Page 123 of Test the Ice
Benedict, in a nicely pressed suit, sits across a large chestnut table with a tall stack of papers in front of him, clearly prepared for something I’ve been made unaware of.
“Benedict,” his name ghosts out of my mouth.
A wicked smile curves against his mouth. “Sit, angel. We have a lot to discuss.”
Thirty-Nine
MALAKI
I check my phone again,and I still haven’t heard from Reese. She’s busy with Charleigh, and half the time she loses her phone, but it’s unusual not to hear from her at all by now.
Did I scare her off by saying I love you?
I’ll admit it was an impulsive thing to do, but the thought of getting on the ice to play my first playoff game ever while holding in something that begged to be said just wasn’t it for me.
I was probably more surprised than she was.
I’m the life of the party, the single-and-ready-to-mingle guy of all my friends.
Now here I am, secretly egging on my fake fiancée’s daughter to call me dada and typingI love youmultiple times a day only to erase them.
Who am I?
Kane breezes past me toward his car with his phone up to his ear. I quickly catch up. “Hey, let me talk to Daisy real quick.”
He pauses for a brief second. “No…and how do you know I’m on the phone with Daisy?”
I grab onto his arm. “Dude, please. It’s important.”
Of course he’s on the phone with Daisy. She’s the only person he talks to besides me, and that’s at a minimum.
He rolls his eyes. “Make it quick.”
“Daisy?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you heard from Reese?” I try to keep the concern from my voice.
“Not since last night…”
My stomach knots. “Was everything okay?”
She sighs. “Um…well…”
My hackles rise. “Was it because I said I love you?”
“No, definitely not.”Thank God.
“Okay, well…then what’s going on? I can tell something is off by your voice.”
“Tick tock…” Kane groans.
“The date for the mediation was changed,” she says.
My heart sinks. “What? For when?”
“It started just a little bit ago. I haven’t heard from her yet.”
