Page 72 of Born of Ice

At the back of my mind a funny thought trickles in, I haven’t seen Exton watch a single hockey game while he’s been here all this time—and it’s been weeks now. I’ve never even heard him talk about his team apart from his explanations that he will be back with them as soon as I stand up. But that’s it. Even now as he watches his friend approach, he frowns, and I find that weird.

Looks like I’m not the only one keeping a few more secrets here.

“Electra!” Severin shouts wearing a beaming smile as he climbs out of his car, his caramel-blonde hair perfectly styled, his black puffer jacket looks as expensive as it probably is and a few neck tattoos are visible from the neckline, giving him that bad boy aura when he doesn’t possess a single bad boy bone in his body. His well-worn dark wash jeans mold his goalie ass as well as I remember from the last time.

I smile and wave to him as he rounds the car to the passenger side and pulls out a huge box with a big, red bow on top of it.

I’m vaguely aware of how stiff Aurora’s body has gone and how I barely see any condensation coming from her mouth as if she’s not breathing much. I want to ask if she’s okay, but Sava is right in front of us now, standing in all of his six foot something large glory.

“Hey,” I greet him with a smile of my own at the same time as a splash of cold ice hits my face, making me aware of Exton’spresence here as well. “Asshole,” I grumble, wiping at the icy water. “What was that for?”

“You looked like you needed to cool off,” he tells me with his narrowed eyes going between me and his best friend.

Now what is his problem?

“Exton.” Sava greets him with that chin tilt the men do and he gives him one of his own, but much cooler. “I see everything is as it was here? You are still your charming self?” he asks with light humor, but my hulk doesn’t take it as such.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you have a game…sometime soon.” It’s my turn to narrow my eyes.

Does he not even know the schedule of the games?

“We do, tomorrow, but it’s against New York and I had some free time today to make it out here to see you guys.”

“Mm-hmm, okay, you saw us, now you can go back.”

“Exton!” I smack his thigh, and he frowns at me. “That’s not nice.”

“Since when did you think I was?”

“Apologize,” I say tightly, and he looks like he wants to strangle me but then he grits out, “Sorry.”

“Like you mean it, Exton.”

“Fuck no, he came here to flirt with you. The fuck am I supposed to be nice to him for?” Well, that comment shuts me up real quick, and I look between them, my mouth opening and closing without anything coming out of it.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Severin muses to himself, shaking his head as an amused smile plays on his lips. “Oh, man, I didn’t think I’d see the day.”

“Shut up, asshole, and drive away,” Exton snarks back but there is no bite behind it this time.

Sava still shakes with silent laughter, setting that big box on the ground at my feet but the laughter dies out as soon as he lifts up and finally notices someone sitting next to me.

That someone who was doing a good job at impersonating an unmovable, stiff doll up until now.

Until Severin’s eyes find her and she shudders. I swear, I see that same shudder run through him as if the same bolt of lightning slashed through them both at the same time.

“Oh, um…” He clears his throat, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously and his easy attitude from a minute ago, long gone. “Will you introduce us?” he asks but doesn’t tear his eyes off hers.

“This is my friend, Aurora. Aurora, this is Exton’s friend and goalie for Outlaws, Sever—” but I don’t get to finish as a shrill shriek of excitement echoes through the lake.

“Mr. Brick!” We all hear a small voice skate around Exton and all but plant face first into the bit of snow in front of us in his excitement to see yet another famous NHL player.

“Easy there, kid, we still need you in one piece.” Exton helps him up, chuckling. “I see you know Mr. Brick here as well?”

I can only assume that Mr. Brick is Severin’s hockey nickname.

“Are you kidding me? Who doesn’t?”

“Hey, little man.” Sava drops to his hunches in front of Emett. “It seems a little unfair that you know my name, but I don’t know yours,” he says with a smile.

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