Page 7 of Cold as Ice

“So?”

“Soalone. So lonely.”

“Those aren’t the same thing,” he said, to avoid the question.

If there evenwasa question there.

“Where’s the key that unlocks you? Makesyouhappy?” she demanded with all the delicacy of the drunk.

“Iamhappy. Dean’s list. And Coach all but promised me first line, this year,” Malcolm insisted. Not sure why he was going to the trouble with this girl. He should just change the subject.

The way he’d kept trying to do with Elliott.

Elliott hadalsoblundered in with the finesse of an elephant, all outraged, oversized bruised ego when Mal hadn’t been interested.

Well, that isn’t necessarily true, is it?

But for a moment, Malhadlooked at him and felt something. That same something that probably led to people making very stupid mistakes and then regretting them in the morning.

Before he shut it down, anyway.

He knew better than to go down that road, again. Especially with a guy like that.

“There’s more to life than school and hockey,” Jane protested.

“Come on,” Mal said, lifting her to her feet easily. “Let’s get you into your room and some water in you. You’ll be glad in the morning.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Mal said firmly. He tugged her by the arm, gentle but insistent, pulling her into her single, next door to his, after he’d unlocked the door with the red glitter key.

He deposited her on the edge of her twin bed, decked out in delicate purple florals. In the future, he’d need to keep a better eye out for her. The Alexes of the world would take advantage, so easily, of all this kind, innocent sweetness, and there were enough crumbs of his own left in him that explained his concern.

He didn’t want her to be another him by the end of her freshman year.

“I looked for you, at the party,” she said, as he leaned over and rummaged through her mini-fridge, finally unearthing a bottle of orange Gatorade.

He passed it over to her, but instead of opening it, she toyed with the lid.

Mal realized she was waiting for an actual answer.

“I was at the Gamma Sigma party,” he said. “Must’ve been a different party.”

“Must’ve been. I don’t remember which house it was.” She looked painfully young like this, feet not even reaching the floor as they dangled over the edge of the bed. “Alex wanted to take shots at his place, first.”

“Goddamn Alex,” Mal growled. “You should’ve told him no. You don’tneedshots.”

“I was nervous,” she admitted with a sardonic smile. “I wanted him to like me. Don’t you ever want anyone to like you?”

Just once.

“No. I don’t need people’s affection, I’m just fine on my own. Self-sufficiency is important,” Mal said, painfully aware he sounded just like his father.

It had never hit him as hard as it did right now.

He forced himself to soften his tone. “But I get it. You like him.”

“Ilikedhim.”

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