Page 39 of Test the Ice
Malaki chuckles for the first time since Benedict showed up. “Whoa. That’s no way to talk to your future brother-in-law.”
Oh my god.
Zoe laughs awkwardly. “What?”
“I am such a fucking idiot,” I whisper.
There’s a ringing in my ears that doesn’t stop until I feel the slight brush of someone’s hand against my arms. I slowly peek through my knees and see two deep blue eyes looking back at me. Malaki is crouched below with my sister looming over his shoulder. When he sees that he has my attention, his lip liftsslightly, and he reaches into his pocket. A crinkling noise echoes around my small apartment, and I take the bait. I unwrap my arms from my knees and raise my head.
There, in the center of Malaki’s palm, is the torn packet of Skittles from my center console.
He raises an eyebrow. “You need a hit?” he asks, like it’s a cigarette or something.
How he can make me crack a smile right now is beyond me.
“Can someone explain what the hell is going on?” Zoe exclaims. Her hands fly to her hips with frustration as she stares at the two of us. “Why is this random guy in our apartment?”
“Random guy?” Malaki mumbles. “I’m one of the best hockey players on the Blue Devils.”
Zoe scoffs. “I don’t do sports.”
I steal a Skittle from the packet in Malaki’s palm and suck on it. He eventually stands so I take full advantage of the space between us and head for the kitchen in an attempt to sort my thoughts without him distracting me.
“Well…” Malaki shrugs. “Your sister proposed to me.”
I laugh like a maniac because that's exactly what I am.
He’s my fiancé.What the hell was I thinking?
Zoe gapes at Malaki, then slowly shifts her attention to me and my crazed laughing. She inches her way across the living room.
“Reese?” She says my name as she carefully eyes Malaki and then dives for the baseball bat propped in the corner by the door. “Should I beat him?”
My eyes widen, and I scramble out from behind the counter. “Zoe!” I screech her name as quietly as I can, careful not to wake Charleigh. “Stop it, or he’ll think we’re both crazy!”
I place my hands on top of hers while she glares at Malaki from over my shoulder.
To no surprise, he stands there, observing the pair of us, without a care in the world. His face smooth, hands in his pockets.
Maybe he’s the crazy one.
“Put the bat down!” I grit between my teeth.
Zoe rolls her eyes but eventually follows suit. The metal bat clanks against the wall when she places it in its rightful spot, followed by her arms crossing as she stares at the pair of us.
“Well, someone better start talking,” she retorts.
Malaki and I make eye contact. I have the urge to cry and laugh all at once.
We speak at the exact same time:
“Your sister asked me to marry her–”
“I have a daughter–”
Malaki’s eyebrows crowd together with shock.
Zoe laughs hysterically.
