Page 39 of On Thin Ice

Dom: Can we talk after the game?

Dom: Fuck. Are you okay?

My heart did a little flutter at the last text.

Do. Not. Fall. For. Him. Stupid hormones, or maybe just heartburn again.

Ally: Yeah, I am. Darcy said there was a scene. Is everyone okay?

At least he’d immediately texted me. That was something, right?

Ally: You’re probably not going to see this since it’s almost puck drop.

Ally: We’ll talk later.

Then, I clicked on my brother’s name.

Ethan: Dom got you pregnant?

Ethan: I’m going to kill him.

Ethan: Are you okay? He said you just told him.

Ethan: Then he ran his fucking mouth and told the entire damn team. I know you had your reasons for not telling me, but are you really okay with everything?

Ethan: Fuck. Coach is yelling at us to put away our phones. Come down during intermission or after the game to talk, okay?

Ethan: It’ll be fine. I can’t guarantee that I won’t punch him tonight.

Ethan: Nature of the game, of course.

My laugh was strangled.

Hell, my entire body was a twisted knot.

Then, the little diva chose that moment to start doing acrobatics in my stomach, and I put my hand over my bump. A wave of calm rolled through me.

“It’s going to be okay, right?” I accidentally said out loud.

Darcy put her hand over mine. “Of course, it is. I mean, everyone would’ve found out eventually. Especially since Dom’s fully in your life and wants to be an involved parent.”

“I know. I just finally had a plan. I was going to get through tonight and then tell my family tomorrow when Ethan couldn’t retaliate on the ice. Ethan warned me off Dom so many times over the years.” I’d had control of the situation—I mean, in that it had been up to me when I wanted to let everyone know about Dom. And now that was out the window.

“Which is partly why you flew to him like a moth to a flame,” Darcy said with a tiny grin. “You could say this is all Ethan’s fault.”

I returned the expression. “Maybe a little. And don’t tell my brother it’s his fault. He might lose it.”

“The good news is that no one was injured before the game started and hopefully, the refs won’t allow a full beatdown on the ice.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, great news.”

“It’ll be fine, promise. But are you okay?”

“I’m not sure. I had a plan, and now that’s out, but you’re right.” I drew in a deep breath. “It’ll be fine.”

“Just let Ethan talk to your belly for a bit, and he’ll calm down.”

I smiled. “He’s smitten with the idea of being an uncle.”

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