Page 35 of Ice Block

What is with everyone needing me to keep secrets all of a sudden?

“Of course. You know I’malwayshere for the tea.”

“Part of the reason I couldn’t push back much is because I’ve been working behind the scenes to start my own company. I need to keep things going at Harbor Glow until one final thing falls into place so I can finance it, but at the beginning of the year, I should be able to start it up. My family is not interested in this line of all-natural anti-aging products I know there is a huge market for. And I would love to have you help with all the branding.”

My heart jumps with excitement at the thought of another potential client, and a way out of Lakeshore. “Seriously?! Shelly, that’s amazing for you, and I would love that! I’m actually in talks with another company about doing a complete rebrand with them. I’ve been…I’ve been thinking about branching out on my own too.”

“You totally should! I, for one, will be using you and only you for my new company. Let me know how I can help. I have connections to real estate spaces. Shit, I’m looking at a space for my new building and I’d be happy to see if we can work something out for you to rent space there from me. It might help us both out.”

“That would be amazing! I’m hoping to get out of Lakeshore by the end of the year. Sometimes I guess the universe just makes things happen, huh?”

As the words leave my mouth, I realize maybe the universe also happens to be pushing me toward a broody goalie who is driving me absolutely crazy this week.I wonder if this little situation was caused by Shelly’s company too?

“So, this is a random question, but is your company retreat why my reservation got cancelled?”

She blinks, the blood draining from her face. “Wait…what?! No! We would never cancel a guest’s reservation. This retreat is the same week every year, so our rooms are booked a year in advance,” she says, shock in her eyes. “Your reservation was cancelled? You’re staying here still? Or are you? I’msoconfused…but obviously I can help if you need it. Shit, you can room with me if you need to.”

I hesitate before opening my mouth to tell her about my current sleeping situation, but then I realize it may be nice to have a friend outside of the group of people I’m traveling with to chat with about all this. “I’m sort of bunking up with the best man at the wedding.”

She lifts a brow, her eyes already sparking with interest. “Define ‘bunking up’.”

It’s…” I let out a loud sigh, “…it’sreallyfucking complicated.”

“Well, I could use another drink or two, so,” she motions to Miguel for another round, “fill me in.”

When we finally leave the bar, I hobble my way, quite unsteadily, back to our room.Wow, I do not remember the door handle spinning like this earlier today.I hold my key card against it, thankful when it pops open, stumbling through the door and slamming it shut behind me.

“Magdalina, are you okay?” Vladi and his damn sexy reading glasses yell from across the room.

“I told you not to call me that anymore, you assshh…asshhhh…ass-e-role!” I slur, kicking my shoes across the floor and bracing myself against the wall. I think I drunk,drank?maybe one drink too many.

Vladi jumps out of bed and is at my side in an instant. “You should not be out so late drinking by yourself.”

“I wasn’t alone, you big oaf.” I try unsuccessfully to pull out of his grip.

His eyes narrow, jealousy bubbling like lava from a volcano. “Were you with someone?” he growls through gritted teeth.

I meet his jealousy with my own rage, spewing my response back as venomously as I can. “Howdareyou ask if I was with anyone? Not that it’s any of your business, but I saw my friend Shelly here, and we hung out at the bar.”

His eyes soften as they fall to the floor, his shoulders slumping in regret.

“What does it even matter, Wolfie?” I scream at him, pushing against his chest. Tears well up, my eyes unable to hold them in as I try and slur out the rest of my sentence through my sniffles, “You don’t want me.”

The regret on his face morphs into sadness. No, wait…his face is starting to spin.Shit…nowthe room is spinning too.

“Oh God…I feel sick. I need to get to the bathroom…I need to-”

And that’s it. The puke spewing out of my mouth and all over the floor pretty much sums up what I needed to do. I wince, wishing I had the energy to run out of this room. Spewing my dinner at the feet of an incredibly hot goalie on vacation is a new low point for me.But as I fight to stay standing, warm arms scoop me up, cradling me against a surprisingly gentle body, carrying me toward the bathroom. Everything is fuzzy, but as I lean over the toilet to lose more of my dinner and the alcohol, Vladi’s down on the floor holding my hair back. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him reaching over the vanity looking for something. Between heaves, I feel him tie my hair back in a ponytail, one of his rough hands softly gripping my arm while the other rubs my back in slow, soothing motions. My stomach churns, but I can’t tell if it’s the booze or the boy.What the hell is happening?

Feeling like this round of hurling is over, I lean back from hunching over the toilet, sitting on my knees as I breathe slowly through my nose. But only for a moment. Vladi, once again, pullsme into his arms, cradling me against his chest. The touch of his calloused hands on my skin soothes the ache I’ve tried to hide. But I can’t help it. The tears flood my eyes once more, the ones I’ve been fighting so hard to keep hidden this whole week,shit these past several months, spilling down my cheeks before I even have a chance to try and stop them.

“Shhhhhh, it’s okaylisichka,”he whispers as he strokes my hair, making me feel so safe, so cared for.

I shake my head into his chest, my mind insisting I pull away, but my heart never wanting to let go. “Why are you being nice to me, Wolfie? You hate me.”

He lets out a deep sigh I can feel as he pulls me tighter. “Magdalina, I could never hate you.”

His words sit heavy on my heart. On my mind. My currently very fuzzy mind.

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