Page 110 of Melting the Ice

“It’ll be fine,” Tally said, patting my knee while we sat in the locker room. We were dressed and ready to go, but warm-ups weren’t starting for another fifteen minutes.

“Yeah. She’s coming to the game, and Ray will get his head out of his ass at some point. Sounds like he’s working on it already,” Dom said from the other side of me.

I should have felt slightly bad about laying into Ray earlier this afternoon before I’d left for the arena, but he’d deserved it. Josie should be cherished and loved and respected, especially by her own fucking family. I mean, it wasn’t like his response had totally come out of left field. He’d mentioned her flightiness more than once over the years, but it still pissed me the hell off. Which was exactly what I’d told him.

“I wish I could’ve seen her before the game, at least,” I muttered. I’d filled them in shortly after arriving at the arena this afternoon and fucking hell; they’d laughed their asses off atus getting caught. Neither of them had actually been caught in the act by Cora’s or Ally’s brother, so I guess I was one up on them for that.

“Micah,” Millsy called out as he strode across the locker room toward me.

“Aw, fuck. What’d you do?” Dom asked.

“I have no idea,” I said. Millsy didn’t appear to be glaring at me, so that had to count for something.

“I got Cora texting me that you didn’t get your pregame kiss from Josie, and since we know she’s your good luck charm, head to the dressing room, will ya?” Millsy said with a smirk. “But no fucking. We need to be on the ice soon.”

Dom burst out laughing. Pretty sure a few of the other guys close by did the same.

“He’ll be quick,” Sin called out.

“Fuck off,” I shot back.

“Why’s my girlfriend texting you?” Tally asked.

“Because your phone isn’t in here, idiot,” Millsy said, but I was already on my feet and heading toward the dressing room.

“Go get that kiss,” someone called out.

“I need a good luck charm,” someone else said. I was pretty sure it was Tucks.

I flipped my teammates the bird and walked out without looking at any of them.

Pulling open the door to the dressing room, I spotted Josie next to my stall.

“Hi.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking delectable as always, wearing leggings and my jersey, her purple hair fanning out over her shoulders.

“Why are you nervous right now?” I moved toward her, and she bit her lip.

She sighed, throwing up her hands. “I don’t know. Because today was weird and I didn’t get to see you after I stormed outof your condo, and I’ve felt off all day. And then you told me you loved me in front of my brother.”

I took her hands in mine, dipping my head down because I was extra tall on my skates, and I wanted to make sure she was looking at me. “Stop doubting us. This. If I had my way, it’d be our condo, not mine.”

“Micah,” she whispered.

“I’m in love with you, Josie. My amazing hurricane. And yeah, my timing wasn’t great, but you needed to know how I really felt, and I didn’t want you walking out of that door having any doubts about how much I’ve fallen in love with you. I don’t give a shit what anyone else—including my best friend—thinks. You’re it for me.”

She squeezed my fingers with hers.

“What if I want to leave Denver? If I want to live somewhere else?”

“Is that something you’re considering, or is that your family getting in your head?”

Please be the fucking latter.

A smile played on her lips, and my heart raced.

“I love it here, and I love all my jobs and my new friends.” Then she lifted up on her tiptoes. “But most of all, I’m so totally in love with you, Micahtron.”

“What have I told you about using that nickname right before I kiss you?” I teased, my body on fire for her.

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