Page 120 of The Puck Stops Here

Shewas his mum. Either she looked amazing for her age or she’d been incredibly young when she’d had him. Not that Astrid was judging her. No, she was now battling the waterworks that wanted to spring at the sight of Blake teaching this child and the obvious connection they shared – to witness in the flesh what Fin had caught on camera…

‘You really are.’ Then his mum grinned up at Blake. ‘Thanks to you.’

‘Nah, this is all on him for putting in the work. He’ll be a Titan one of these days, you mark my words.’

‘You really think so, Blake?’

‘I know so, buddy.’ He ruffled the lad’s blond hair and Astrid pressed a palm to her chest. Her heart felt fit to burst, her own smile watery as the girl suddenly spied her watching. She nudged Blake and Astrid sucked in a breath. Held it as he turned.

Her bubble of a heart gave a painful pop as his eyes found hers. Hot. Hard.Angry.

She tried to smile, raised a hand to wave but he’d already turned his back to her. He spoke to his companions, his words too low for her to hear. The girl sent Astrid a smile-cum-nod and led the lad away, while Blake… Blake watched them go.

Was he about to follow them out? Ignore her altogether?

Please, God, no…

She took a tentative step forward, freezing when he spun to face her, his blisteringly blue gaze pinning her in place as he crossed the ice at speed.

‘What are you doing here?’

He stopped just short, spraying her in ice and she hugged her middle, wincing against the chill that was all him.

‘I’ – she swallowed the wedge in her throat – ‘I was supposed to have a lesson with Aiden.’

She gestured to the skates hanging over her shoulder.

His frown deepened. ‘This morning?’

‘Now.’

‘Fuckme.’ He shook his head, his eyes drifting away in disbelief.

‘What is it?’

He dragged his gaze back to her, his chin jutting with annoyance. ‘Aiden ain’t coming.’

‘He is,’ she insisted. ‘He said 7a.m. sharp.’

He was shaking his head again.

‘I don’t understand… Why would he organise a lesson if he wasn’t?—’

‘Because I’m here.’

‘But…’ And then it clicked into place, her eyes widening with realisation. ‘Oh!’

‘Yes. Oh.’

‘He knows we’ve fallen out?’

Blake nodded.

‘And he’s forcing us to talk?’

He hesitated, eyes breaking away from hers. ‘He’s doing a lot more than that.’

Her heart fluttered. ‘Like?’

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