Page 77 of Cold as Ice

“I’m just saying. He’s probablyveryentertaining. Maybe not so much annoying, though,” Elliott pointed out.

Brody rolled his eyes. “What is Ramsey telling you these days? Dean’s just a friend. A roommate and a friend.”

“Sure, he is,” Elliott said knowingly.

“Heis,” Brody said, laughing now.

But Elliott was still not convinced. “Well, I’m your first call when you decide to come clean about how you’re climbing his hotness like a tree.”

Brody shot him a knowing look. “And here I thought you were only into Malcolm.”

“I’m . . .” They’d agreed not to tell anyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m notintoMal. He’s an annoyance,at best.”

“Uh-huh. You’re a terrible fucking liar, Ell.” Brody’s eyes twinkled. “But,I get it.”

Elliott wanted to do a fist pump and yell,I knew it, but Brody hadn’texactlyadmitted it yet. But he would. Someday.

“Speaking of Dean, I actually gotta go. I said I’d study with him tonight,” Brody said.

And just like that, Elliott was ditched, and he couldn’t even say he was mad, because he got it. He would love to saunter over to where Mal was talking to Ivan and convince him, without worrying who saw or what they thought, to come back to his place again for some more hands-on tutoring.

But he didn’t. Instead, he stopped and got a refill on his drink and headed over to one of the pinball machines. This one was Star Wars themed, but thenewStar Wars, with Kylo Ren glowering out from its upper artwork and Rey next to him, lightsaber alight and a fierce expression on her face.

He was halfway through his second round, enjoying the challenge of finding the exact right spots to hit when he heard steps behind him.

It was stupid, but he hoped it was Mal.

It wasn’t.

It was Zach.

“You’re pretty good at that,” Zach observed.

“Sometimes,” Elliott agreed.

“Good instincts and good reflexes,” Zach added.

Elliott knew he was going to ask about the shot before he even did. It was funny, he’d been questioned more about that shot—thathadn’tactually gone into the net—than some goals he’d actually scored.

“It’s why I’m good on the ice, too,” Elliott said.

Zach nodded. “Still doesn’t explain that shot.”

“My sister Macey called it pure fucking magic,” Elliott said. He almost asked Zach why he wasn’t over by Mal, interrogatinghimabout it. But Mal wouldn’t have answered, they all knew that. “Would’ve been quite the goal if it had gone in.”

“I just wanna know how Mal knew you were there. I was only watching and I barely knew you were there.”

Elliott shrugged and flicked one of the levers on the machine. “We’ve been playing together awhile now.”

“And I want to know how Mal’s suddenly out there skating like that.” He paused. Waiting, Elliott assumed, until he’d lost his ball. Which he did a second later. “Why he’s skating like you.”

“He’s not. He’s . . .he just wanted to win, that was all. Frustrated that we gave up those two goals so quick.”

“Right.” Zach didn’t seem convinced.

“Did Ramsey invite Coach, too?” Elliott asked.

Zach laughed. “Yeah, he sure did. Some pair on that guy. But Coach sent me instead. Wanted me to make sure nobody gets up to any trouble.”

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