Page 66 of On Thin Ice

“And Bell, you wear number fifty-five now. Any particular story behind that?”

His smile faltered slightly, his hand brushing over the back of his neck. He hesitated just long enough for the silence to stretch thin, then glanced at me out of the corner of his eye before looking back toward the camera.

“Yeah, actually,” he said, his voice quieter now, less boisterous. “When I was a kid, Ethan was my favorite player. I used to watch his highlights and try to copy the way he skated. I wanted to play where he played. Be like him.”

My throat closed up tight. I couldn’t have spoken, even if I tried.

Bell shifted in his seat, almost like he was bracing himself. Like maybe he hadn’t meant to admit any of that out loud, but now that he had, he was going to double down on the confession. “Obviously, five wasn’t available, so I doubled it.”

He gave a small, awkward shrug like it wasn’t the single most devastating thing anyone had ever said to me.

About me.

I locked my hands on my knees, gripping hard enough to make my knuckles ache, and forced my face to stay neutral. Willing my whole body not to betray me.

Don’t look at him. Don’t let it show.

Blair let out a soft, genuine sound of awe. “Wow. That’s incredible. It must feel pretty special, then, getting to play together now.”

Bell beamed at me, bright and earnest and so goddamn proud. “It’s the best,” he said simply, the corners of his eyes crinkling with warmth.

The back of my neck prickled with heat. I nodded stiffly, my jaw clenched so tight that a muscle twitched visibly in my cheek. My heart hammered against my ribs as I fixed my gaze on a spot just past the camera, afraid my eyes would betray everything I was fighting to hide. Betray how hard I was fighting to stay sitting in that fucking chair.

“And that’s a wrap,” Blair said from behind the camera a few seconds later. She stepped out, an iPad tucked under her arm. “You guys crushed it. Seriously, this series is gonna break the internet.”

Bell gave a quick, almost sheepish laugh and slouched back in his chair. He nudged my knee like he was trying to pretend everything was normal. “Told you this would be fun,” he said, but there was a tiny edge of uncertainty in his voice.

I forced a smile for Blair’s benefit, but my skin felt three sizes too small.

“Thanks again,” she said, her smile wide. “Cody will send you a preview clip once it’s edited. You’re gonna love it.”

“Cody?” Bell asked.

Blair’s face twisted in confusion. She scratched her head. “Um, the intern. The tall one?”

Bell grinned at her, his dimples flashing. “Oh, right. I was wondering what his name was.” He leaned back in his chair, the casual movement pressing his shoulder briefly against mine.

She gave him another curious look, her gaze flicking momentarily between us, as jealousy flared bright and hot in my gut before I could tamp it down. My fingers twitched against my thigh, the urge to stake my claim on him almost overwhelming.

Bell had made it more than clear he only wanted me, but I couldn’t help the wave of possessiveness that swept over me at the mention of the cute young intern.

I needed to get out of here before I did something reckless—like grab him by the hoodie, drag him against me, and kiss him hard enough to leave no fucking doubt that he was mine.

I shoved to my feet too fast, the legs of my chair screeching against the floor. My knee banged the underside of the table, making the water bottles jump.

Bell shot me a curious look, one hand half-reaching toward me, but I didn’t meet his eyes. Couldn’t. I sidestepped a camera cable snaking across the floor, nearly colliding with one of those damn interns hurrying past with a clipboard.

I muttered something half-coherent at Blair—maybe “Thanks, talk to you later,”—and bolted for the tunnel, heat prickling the back of my neck like a brand.

* * *

The locker roombuzzed with post-game energy—laughter ricocheting off the concrete walls, the sharp slap of towels snapping bare skin, the wet, humid stink of sweat and disinfectant thick in the air.

We’d pulled off a solid win, and the guys were riding high.

Hell, even I was feeling it … somewhere under the tightness that hadn’t left my chest since that interview.

Bell was across the room, toweling off that thick, gorgeous hair, his face flushed from a combo of leftover adrenaline and the scalding heat of the showers. Roonie and Murdock jostled past him, throwing elbows and laughing. He caught my eye for a split second before he reached for his navy blue Tom Ford suit, his gold Aces tie draped loose over the hanger.

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