Page 23 of Ice Melts

He pointed to her phone with his head. “Your phone has been going off.”

She couldn’t tell, but assumed he saw at least some of the content. How could he not? She picked it up and regretted looking. Jess really wanted her to go after Travis’ team. Something was going down there and it looked like it was big. The phone dinged again. From Jess. “Breaking news. No one knows where Travis Jenkins is. He disappeared shortly after team membered was put on probation and no one can confirm if he was at the rager. Multiple car accidents and driving incidents occurred. Don’t you know him or something?”

She wanted to put the phone in a drawer and ignore it the rest of the night, but she hesitated.

Travis frowned. “It’s been going off almost nonstop. If you need to take it, keep your people happy.” He looked away.

“Did you look at my phone?”

“I couldn’t help seeing it a few times. It would vibrate and I’d glance.” He didn’t look very apologetic.

“Apparently your team is in some trouble.”

“I gathered.”

“And they’re looking for you.”

“What? Who is?”

“The press.” She shrugged.

“Well, my family knows where I am and my coach, and that’s all that matters to me.”

“Tatum knows?” Sarah grinned.

“Well, let me revise. They know I’m in Detroit and wanted to stop by the house. No one knows I’m here with you.”

She nodded slowly. Did he want to add, “And I’d like to keep it that way?” When they were at odds, he was so difficult to read.She was almost in front of the couch with their snacks sort of waiting to see what she should do.

He stood and took it from her. “This looks amazing.”

She shrugs. “It’s just popcorn.”

“And the vintage rootbeer stash. Best brand ever is always here in the fridge.” He opened both bottle caps. “Did you notice the snow?”

“What?” She craned her neck to look out the window, but it was too dark to see.

“Come here.” He moved to the door, turned on the porch light and thick flakes were clumping from the ski and piling onto the earth all around them.

“Wow, that’s not going anywhere. How many inches while I was in the kitchen?”

“For the record, it took you forever to do the dishes, but there’s already four inches.”

She elbowed him gently. “That place hasn’t been cleaned in ages.”

“And now was the best time for a deep clean?”

She turned to him and was immediately caught in a sincere pair of eyes, looking deeply into hers. Without turning away, she shook her head. “I don’t want to be at odds with you. It’s difficult to keep everyone happy: you, me, my boss, Tatum.”

“I know. A part of me knows that.” He pulled her into a hug. “Can we hug it out?”

She stepped closer into his arms, wanting to be on good terms with him, wanting to let go of her hurt, hoping to trust him. But she didn’t really know what to expect. Would it be weird? Awkward? Did she have to hug him and then go right back to being at odds with him? The two seconds it took to step closer were filled with enough battling emotion to fill a room full of teenagers, but instead of feeling more tense, she melted into a pool of relief. The tension and worry and stress just left. Hishands held her, not like any hug she’d had in the past. She felt cradled and important and precious. Her head fit right under his chin. She pressed her face against his chest. His heart pounded a welcome to her. He was the perfect fit in every way. A cozy warmth started right in her breast and made its way out from the center.

He hummed. “Can we make it all go away?”

“Make what go away again?”

He chuckled, almost silently, but she felt it rumble from his chest. The sensation made her smile. Could they not just stay like this forever?

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