Page 18 of Dreams on the Ice

That doesn’t even include the decorations. The flowers and the velvet drapery seem to be hanging on every surface. I wish I were here under any other circumstance because everything looks freaking awesome.

Like, beyond amazing.

After scanning the room and noticing all the glitz and glamour, my eyes take in the people. Everyone is dressed much like we are—in suits and fancy dresses. I’m not wearing a super high-end designer dress again, but it looks as if it was made for my body alone.

A strapless corset-style back, and the front is tight, with underwires beneath my breasts. The fabric is satin and hugs me from the chest to the middle of my knees. It feels smooth against my skin.

My shoes and handbag are the highlight yet again, the pop of color against the stark, plain black dress. Another pair of gold shoes that are high-heeled sandals. The straps wrap around my ankle, rhinestone flowers curling from toe to ankle as showstoppers. And in my hand, I’m holding a dark-red meshStella McCartney.

As we move into the room, Forrest hands me a glass of champagne, which I eagerly accept. With all the hustle and bustle, the bruised and battered knuckles, I didn’t get a chance to tell him about my eventful afternoon, but let’s just say that this is needed.

Moving through the room, I glance around at the men, looking for any signs of who talked shit and got told what’s up by Forrest’s fist. I don’t notice anyone immediately, but I’msure they’ll pop up. These rich assholes love to swing their dicks around.

“Oh, Forrest,” a woman’s voice purrs.

I know that woman and that voice. Wincing, I suck in a breath, holding it for a moment before I let it out slowly. It’s a wonder that my fist isn’t swollen from punching her in the face after the brunch that I was forced to endure at her side.

Yes, Forrest’s mother made sure that we were sitting next to one another. I know she did it to be a bitch. I wanted to say or do something so many times, but I held my tongue. Because this isn’t about me, this is all about Forrest and his future.

Forrest and I stop. Turning to face her, I make sure to position myself even closer to him. I’m going to be petty for sure when it comes to this bitch. He may not really be mine, but she doesn’t know that, and I’ll never give her the satisfaction of thinking we are anything other than a perfectly happy couple.

That’s what we are. It’s who we are as far as she’s concerned.

“Kiki,” Forrest murmurs.

She moves closer to us, her eyes searching his as she inhales and pushes her chest out. Forrest doesn’t even flinch, and his eyes look nowhere but hers. He smiles. However, she doesn’t.

“So because you’re a big bad hockey player, you think you can go around punching people?” she says, her voice elevated.

She’s trying to cause a scene, but Forrest doesn’t even tense beside me. Not a single muscle moves.

“I don’t. In fact, punching people isn’t really something that I enjoy. However, when someone is disrespectful and refuses to stop, sometimes, that’s what you have to do. And that is what happened.”

Kiki jerks her chin, looking down her nose at Forrest, but I can tell she wants to be staring me down. Considering she did that shit all fucking day long, I know she’s itching to do it again.

“Disrespectful?” she snorts. “My brother would never be disrespectful. What did you do to him?” she demands.

I almost laugh. I should laugh in her face. Her brother. This is great. Her brother is the one who pissed Forrest off enough that he hit him. But I don’t laugh because he pissed Forrest off by talking badly about me.

And ew.

I don’t want anyone who Kiki has any ties to talking in any kind of way about me, especially sexually, which I assume is what happened. It makes me feel just plain icky. I’m not sure why he would say anything about me, but I’m not going to ask for details, either.

“I’m not going to repeat those words. I wouldn’t think them, let alone say them. Just know that your brother deserved it. That’s the end of that. The beef I have with him has nothing to do with you.”

Kiki opens and closes her mouth a few times like a fish, which only makes me want to burst out laughing, but I refrain—barely. Just barely. Biting the inside of my cheek, I taste blood but can’t release it because I’ll say something if I do.

And I don’t need to say anything.

This isn’t my place. These aren’t my people.

This is a world that I don’t understand. This is a world that is not mine, so I’m going to keep my mouth shut. But I can tell that with every word spoken, he’s getting more and more irritated.

“You’ve known my brother since you were kids. That was an asshole move,” she says, but she doesn’t sound angry. In fact, she sounds breathy.

Another ew.

“Kiki, I am walking away from you right now with my woman on my arm, and I don’t wish to speak to you again the rest of the evening.”

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