Page 55 of Ice Me Baby

Vicy arches a brow at the girls. “So maybe you should apologize?”

The girls nod furiously as they stammer, “Sorry, sorry.”

“Now, move along,” Taz says, waving a hand to shoo them off.

They waste no time and rush off. I bite my lip to keep my laugh at bay, but it bubbles out of me anyways. “Was that really necessary?”

Vicy shrugs as he moves his arm from my shoulders, taking my hand instead. “People should mind their own business.”

I have to agree, though, as eyes follow us when Taz grabs my other hand. I know I should probably pull my hands from theirs, but they seem to enjoy dragging me everywhere. They are touchy-feely guys; maybe that’s how they show they care.

The moment we walk into the sports section of the store, I know I‘ve lost them. Hockey season is upon us, so the section is mainly filled with hockey gear. They release my hands and rush to the helmets and sticks.

They immediately slap on a helmet and grab the closest stick, and I can’t help but laugh. Boys and their toys.

“Prepare yourself, brother!” Vicy says in a posh tone.

Taz grins as he holds his stick out as if it were a sword. “You will be the only one falling this day.”

I cover my mouth to quiet the giggles that bubble out of me. Mac and Dean stand beside me with smirks. Mac bumps my shoulder as he whispers, “It’s good to see you laugh and smile.”

I turn to look up at him with a grin. “Thank you.”

He bends, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Anything for you, Chérie.”

When I hear Vicy yelp and Taz laugh manically, I jerk around to find Vicy on the floor, Taz’s hockey stick held to his throat. Taz grins as he looks over at me. “Did you see? Did you see me win?”

I snort at his excitement. “I saw, Taz.”

He puffs out his chest and announces, “I have won this battle for thy lady’s honor.”

“I didn’t realize my honor was in question,” I say with a smirk.

He shrugs as Vicy swats the stick away from his neck. “It sounded cool to say.”

I hear giggling girls behind me and huff out a sigh, trying to ignore the whispers. I’m successful until I hear, “Guess they are only good for hockey. Doesn’t look like they have brain cells for anything else.”

That makes my hackles rise, and Dean and Mac each grab one of my hands. Dean squeeze and grunts, “Ignore them, Ice Princess.”

I take a deep breath before nodding. It’s not worth it. Though my composure falls when I hear another girl snicker. “It’s possible they only have one brain cell to share between the two of them.”

That’s it! No one fucks with my boys. I rip my hands out of Mac and Dean’s as I spin to face the girls. They look posh and are wearingwaytoo much makeup to appear natural. I arch a brow, pointing between them as I say, “And I suppose you have more than one brain cell between the four of you?”

Their eyes widen before narrowing on me, mean girl style. One of the girls—who I just know is going to respond with a horrible comeback—opens her mouth, but I interrupt. “Don’t FUCK with my boys, or I’ll show you how bloody hockey can really be.”

They gasp in horror as one of the fake blonde bimbo’s squeals, “Bitch!”

I’m sure my grin is deadly as I say, “Proud president of the bitch squad, now move along.” Miming a shooing motion, I continue, “Wouldn’t want to kill off that one brain cell you share with our company.”

The girls rush off, bickering and hissing insults, but I don’t care. They don’t faze me. I’m suddenly lifted into the air, and I look down to see Taz with a grin on his face. “Damn, Liz!”

Vicy snorts and smirks. “Seems she’s fought and won the battle for our honor.”

Taz shifts me, so I’m on his shoulder as he chants, “Liz! Liz! Liz!”

I can’t help but laugh as the others pick up the chant. Today started out shitty, but it’s definitely turned into one of my favorite memories.

Chapter Twenty-Two

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