Page 97 of As You Ice It

“What is this?” I ask, trying to wiggle free.

This only results in Eli throwing himself on top of both Van and Nathan. Only, instead of being sideways, he’s lying in the same direction I am, so his face is about a foot above mine.

“This,” Eli says, “is a gift from Naomi.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.”

“He’s telling the truth.” Naomi’s voice is in the room, and I realize Logan is holding up his phone with an active call. “I didn’t ask them to do whatever it is they’re doing.”

“Assault is what they’re doing,” I grumble. “What did youaskthem to do?”

“I asked them to get you on the phone since you’ve been refusing to answer my calls or texts.”

“So, remember, this is your fault,” Van says.

“Right,” I say. “Can you all leave now so I can talk to my girlfriend?”

Eli grins down at me. “Nope. We’ve been instructed to stay for the conversation.”

“You want to have a conversation with me while these guys are listening in?” I ask Naomi.

“I don’t really care who listens in as long asyoulisten, Cole.”

“Oooh, someone’s in trouble,” Van whispers from my legs. “She’s pulling out the last name.”

“Shut it, Vanity,” Naomi says, and several of the guys start laughing. “Maybe all of you could also shut up? Respectfully,” she adds.

I think I just fell in love with her a little bit more.

“Guys,” Nathan says. “Be quiet. I want to get this done and go to sleep.”

“The floor is yours, Naomi,” Logan says. “Camden is listening.”

“Along with the rest of you,” I mutter.

Naomi jumps right in. “Camden, I owe you an apology. A big one.”

I’m the one who owes her an apology. But I feel totally weird talking about this with all of the guys listening in. “I don’t think that’s true, but okay.”

“It is true. When you told me you loved me?—”

The guys break out into whistles andooohsuntil Nathan yells, “I swear if all of you don’t shut up now andstayshut up …”

“You’ll what?” Van challenges.

Nathan shifts, which makes Eli roll off of me and onto the floor. I can’t see what Nathan does to Van, but he howls in pain.

Someone starts banging on the wall.

“Enough.”

This one word cracks like a whip through the room. Dominik is the one who said it, and I’m surprised to find that everyone actually listens.

“I promise this won’t take long,” Naomi says. “Camden, when you told me you loved me, I was completely shocked. In the best way. But I hadn’t expected it. And then the whole car horn thing happened—shut up Van,” she says just as he starts to chuckle. A few of the guys try to hide their laughter. I even find myself smiling.

“I felt like the mood was ruined, so I decided to save it for the right time,” Naomi continues. “I thought I’d know when that was, and it would be really special.”

“That’s sweet,” Eli whispers from the floor.

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