Page 44 of As You Ice It

Parker points toward a guy at the far end, helping a mixed group of guys and a few girls. He has chiseled features, and I can just catch a glimpse of white-blond hair peeking out of his helmet.

“Is he still single?” Grey sounds hopeful.

Parker laughs. “Yes. But he’s a little young for you. And do you think your brother would let him get anywhere near you?”

Greyson’s look turns mischievous. “What Van doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Also considering my brother secretly married the coach’s daughter, I’m not sure he gets to have an opinion on anything.”

Now, there’s an interesting tidbit. But I don’t get to ask about it because they’re still going.

“But Van will still give you his opinion,” Parker says. “Just like my brother did about Logan. You have a brother, right, Naomi? I think I heard he’s a lawyer?”

I have to wonder what else she’s heard. “Yep. And he’s stupidly overprotective.”

Greyson extends her fist out in front of us. “Stupid brothers club?”

The three of us bump fists. “Stupid brothers club,” I agree. But only because it’s clear all three of us love our stupid, overprotective brothers.

I wonder what Jake is going to say about me reconnecting with Camden. Even if it’s not anything to speak of, I think even having him involved with Liam is something Jake will have Strongly Worded Thoughts about.

I glance back out over the ice where Camden has Liam picking up speed and then balancing on one skate. He’s coming our way, wobbling and weaving, his face tight with concentration. Camden skates next to him, clearly encouraging him through the exercise. Liam stops by smacking right into the glass near us. With a big smile, he waves. All three of us wave back. When Liam turns back around, he eats it again.

Parker winces. “He’ll get it. Just takes a little while.”

“Do either of you skate?” I ask.

“I do,” Parker says, which somehow doesn’t surprise me at all. “I did figure skating for years because my dad wouldn’t let me play hockey.”

“I don’t skate. I wonder if Dominik would teach me?” Grey says with a sigh. “How young did you say he is?”

“I didn’t. But he’s nineteen, I think?”

“Hm,” Grey says. “I’ll round up. Because that only makes us three years apart, but the idea of dating a teenager sounds really yucky.”

“Probably. I can help set that up if you’d like,” Parker offers. “Just don’t tell Van I helped. I love playing matchmaker.”

“You do, don’t you?” I give her a look, thinking of the way she scooped up Liam for a Summit tour and left me alone with Camden last week.

She ignores the question. “Hey, want to go out with us this week? Grey and I are planning to have dinner with some of the ladies.”

“She means the WAGs,” Grey says. “Wives and girlfriends of the players.”

Parker rolls her eyes. “Ugh. I hate that term. It’s too close tohags. Also, it’s defining women in terms of men, which I don’t like.”

“Don’t get started with ALL,” Greyson says. “None of us like it.”

“ALL?” I ask.

“Appies Leading Ladies,” Parker says. “I keep trying, but it just won’t happen.”

“Like fetch?” I ask, and Parker laughs.

“Exactly like fetch.”

Grey looks between us. “Fetch like … a dog?”

“Oh, you sweet, dear baby,” Parker says.

“I’m barely younger than you,” Grey points out.

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