Page 39 of Ice Block

“Good morning, beach buddies!” a familiar voice says from behind. “And…Maggie!! What a fabulous surprise! What are you doing here?”

“Kristi!” I gasp, getting up to hug Hayes’ mom. She is the sweetest and a damn good hugger. My parents hug, but only when it’s a required part of parenting. Like when you’re leaving for college. I love that she has taken in Olivia, honestly, all of us, as her own. You hear horror stories about people’s in-laws and the nightmare they can be.Oliviaseriouslyhit the jackpot with Kristi Larson.She is funny, cool, and her and Liv give Hayes an enormous amount of shit together; it’s fun to watch him roll his eyes and eat it up all at the same time.

Kristi holds onto my shoulders, searching my face with a small furrow between her brows. “What are you doing here, Maggie? Aren’t you going snorkeling with the rest of the kids? I think they are leaving soon.”

A small, genuine smile lifts my lips.I love how she calls us all kids even in our thirties.

“Yeah, I just stopped by to talk to these two before I headed out. I wondered who this third chair was for. Have you been hanging out with these two old grumps this week?”

“Oh, hush! Johnny is my new best friend! We hit it off at the wedding back in Milwaukee, and now he texts me all the scoop my son is too busy to text his own mother about. As if I wasn’t his personal chauffeur his entire life. Since we’re here in person, well, these two are just the best to hang out with.”

I raise my eyebrows at Johnny. “All the scoop, huh?” I grumble as he winks at me.

“As if anyone in this resort didn’t know you and Vladi were roommates this week,” she says as she grabs my hand, looking medead in the eyes. “Listen, Maggie, I don’t want to interfere, but as the closest thing Vladi has to a mom, can I give you some advice?”

I give her a hesitant smile as I nod.

“He needs someone in his life, even if he thinks he doesn’t. Give him a chance.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the tit. I don’t know how to respond.Maybe I should give him a chance.I bite my lip.Maybe I should talk to him.

“Thanks. I’ll take that under advisement. And, from that comment, I see Johnny hasdefinitelybeen filling you in on all the tea. I’ll leave you two so he can update you on the latest episode of the Drama in Room 637.”

26

vladi

Motherfucker, it’s hot outside.Why did I agree to this again?Waiting here, in the blazing sun, listening to some boat captain named Carlos drone on and on about boat safety while my balls sweat a goddamn lake in my swim trunks is not my idea of a vacation. I would like to be in the cool water of the ocean or in my air-conditioned room. I feel a muscle in my jaw tense as I grind my teeth. Which was, once again, set to a temperature hotter than the surface of the sun when I returned from the gym this morning. Cracking my knuckles, I dream of the ice bath I’m desperate to plunge into. Maintenance says it’s been working fine; apparently, it’s just doing this to torture me. If Larsy was not basically family, I would have already booked a flight home. Annoyingly, I love the asshole, so I can suck it up for a few more days.

My eyes cut across the crowd.The fact I’m sharing a room with the woman of my dreams doesn’t hurt either. Taking care of her last night was an experience. It was captivating seeing a different side of her. Her bold, snarky self is alluring as hell but seeing her so fragile made me feel that damn tightness in my chest again. It’s likesomething is beating in there that hasn’t been alive in a very long time.Maybe the guys were right.I shared things with her last night I’ve only told a handful of people, none of whom have been a woman. But this woman? My hand scrapes across the stubble on my chin.Fuck…she does something to me.The woman who put her arms around me so tightly when I told her about my mother. The woman who I know wants to be with me, jagged edges and all. The woman who is currently standing a little too close to Captain Carlos for my taste.

“Now, I need a volunteer to help demonstrate how to wear the life jackets in case of an emergency,” Carlos explains in a thick Dominican accent as he looks to Maggie. “Ah! This beautiful woman right here will help; what is your name?”

“Maggie.” She smiles at him, my blood suddenly boiling hotter than the sun beating down on me.

“What abeautifulname. We have so many wonderful guests here, but you are by far the most stunning of all. Now, let me show everyone how to properly wear your life vest.”

This guy needs a beating.Rage pools inside me as I watch him stand too close behind her as he places the life jacket over her head before reaching around her midsection to buckle the clips around her waist. I crack my knuckles and tilt my head to the side, trying to tame the wolf inside me.

Then I see that fucker’s hand graze her stomach.

I can’t take this.I’m going to beat the living shit out of that guy for touchingmy lisichka.

I storm toward them, pushing Maggie to the side and getting right in the face of the tour boat driver. “Don’t youevertouch her like that again.”

Carlos stares back at me, horrified, his eyes wide as he shakes under my tall stature.Good. My intimidation is working.

“Vladi! What the hell are you doing? Leave Carlos alone!” Shereaches over to grab me, pulling me back and dragging me away from our group.

“He was touching you inappropriately, Magdalina,” I whisper through gritted teeth, suddenly realizing we have an audience staring back at us.Shit.This woman always seems to get me into the most attention-drawing situations. Ihateattention, but all logic disappears the instant it involves her.

“He was demonstrating life jacket safety, jackass.”

“He was doing more than that. I saw his hand on you…close to your…”

“Close to mywhat,Vladi? Say it.”

“He was touching you,” I snarl, “Flirtingwith you.”

---