Page 75 of Ice Block

“Oh my God—best day ever! I’ll be there so fast, and we’ll get this done in no time. Jordan Boucher at your service, Mr. Volkov!”

“That went as well as I was hoping it would,” Larsy says, still laughing as I end the call. “God, he has so much enthusiasm for everything. I’m over here trying to rest up the last few days before training camp, meanwhile he ran a fundraiser for a dog rescue yesterday. And now,” he looks at me with a smirk, “he’s going to helpyouplan some grand gesture for Maggie.”

“Don’t remind me,” I mutter, leaning my head against the back of the couch.

“You know you love him, Vladi. We all do. And you know, deep down, there’s something more than what’s on the surface, whether the kid wants to admit it or not.”

“I know, but that doesn’t absolve him from annoying me.”

Hayes scoffs. “Point taken.”

51

maggie

Milwaukee in late summer is the most beautiful place on Earth. Seventy-five degrees with low humidity from the cool breeze off the lake and seagulls flying above. Walking through the Third Ward neighborhood is like being transported back in time. The worn brick buildings, with their cracking exteriors, cleverly hide the newly modern interiors. It’s like they’ve come back from vacation with cracked, peeling skin, feeling refreshed underneath.If only my post-vacation haze felt like that.

It’s been four weeks since we all got back from the Dominican Republic. Four weeks since I walked away from the man who has my whole heart clutched in his hands. Four weeks since I stumbled home and cried myself to sleep in my empty bed wishing he was in it with me. But the bad-ass-bitch I am has to be all self-righteous and, as much as this sucks, I know I made the right decision forme. I can’t be with someone based on what they could become. I have to accept them as they are right now because, more than likely, they never change. I know he can get past this. I knowin my hearthe’s capable. I just…I don’t want him to go through this alone, but he has to be the one to take the first step. But realizing that and living it are two very different things. The battle between my aching heart and my badassery has not been fun. Especially because Melissa is a bitch...she won’t let me give up on him.

Walking up to the address Bougie sent me, some of my tension eases as I see his forever cheerful-self flagging me down.

“Maggie! Thanks for meeting me,” he says pulling me in for a hug.

“You say the words ‘potential client’ and I’m here.” I step back from him as my gaze drifts toward the revolving door on the building. “This is such a cool area of town. I’m already in love with the idea of grabbing coffee across the street for meetings here.”

“Right?! I told the client who purchased this space that everyone would love the location.”

“It is amazing.” I can’t help looking around again, too easily picturing myself here. “So, what is the business anyway? I feel unprepared since I haven’t done any research.”

He waves his hand dismissing my doubt. “Don’t worry about that. With your background and skills I’m confident you’ll be fine.” He gestures me toward the entrance. “Let’s head inside. I’ll show you around and introduce you.”

I follow him through the doors, past the security guard who waves us in, and we head up the elevator to the top floor, then down a long hallway. I already love this building, there’s so much history in the crumbling brickwork, but the inside is the cherry on top. The floors are gorgeous, refinished hardwood and the exposed masonry only highlight the depth within them. I take a deep breath, biting the inside of my cheek.God, what I wouldn’t give to work in a place like this.What an upgrade it would be compared to the shit building with water-stained ceilings I’m stuck in at Lakeshore.Fuck, I really need to trust myself and start my own company for real.It’s time to be all in.

We finally stop outside an office suite and Bougie hands me a swipe card. I narrow my brows, tilting my head as my eye catches a sign on the door.

“Umm…Bougie, why aremyinitials on this door?”

He shrugs, a mischievous smile on his face. “Why don’t you head inside,” he says, nodding toward the door. “And hey, promise me you’ll listen to what this guy has to say. Give this…” he clears his throat, “businessa chance.”

My pulse races with a nervous excitement as I swipe the card to pop open the door. I step in, but Bougie remains in the hallway, waving his hand to shoo me inside.What the fuck is going on?

The door closes behind me as I walk into the space. It has the same refinished hardwood floors as the rest of the building but inside are giant windows providing an amazing amount of natural light and a perfect view of the lake. There are turquoise, velvet guest chairs and a matching couch placed on a fancy-ass rug surrounded by built-in shelving, crown molding, and track lighting highlighting perfect spaces to display campaigns.This is cool as shit.My head spins, my heart racing like the speedboats on the lake.Whoisthis client?

I continue to explore the space, looking for any signs of life, and finally stepping toward a glass wall leading into what appears to be an office. As I round the corner to walk inside, my heart stops. The air in my lungs disappears. I take a half step forward, then a half step back. Standing in front of me is the man I’ve loved, hated, and everything in between. The man I’ve been worrying about for weeks. The man I haven’t stopped thinking about for almost a year.

“Hello, Magdalina.”

I shake my head, not knowing what to think. “Vladi?” I mumble with a shaky breath. “What thehellis going on?”

“Can we talk?” I notice him cracking his knuckles at his sides, the fitted suit and coordinated tie perfectly matching the water weswam in all those weeks ago. My breath catches.He’s not doing it out of fear or wanting to punch someone. The realization sends a spark through my veins. He’snervous.I purse my lips, hiding the smile daring to creep up, and nod as he gestures to the couch in the seating area.

I take a seat with him sitting down next to me. He’s far enough away that we aren’t touching, but close enough to where I could reach out and hold his hand if I wanted to.God, I want to touch him.He’s right there.My Vladi.

He clears his throat before his deep voice echoes through the open space. “I want to start by saying I’m sorry.Again.I don’t want to keep apologizing to you for the rest of your life, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to help it. I’m…I’m a flawed man. I have issues. I’m working on them, truly working on them, but I want to start off by saying I’m sorry. For everything.”

“Vladi, you don’t have to?—”

“No. I’m talking today. You listen.”

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