Page 10 of Love on the Ice

But I don’t want anyone else to see that show. I have an instinctual desire to keep her hidden away from all other men. She’s my diamond, and I don’t want any other man on earth to see her shine, which is probably ridiculous as fuck considering I don’t even know her.

LORELAI

When I wake up, it’s with a book by my face and the overwhelming sense of sadness. Last night was amazing. Reid was beautiful in many ways, but he’s not for me, without a doubt. I walked away last night feeling like his friend and nothing more.

He didn’t do or say anything to necessarily make me feel that way, but I know who I am when it comes to being anywhere in the vicinity of my friends.

Call it low self-esteem, but I like to say I know my place in the hierarchy of hotness.

I inhale a deep breath and let it out slowly as I close the book. I should study some more this weekend, but first, I need coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. I can’t help but wonder what exactly I’m going to find when I make my way downstairs, wondering which men stayed the night.

Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I stand and shuffle out of my room and toward the bathroom. When I'm washing my hands, I chance looking at my reflection in the mirror. I cringe at the sight staring back at me.

She looks sick.

Not in a virus way, but in a lovesick kind of way. How ridiculous of me. I don’t even know him, but at the same time, I feel like I’ve always known him. I’m stupid. I know I am.

I need to continue to tell myself that I am nothing but his friend.

He sees me as one of the guys.

That’s the only way I’m going to be able to cope with any of this.

Turning away from my reflection, I make my way downstairs. It’s quiet, the girls likely sleeping off all the alcohol they drank last night in an effort to impress those guys. After I move toward the Keurig, I reach into the little basket next to it and fish out my favorite blend.

It’s an organic, bold roast. I always add this amazing hazelnut creamer, too. It’s coffee, but it doesn’t taste like it, which I love. The Keurig coffee percolates, and I stare at the dark liquid streaming into the cup.

I’m not sure if it’s the smell or the noise that wakes up the house, but within five minutes, and before I can even add my creamer, all my roommates are up and gathering around the kitchen in search of water, more coffee and protein shakes.

To my surprise, not one man emerges from any of the bedrooms.

“Morning,” I finally say when nobody else speaks.

I know they’re probably all halfway hungover and don't want to chat, but I’m curious about what happened last night. I want the details, no matter what those look like. I decide that the best thing for me would be to hear about how one of them hooked up with Reid after I went upstairs. That will completely kill the fantasy for me, and then I can accept the friend-zone situation.

“I didn’t eat enough and drank too much,” Sky moans.

Pressing my lips together, I try not to burst out laughing because I had known they would feel that way. I have a feeling the men are probably in the same boat.

“Those guys are hot, and they can drink,” June grunts, lifting her palm to cup her forehead.

Nodding my head, I lift my coffee cup to my lips and smell the delicious, bold roast, knowing that it’s going to be warm as it settles into my belly. I love that feeling. I love everything about morning coffee. I don’t know why because I don’t even really like the flavor of strong coffee, but the smell is divine.

“Girl, where did you go off to with that complete hottie last night?” Brooklynn asks.

My gaze shifts to her. She’s watching me, her lips curved up into a grin. “Don’t think we didn’t see you two leave, then come back a couple hours later—together.”

I shrug a shoulder, trying to act as nonchalantly as possible. I hope it works because I don’t want any of them to know just how much I really do like this guy. I know the situation is a lost cause, and he won’t be knocking down my door to ask me out, so I want full closure on the situation.

“Reid was hungry. We went to a diner, ate, and came back,” I say, acting as if it was the most normal thing I’ve ever done in my life when it certainly is not.

I am not someone who takes off in a car with a man I’ve just met, neighbor or not. I’m the safest person in this house. Also, the most homebody of the group. So, it’s not just a little out of my realm—it’s completely out of my realm.

The women are quiet, and I feel their gazes on me. I’m not sure what I should say to them if anything. I don’t know what to say, and thankfully, I don’t need to speak at all because the doorbell rings.

Chapter

Five

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