Page 132 of Iced Out

“New York?” I repeat, my gaze locking with Quinton’s. The second the words leave my lips, his eyes might as well bug out of his head, and he grabs the phone out of my hand, switching Louis to speaker.

“Surely you’re joking,” comes from Quinn, whose eyes haven’t left mine. “And if you are, you’re fucking fired because that shit isn’t funny.”

“Well, hello to you too, Quinton,” Louis says, and I can almost see the smirk on his face at Quinn’s threat. If there’s anyone else on this planet who can handle my boyfriend’s temperamental side, it’s Louis.

“Cut the shit. Is this real?”

“You know I can’t be discussing another player’s contract—”

“Louis.” Quinton seethes into the receiver. “Is. This. Real?”

“Quinton—”

“Just answer the question, Louis. Please,” I snap, my temper wearing thin.

Another chuckle comes from him. “Yes, it’s real. You’ve been traded to New York, effective immediately.”

Quinn and I are both rattled from his bombshell as we gape at each other.

Somehow, I find my voice through the shock. “How is this possible?”

A disembodied scoff comes from the phone, floating into the space between Quinn and I. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. I’m one of the best in the business, and when I have two NHL bound prospects who’d like to end up on the same team, I’m gonna do everything in my power to make it happen.”

“But my contract with Philly—”

“There’s a trade clause in it,” he reassures me. “It’s legal, and it’s happening. As of today, you’re officially a player for the New York Knights.”

Quinton lets out a loud whoop, the sound of it echoing off the pavement of the empty parking lot. Then he jumps up and down, almost pumping himself up before squatting in front of me. Excitement and joy dance in those blue eyes as he reels me in for a long, slow kiss that draws a moan out from the back of my throat.

“I, uh…I take it you’re no longer available to talk, Oakley. So just call me tomorrow and we can sort through the paperwork.” I hear him pause before adding, “Congratulations. Both of you.”

The phone beeps, notifying us of the call ending before we could say anything else, but it doesn’t matter. Quinton’s too busy stealing all the oxygen straight from my lungs. Something he’s gonna be able to do a whole lot more now that we’re on the same schedule.

Playing for the same damn team.

I finally break our kiss, resting my forehead against Quinton’s to catch my breath.

“I didn’t think I’d learn to drive a motorcycleandget traded when I woke up this morning.” I blow out another long breath. “It’s almost too much adrenaline for one day.”

“Aw, c’mon,” Quinn chides, a giant grin on his face. “I think this calls for a celebration. A really fucking big one.”

And with that, my boyfriend drops from where he was squatting in front of me to a kneeling position. Specifically ononeknee.

My heart leaps in my throat as I gawk at him, completely at a loss for words now. But somehow, I find them when I notice him digging in the front pocket of his jeans.

“Quinn, I love you, but—”

“Not exactly the word a guy wants to hear afterI love you,Oak.”

True.“But we’ve only been dating—”

“Relax, it’s not what you think,” he says, glancing at me briefly.

But it’s so soon.

“Okay, but Quinn—”

“Baby, can you just shut up?”