Page 27 of Off the Ice

His phone buzzed, and he glanced at it before tilting the screen toward me. “You in the mood for Chinese?”

“Always,” I replied with a grin.

“Any preferences?” he asked, already opening the delivery app.

“Something spicy,” I said, leaning closer to scan the menu. “And definitely dumplings.”

He chuckled, his fingers tapping quickly as he added items to the cart. “Spicy and dumplings. Got it.”

When he finished, he slid his phone back into his pocket, turning his attention fully to me. “You’re going to love this place. Best General Tso’s chicken in the city.”

“Bold claim,” I teased, arching a brow. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

***

Logan’s penthouse was just as sleek and impressive as I remembered. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, and the open layout made the space feel even larger. Despite the modern design, the living room had a lived-in quality—a well-worn leather couch, a throw blanket draped over one arm, and a few magazines scattered on the coffee table.

Logan shrugged off his jacket and draped it over a chair. “Make yourself at home,” he said, disappearing down the hall. “I’ll grab you something more comfortable to wear.”

I wandered into the living room, my gaze drifting over the shelves lined with books and framed photos. One caught my attention—a shot of Logan as a kid, standing on the ice with his grandad, both of them grinning ear to ear. It was impossible not to smile at the image. When I turned back toward the couch, something else caught my eye. A stack of playing cards sat on the coffee table, the unmistakable colors of Uno peeking out from beneath the deck.

I couldn’t resist picking it up, fanning through the cards. Logan reappeared a moment later, dressed in gray sweats and a black hoodie, holding a folded bundle of clothes in his hands.

“Uno?Really?” I asked, holding up the deck with a grin.

“It's a fun game,” he said with a wink and a , nod toward the bundle. “Sweats and a hoodie. Should fit.”

“Thanks,” I said, taking the clothes from him. “But more importantly, when’s the last time you played Uno?”

“Couple weeks ago,” he admitted, smirking. “Jaymie, Darren and I got into a heated game during an away trip. I’ve got a killer strategy, by the way. Fair warning.”

I rolled my eyes. “Is that a challenge?”

“Always,” he replied, his grin widening. “But we should make it interesting. Wine and Uno, high stakes.”

The bell rang, signaling the delivery’s arrival. Logan moved to buzz them up while I ducked into the bathroom to change. The sweats were a little baggy, but the hoodie was soft and smelled faintly of him, clean, warm, and a little distracting. By the time I emerged, the food had arrived. Logan was setting up the takeout containers around the coffee table, the scent of sesame oil and soy sauce filling the air. A bottle of wine sat open on the counter, two glasses already poured.

“This is cozy,” I said, sitting cross-legged on the couch as I reached for a dumpling.

“That’s the point,” Logan said, shuffling the deck of Uno cards with a practiced ease. “Game night is supposed to be fun.”

We started with a few rounds, the food between us disappearing faster than I expected. Logan had a way of making even the most casual banter feel like a game, throwing in playful jabs every time I forgot to draw or missed a chance to block him.

“Alright,” he said after another win, leaning back against the couch with a smirk. “Time to up the stakes.” Two bottles of wine had disappeared between and went down as easy as water.

I raised a brow, popping a piece of broccoli into my mouth. “What kind of stakes?”

He set his glass down, his smirk turning into something more mischievous. “Strip Uno.”

I nearly choked on my wine. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” His eyes sparkled with amusement, the devilish glint in them making my pulse jump. “Rule number one: if you forget to say Uno, you strip. Completely.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “That’s bold of you to assume I’ll forget.”

Logan leaned in, his smirk widening. “Rule number two: if you play a Wild card, you get to put an item of clothing back on. If you’re lucky.”

My stomach flipped, but I rolled my eyes, refusing to let him see how his little game was already getting under my skin. “Sounds like a weak safety net for you, considering you’re the one who’s been losing all night.”

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