Page 57 of Ice Block

“But you didn’t shower first, did you? And you didn’t shower second either, did you?” His voice is getting louder, and I notice a couple of other diners staring our way. I shift in my seat, warring with my nerves to keep calm.I’mnotletting this kid rattle me.“No, Maggie. You see, you and Vladi showeredat the same time, otherwise your hair would be styled and curled and completely dry without having deactivated the ammonium thioglycolate to make your story plausible! You showered together this morning, and you slept together last night. Didn’t you? Didn’t you?!”

“We showered together!” Vladi shouts from next to me.

I jerk my head, my eyes wide in disbelief, as quiet gasps echo around the table.He. Cracked.My heart flutters, partly due to his admission but from the slight panic of what happens now. Then, to my complete surprise, they all start whooping and hollering, and Bougie takes a fucking bow. Okay, now Ireallyget why Vladi thinkshe’s so annoying. Though, I do appreciate the nod to Legally Blonde.

Olivia leans her head on my shoulder, making my jaw drop. They wereallin on this.I should have known the last minute breakfast was a trap.Dammit.Sucking in a sharp breath, I glance around and give in, resting my cheek against Olivia. I want to punch and hug all of my very nosy and inconveniently caring friends.

“Well done, Bougie,” EJ says as he continues his golf clap.

Kara pipes in as well, “Very impressive! But isn’t Legally Blonde a little before your time?”

“Like I said…older sisters. Do you know how many times they made me watch that movie? IamElle Woods. I look amazing in pink. Plus, similar to Elle and Bruiser, I am also a Gemini Vegetarian.”

“You just ordered steak and eggs,” EJ calls him out.

“Okay, a Gemini then.”

“Isn’t your birthday March 1st? That’s Pisces,” Colton Taylor informs him with his ridiculous knowledge of the most random topics.

“Yes, but…ugh!Just let me have my Elle Woods moment! I got them to confess, didn’t I?”

Zack pats Vladi on the back. “I can’t believe you were the first one to break. We all thought it would be Maggie.”

You and me both, Zack.

“Vladi doesn’t break,” Hayes says very matter-of-factly. “He’s a stone wall, on and off the ice.”

Vladi has once again taken an extreme interest in his water glass.He was the one who broke.He let down his stone wallfor me. I blink, my heart skipping a beat as I reach under the tablecloth, taking his hand in mine. His face doesn’t look away from the water glass, but his stoicnature softens as his hand gives mine a little squeeze. We still haven’t talked about what this is or what we are, if we are even anything at all, but the warmth filling me right now has to mean something…right?

After we finish eating, Liv and Kara practically drag me to the restroom, and I know where this is going.

The door isn’t even shut before the inquisition starts. “Maggie Elizabeth James. Spill. It.”

“I was literallydyingall night waiting for details! Zack was exhausted last night, so he fell asleep in an instant. I waswaytoo distracted with you two storming out of there like that and was up doom scrolling half the night trying to fall asleep!” Kara says.

I bite my lip as my fingers fiddle with the fabric of my sundress. Where do I even begin? “It was…everything. First, it was really hot and intense, but then it was sweet and gentle. And then…” I swallow hard, debating what to tell them, but they are my besties, and this is what we do. Plus, I could use some advice. “Then he told me he cares about me.”

Olivia and Kara wear matching smiles as they practically dance to the applause of toilets flushing around us.

“He said he cares about you?” Olivia holds her hand over her mouth, “Oh my God, Vladi…that just melts my heart!”

Yeah. It melted mine too.

“But…” I drop my head back, leaning heavily against the sinks, “I still don’t know what exactly ‘care’ means to him. Is this just a fuck buddy type thing? I mean, physically, we could not be more on the same page.Zeroissues. But we haven’t spent a lot of alone time together outside of this week. Do I really know who he is? I mean…I care about him too. I’m just not sure whathisdefinition ofthe word is. I want to be all in, but…fuck! Why is it so hard to take a risk when you know you might get hurt?”

“Maggie, that man is crazy for you,” Kara reassures me. “I know he has issues, but if anyone can help our Russian, it’s you. I don’t think there’s ever been anyone he’s wanted to try with before. It may just take some time.”

A mix of nervous energy and a bit of courage rises up in me.

“She’s right, Mags. I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but you also give me a lot of advice I don’t want to hear, so you need to suck it up, buttercup.” Olivia winks. “It sounds like you’re breaking down some of his walls. This is just going to be more of a marathon than a sprint.”

I nudge her shoulder, fighting a smile. “Damn you. Why do you have to be all wise and shit?”

“I did learn from the best,” she says as she and Kara both wrap their arms around me.

A woman walks out of a stall, washing her hands as I stand in slight horror at her hearing this whole conversation. But as she grabs a paper towel, she catches my eye in the mirror and winks at me on her way out.

“Maybe this isn’t the best place for this conversation,” I say as we all laugh and head back to our table.

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