Page 60 of Test the Ice
I’m out of breath by the time I finish my rant. I’m so embarrassed I shut my eyes so I don’t have to see his pity, but then I feel Charleigh being taken out of my arms.
My first thought is that my sister was eavesdropping, and she’s taking Charleigh because I just had a mental breakdown, but instead of Zoe holding her, it’s Malaki.
She stares up at him with her wide eyes, full of curiosity.
“Do you think Mommy is a mess?” he asks her.
Charleigh smiles widely and snorts with a giggle.
“I totally agree with you,” Malaki says matter-of-factly. “She is the prettiest mess we’ve ever seen, huh?”
Charleigh kicks her legs excitedly, and I try my hardest not to smile when Malaki leans closer to her, pretending she’s telling him secrets.
He leans back and dramatically gasps. “You spit up on her on purpose? Just so she’d have to put my shirt on?”
I cover my mouth with my hand to hide my laugh.
“Then I guess I should thank you, huh?” he says to her.
He glances up at me with one lip lifted in a smile before turning back toward her.
“Why thank you, Charleigh-girl. I do, in fact, like seeing your mama in my shirt.”
My stomach flips.He does?
Charleigh takes her hands and touches Malaki’s face, rubbing her little palms against his scruffy jaw. He playfully pretends to bite her fingers, and I freeze. I step forward, thinking she’s going to cry, but instead, she laughs so hard her cheeks turn pink.
I blink through my confusion.
“She likes you,” I say quietly, in complete awe.
“Of course she does,” he says with a wink.
I won’t admit it aloud, but I think I like him too.
Twenty-One
MALAKI
Tonight isn’t justany ordinary game.
Tonight, my fiancée is watching.
Fiancée, fake fiancée–tomato, tomahto.
The majority of the team is completely unaware of my sudden engagement, but after tonight, I’ll make sure they know.
Will they be surprised? Maybe.
But I think they know me well enough now to know that I like to be spontaneous. I’m predictably unpredictable, a wild card if you must–but in the best way.
The stands are filling up, both teams on the ice for warm-ups.
I take full advantage of Coach being preoccupied with a reporter and search the stands for Reese. She said she’s been to a game before, but never like this–with my ring on her finger.
I find her off to the side, talking to Daisy, and drop my attention to her left hand.
There it is. The ring that Benedict thinks is nonexistent.
