Page 29 of Cold as Ice

“We all noticed that you and Ell were being weirder than normal,” Ramsey pointed out.

“Elliott’s the one being weird,” Malcolm said and then wished he could snatch the words back. Because there was a telltale gleam in Ramsey’s gaze that told him he’d betrayed too much.

“Don’t like it when he ignores you, huh?” Ramsey said bluntly.

Mal rolled his eyes. “That isn’t . . .no.”

“I think you hated it. ’Course, it’s not like he enjoyed it either. When he’s trying to show you up he’s got a whole other level.”

It was the exact same conclusion he’d come to, and the hypothesis he’d tested by poking Elliott in a spot he knew might be vulnerable. He wasn’t proud that it had worked, but ithadworked. Elliott had gotten pissed off and had played like a demon for the next two periods.

But just because they’d both been right didn’t mean Mal wanted to admit it.

Especially to Ramsey.

“Come on,” Ramsey continued, tone entreating. “You know I’m right.”

“Ugh, yes, but don’t . . .don’t read something into it. Especially something that’s not there,” Mal said.

The Lovejoy Apartments came up on their right, emerging from the damp gloom.

Ramsey stopped in front of them, an expectant look on his face, like he knew Mal wouldn’t just turn around and walk away.

“You sure there’s nothing there?” Ramsey asked.

He heard her before he saw her.

“Oh, hey, Mal,” Jane exclaimed as she walked up behind him. “And Ramsey.”

“Honey,” Ramsey said, smirking.

Mal shot him a glare. “Don’t,” he said.

“Oh, Ramsey’s harmless,” Jane said, tilting her head in the very-not-harmless Ramsey’s direction.

“I’m gonna have to side with you on this one, Mal,” Ramsey agreed. “Nowhere near harmless. But really, think about it, okay? ’Cause I think, and so would you, if you really considered it, youactuallyshould be reading something into it.” He shot Jane another wink and then turned and sauntered off.

“What was that about?” Jane asked as Mal unlocked the door to their first floor apartment.

“Don’t ask,” Mal muttered.

“I saw on my phone alerts you guys won.” She gave him a look. “Started a bit slow, though.”

“Don’t ask about the first period,” Mal muttered.

“Why? What happened?” Jane frowned, setting her book bag on the couch. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Mal said, even though he wasn’t sure that was actually true anymore.

He felt . . .discombobulated.

By what Ramsey had said? By whathe’dsaid to Elliott working so well the guy had gone on a tear at the end of the game?

He didn’t want to be tied to Elliott this way. It made him uncomfortable. And the more he looked at it, the more Ramsey and even Jane pushed him to look at it, the more uncomfortable he was with it.

“I’m not sure you are,” Jane said, tucking her knees underneath her on the couch. “You want to talk about it?”

“Not yet,” Mal said. He needed to understand it better himself, first.

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