Page 37 of Ice Contact

Reaching across the table, I squeeze her hand with mine. “It’s okay, Mags. It’s not your fault. When you’re in a bad relationship, it’s hard to see the things that are wrong from the inside. It’s always easier to see the red flags from the outside. I would have blown it off had you said something anyway. Too caught up in his toxic chaos. We should make a pact to tell each other when someone is dating a giant douche. Maybe we have a code word we can say to let the other one know there might be some red flags.”

“Oh my God, that’s perfect! We are totally doing this. What should the word be?” she says, bouncing in her seat a little too excitedly.

“It has to be something we don’t use very often. If we used the word mimosa, we’d never be able to date anyone,” I snort, taking another sip.

“True. How about dongle?” she suggests, and we both burst into a fit of laughter again.

I raise my glass to hers. “A toast to never having to use the word dongle!” We cheers and knock back another round of mimosas.

As we continue to enjoy brunch, I fill her in on some more of the details. She doesn’t need to know every single second of our ‘sordid’ yet romantic day, but I do want to get her opinion about one thing. I can’t shake the fear crawling through me every time it pops into my head.

“Mags…when Hayes was leaving this morning, I almost said…it,” I painfully admit, scrunching my face, nervously tapping my fingers on my glass.She’s going to think I’m a complete lunatic.

“Wait, what?” she blinks, “Likeitit? Like ‘the L word’ it?” she asks stunned.

“Yep. I recovered and said, ‘I loved spending time with you yesterday,’ but now I’m panicking. I think I may have freaked him out. It’s way too soon to say that, right? Cayden would have left me the moment I even hinted at that.”

“Well, he’s not Cayden, that’s for sure.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she bites her lip, not meeting my eye. “Did he act weird after you said that? Do you think he picked up on it?” she asks.

I rub my hands down my thighs, shifting in my seat. “I mean, he seemed okay. I think? He just smiled and said, ‘me too,’ then told me goodbye and left. He said he’d text me when he got to Dallas, but I’m not exactly sure when that is. So, I’m sure I’ll be in ‘Olivia freak out mode’ until I hear from him,” I reply. “I just hope he doesn’t pick up on the clingy thing.”

“Olivia Marie Brooks. You arenotclingy. A boyfriend who doesn’t want to spend time with you does not make you clingy. That is the stupidest term ever created and should only refer to plastic wrap food covering. Whatever frat boy douchebag made that up should hang by his testicles until he apologizes,” she says, and we laugh at the mention of testicles.Maybe we should slow down a little on the champagne.

I shrug my shoulders looking down at my fingers tapping out a rhythm on the table. “I know. It’s just hard to shake after hearing it for so long.”

“Liv, let me ask you a quession…quesssstion?….ques-tion,” she slurs.I think it’s time to cut her off from the mimosas. “You almost said it, so myquestionis, is it true? Do you think you love him?”

DoI love him?Is it possible to love someone I barely know?This man has done nothing but treat me with kindness and respect and seemed so genuinely bummed to leave me this morning. This man who left me a freakingspare keyto his apartment after spending one day with me.

“I think so…” I say, almost like a question, with a cringy smile on my face. “Am I crazy? How can I love someone I’ve only known for a short period of time?” My heart is racing, the sound of silverware clanging filling the restaurant. It’s not that I need her validation to be with Hayes, but God am I an approval whore.

“First of all, he seems awesome, Liv, and from the look on your face, I’d say youaremadly in love with him. I, for one, am over the moon happy for you. You deserve the world, and you finally have someone willing to give it to you. Second, as to how this can happen so fast. You areamazing,Liv. Cayden never knew what he had, and it seems like Hayes does. Shit, if you had a dick, I’d marry you!” Her cheeks flush as she pushes her glass away. “Damn, these mimosas are strong…” Maggie refocuses onme, her face softening with a smile. “Sometimes the stars just align. Who are we to question it? You’re so lucky, Liv. It’s beyond time you got someone good to love you.”

“You are the best bestie a girl could have,” I say as I raise my glass to her again.

“To besties!” she says, lifting her water as I finish the last of my mimosa.

I jolt as my phone buzzes on the table. “It’s Hayes,” I say, looking up, my eyes as wide as can be.Holy shit, he’s actually texting me when he said he would.

“Fuck yes! This is great! I amsoglad he texted you while we are still at brunch. What does it say?!” she says in a loud‘I’ve had a lot of champagne’kind of way.

“Shhhhh. Mags keep it down!” I say, darting my eyes around to see several people glaring at us.Guess we won’t be coming back here for brunch.I read the text out loud to Maggie, my heart in my throat.

Hayes

Hey gorgeous. Just got to Dallas. Miss you already.

Maggie snatches my phone out of my hand, her thumbs flying across the screen before she passes it back with a smug smirk.

Olivia

Hey handsome! Glad you made it safely. Miss you too.

I huff, opening my mouth to chastise Maggie when another text comes through.

Hayes

You get out of the apartment okay? Steal anything good?

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