Page 67 of A Little Complicated

His mouth twitches as he bows at the waist and motions to the icy bath. “Ladies first.”

Everett and Griffin reset the timer as I approach the tub. I dip my fingers into the frigid water, yanking them out just as fast.

“Cold?” Maverick questions with a quirked brow.

It’s freezing. Like, freeze your tits off freezing with a side of frostbite, but I’m not about to tell him that. Thanks to playing hockey, I’ve been around my fair share of ice baths, and maybe it’s because Maverick’s right, and I’ve found a way to avoid themwaymore than I probably should, but they never get easier.

Why, Ophelia? Why did you have to open your big, fat mouth?

“You can always back down, ya know,” Mav suggests, moving closer to me. “Ask one of us to take the plunge for you if you wanna pull the damsel in distress card.”

I glare back at him. “I think I can handle it.”

“Oh?”

“Mm-hmm,” I hum, but evenIcan hear the indecision in my voice.

“Wait, wait, I gotta film this,” Griffin announces. He grabs his phone from the folding table with the giant timer and starts recording me.

With my head held high, I lift my leg over the edge, dip my toe into the water and yank it back, planting my foot on solid ground. It isn’t even a choice at this point. My body’s own self-preservation instincts are kicking in, making it impossible to sit in the water even if I wanted to. And I do want to. If only to prove a point. To prove I’m not a big fat baby like the girls Maverick has been flirting with all afternoon.

Man, you’re pathetic, a tiny voice whispers, but I shove it aside, approaching the stupid tub again.

“C’mon, Lia. Get in,” Griffin prods.

I glare back at him, and he laughs, keeping his phone lens pointed at me.

Sensing my frustration, Maverick steps between me and the stupid phone, dropping his voice so only I can hear him. “All right, Opie, I know you. And I know you wanna get out of this.”

“I don’t—”

“I also know you won’t back down,” he adds, “so I have a suggestion.”

I pull my attention from the wet, matted grass beneath my feet to a pair of stormy blue eyes. “What type of suggestion?” I murmur.

“I get in with you. I’ll go first, and you can sit between my legs.”

“What does that prove?” I ask.

“It proves you’re a badass with an overprotective boyfriend who said I need to get in the water with you.”

My brows tug. “But Archer didn’t—”

“Just take the offer, Opie.”

Shaking my arms out as if preparing for battle, I answer, “Okay, fine.”

“All right, guys, Archer didn’t want me to make this a thing, but he insisted I keep an eye on Opie here, which includes helping her with the ice plunge. So if you wanna give anyone shit, give it to him.” Maverick’s steps are strong and sure as he climbs into the water without even flinching and motions for me to join him. If I wait too long, I’m pretty sure his toes will freeze off, so I force my legs to move and step into the tub with him. Ice shoots up my spine, pulling a gasp from me when Maverick sits down and tugs me with him.

My lungs freeze, refusing to work as his hands wrap around me, pressing my back to his front.

“Breathe,” he orders against the shell of my ear.

I let out a tiny whimper, and he holds me tighter. “Breathe with me, Goose.”

His chest expands on a breath, and I force mine to follow suit, breathing in oxygen as the timer counts down beside us.

“Give us another five,” Mav orders.

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