things got too intense and I don’t want to complicate this.

The memory of her lips on mine, the feel of her body pressed against me, soft and warm, play on a loop in my mind. Each detail vivid and palpable, as if she were here right now.

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