Page 16 of Ice-Cold Truth

The words slip out before I can stop them: “It’s a date.”

Chapter 7: Jack

Elyse and I decide on a nice Italian place downtown for dinner. The atmosphere is romantic, with soft lighting and candles flickering on each table.

“This place is beautiful,” she says, looking around with an appreciative smile. “How’d you find it?”

I shrug one shoulder. “Just stumbled across it one night after a game. The team was celebrating, but I wasn’t really in the mood for a wild party.”

Her olive-green eyes study me curiously. “Why not? Don’t hockey players love to go out and let loose after a big win?”

“Sure, some guys do.” I take a sip of my wine, pondering how much to reveal. “I used to be more into that scene, but…” I trail off as memories of my disastrous relationship with Karina resurface.

She seems to sense my hesitation and reaches across the table, placing her soft hand over mine. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, Jack. I’m just happy to be here with you tonight.”

The gentle understanding in her gaze makes me want to open up in a way I haven’t with anyone in years. “My ex, Karina…things didn’t end well between us. She made celebrating tough for a while after the breakup.”

Elyse’s brow furrows. “What happened?”

I let out a rueful chuckle. “The story of my life with Karina? Grab a drink because it’s a long one.”

She leans back, folding her hands on the table. “I’m all ears.”

Taking a fortifying breath, I begin. “Karina and I met in college back in Michigan…”

The words start pouring out, and I recount the whole sordid tale—how Karina and I had been the quintessential college sweethearts, how I’d been blindly in love and oblivious to her wandering eye until it was too late. “I came home early from a road trip one night to surprise her,” I say, my voice hardening at the memory. “Found her in our bed with some guy from my team.”

Elyse’s eyes widen in shock. “Oh, Jack, I’m so sorry…”

I wave off her sympathy. “It was a long time ago. The real nightmare came after I ended things. Karina just wouldn’t let go. She became obsessed, started showing up everywhere, and harassing any woman I so much as looked at.” Shaking my head, I stare down at my hands. “It got to the point where I just…stopped trying to date, you know? Wasn’t worth the hassle of her losing it every time.”

Silence falls between us for a heavy moment. When I finally meet her gaze again, her eyes are shining with unshed tears. “That’s awful. No wonder you’ve been so guarded.”

I attempt a casual shrug, but it feels forced even to me. “It is what it is. I’m over it now.” Am I, though? A small part of me wonders since this date with Elyse is my first real one in more than two years.

She seems to pick up on my uncertainty and surprises me by standing to move to my side of the table and sliding into the booth next to me. “You may be over Karina,” she says, taking my hand again, “But you’re still hurting from what she put you through. It’s okay to admit that.”

Her words and tender touch unleash an aching vulnerability inside me that I’ve suppressed for far too long. I turn to face her, our bodies just inches apart. “You’re right,” I say roughly. “I am hurting. Karina broke something in me and made me afraid to really let anyone in again.”

Elyse holds my gaze steadily. “But you want to? Let someone in, I mean?”

My eyes drop to her full, pink lips. “More than anything,” I say in a low rasp.

She tilts her head a fraction of an inch. “Then let me in.”

My breath catches as I close the distance between us, capturing her lips in a kiss. She melts against me with a soft moan, sliding her fingers into my hair as the kiss deepens.

We’re both breathing heavily when we finally part at the sight of our returning waiter heading towards us. Her cheeks are flushed, and her lips are swollen from my kisses. She’s never looked more beautiful.

“Wow,” she whispers, dazed. “That was…”

“Yeah,” I say hoarsely. I clear my throat. “You, uh, want to get out of here?”

She bites her lower lip, nodding. “Definitely.”

We quickly pay the check and make our way outside, my arm looped possessively around her waist. As we walk toward my car, a flash of blonde hair across the street catches my eye. My heart stutters in my chest as I make out the familiar, petite figure of Karina Musgrave, my ex. She’s staring right at me, her icy eyes glittering with malice.

“Jack?” Elyse’s concerned words break through my daze. “What’s wrong?”

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