Page 59 of Ice Me Baby

Taz boops me on the nose and laughs. “He’s right. Don’t spread our secrets around.”

God, I love these two. Emmitt’s face is beginning to turn purple, and I’m having a hard time suppressing laughter.

“You’re with these children?” Emmitt screeches.

My brows furrow. Why the fuck would he care? I mean, I would never date Taz or Vicy, they are family. I love them like little brothers. Nothing more. I know they feel the same way. But the way Emmitt sounded so offended at the thought of me dating them makes me bristle.

Ozzy speaks before any of us can say a thing. “Considering they are over the age of eighteen, that makes them adults.” I look over my shoulder to find him walking in our direction. My eyes follow as he passes us, stopping right in front of Emmitt. “Also, I feellike Lizzy’s relationships are none of your business, let alone her sex life.”

Emmitt’s about to say something when one of my other boys interrupts. “And considering her reaction when you called her Izzy, which isn’t her name by the way, you should probably leave.”

Tuck. I love calling him Bobby though. He told me, “You sound like my big sister when you say my name.”So I try to throw it in when he is doing great in practice. He makes his way over to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ozzy.

I’m about to tell the boys to chill when I notice that Emmitt looks like he’s about to pee his pants. With the look on his face, there could be a debate between that and shitting his pants. But I’m interrupted yet again.

Gilly walks past me as he says, “Yeah. You’ve got this strange smell about you. Like lies and betrayal.”

“Maxy,” I say with a laugh. He looks over at me and winks. I am the only one allowed to call him that. He told me little sisters are allowed to give their big brothers nicknames. That’s how he treats me too. Like a little sister. I love and hate it.

Merc and Fenni are right below Perri in age. Both live outside of the common house. I don’t have as close a relationship with the three of them because of that. But that doesn’t matter right now.

Merc and Fenni flank Vicy and Taz. The former stand with their arms crossed over their chests, looking admittingly scary. “Seems you should get a scurry on,” Merc says with a scowl.

“I’d advise you not to come around again,” Fenni growls.

Emmitt surprisingly seems to debate whether or not to run. I’m not sure if it's pride or pure stupidity, but he straightens his spine and looks around Ozzy, to me. “Guess this was a bad time. Maybe we can catch up another time, Izzy.”

“Not her fucking name,” Tuck growls.

He looks to Tuck before bending in an odd-looking bow. “Right. Well, next time.” He turns and briskly walks away. And when I say briskly, I mean walks fast enough that it’s just below a jog.

There are a few moments of quiet before I burst into peals of laughter. The boys all turn to watch me as I hold my stomach from laughing so hard. Tears are streaming down my face, and I try to pull myself together. I’m not sure when the laughter turns to sobs, but Vicy and Taz are right there to wrap me in a hug.

“We’ve got you, Roe Roe,” Vicy says softly.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Taz tries to soothe.

My arms tighten around Vicy. “Thank you, guys.”

Vicy clicks his tongue. “No reason to thank us.”

“We will always have your back, Liz,” Perri says from beside me.

“Like you’ll always have ours,” Gilly chimes in.

Sniffing, I say, “Fucking hell. I love you guys.”

There’s a unison of, “Love you too.”

I pull away as I wipe my face.God, I hate crying.“Ugh! Okay, boys let’s go get ready!” I make a shooing motion. “Go! Go!”

They snort and file out. Everyone except Mac and Dean. “I’ll be fine,” I say with a smile.

They exchange a look before turning back to me. They begin walking briskly in my direction, and I arch a brow. “What are you two up to?”

“Gonna make sure that smile stays on your face the rest of the night,” Oli says before turning to Dean. “You locked the door?”

“Yep,” Dean says with a grin.

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