Page 74 of Ice Block

“Still haven’t heard from Vladi, huh?” Kara says with a pitying look.

“Nope. Not a peep.”

Olivia coughs as she takes a drink, which might seem unassuming, but this little bird sings like a canary when she’s had some booze, and I have a feeling she knows something. I lean across the table, slamming my hand down in front of her. “Spill it, Liv. What’s going on?”

She stares at her drink, tapping her fingers along the glass. “I don’t know anything, I swear.”

“Bullshit. You know something. What’s he doing?”

She shifts in her seat, shoulders sinking as her eyes meet mine. “Fine.Listen…all I know is that Hayes said he’s working on some stuff. And he specifically told me, ‘I can’t go into more detail because the guys have all figured out you can’t keep a secret’, so he won’t tell me more. But I feel like that’s a good sign, right? At least he’s doingsomething?”

I grumble, sitting back down. “I know he needs to work on some things. I mean, I told him as much. But…dammit. I’m impatient and this waiting part fucking sucks.” I raise my glass and tip it back, quickly realizing there’s no alcohol in it, slamming it back on the table.

Kara leans over to give me a hug around my shoulders. “He’ll get there, Mags. You found a way to crack through to that heart. Just give him a little time. He’s been so closed off for so long, it’s not an overnight thing. I know he’ll figure it out.”

I let out a loud groan, the ache in my chest tugging on every thread behind my ribs.I hope she’s right.I’ve had to have some difficultconversations with Ms. Melissa Joan Heart the past couple of weeks, leaving both of us more bruised than before.

She keeps getting excited every time the phone buzzes next to me on the couch, naively hoping it’s him.

She flips cartwheels in the shower remembering the time we shared under the warm spray.

Even in my damn bed she can’t control herself, thinking about that night we first met. She’s damn near worn out every toy in my nightstand the last two weeks.These vibrator websites really need to have a heartbreak discount.

Yeah…he has issues, especially when you think about the fact that he nearly murdered someone to protect me, but seeing a man go feral like that? That was not something I ever had on my bingo card, but here I am jumping up and down screamingyesat the top of my lungs at that win. Well…itwasa win.Now I’m just wondering if I should reach out.Should I let him know I’m here for him despite what I said?I’ve never wavered this much in my damn life. I love that asshole, but goddammit, why does this have to be so hard?! Why can’t I just love him, he love me, and that be enough? Why does love have to be so damn complicated?

Melissa…remember when you were on Clarissa Explains It All? I could really use some explanation.

My heart feels like it’s slowly dying every day I don’t hear from him.

I don’t know how much longer I can keep it beating.

50

vladi

“Will you just hit send already?” Hayes groans sitting on the couch in my living room. He’s come over to help me work out the details of this grand gesture I planned, and now I can’t seem to do such a simple task.

I hover my thumb over my screen. “I can’t do it.” I slam my phone down on the cushion, hiding the offending text from view.

“Vladi. You arenevernervous. Why are you so worked up about this? You know this isn’t going to work if you can’t hit send, right? Do you need me to do it?”

“No. Goddammit—I’ll do it,” I grumble. This shouldn’t be this hard.I can send a text.I take a deep breath, grit my teeth, and fire off the message. “There. It’s done.”

“Proud of you bro.”

My phone buzzes in my hand, and Larsy peeks over my shoulder, then glances back at me with a wicked grin on his face. As I swipe to see the response, my eyes are blinded by balloons, then fireworks, then what can only be described as every fucking emojiknown to man. I don’t think I’ve ever used an emoji in my life, and now they are all on my screen. Every. Single. One.

I run a hand over my face, shaking my head as the phone rings.Dammit, I didn’t want totalkabout this.Larsy doubles over with laughter as I narrow my eyes with a murderous look.

Sucking in a breath like the opposing team has a breakaway, I swipe to answer the call, gritting my teeth to keep my annoyance at bay. “Hello.”

I can’t understand what’s happening on the other end of the line, only hearing what sounds like a child squealing over a gift they received Christmas morning.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Would youpleasestop screaming?”

“VLADSTER! No way am Inotscreaming about this! Of course you can call in your one favor to make a grand gesture so you can get Maggie back!! This is everything I’veeverdreamed of, buddy. Do you want me to come over now? I can be at your place in ten minutes.”

I shake my head, already having a headache from the less than thirty seconds we’ve been on this call. “Fine. Yes. Come over. Larsy’s here too.”

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