Page 38 of ICED
He gives me a look likeoops,and then kneels slightly to be eye-level with her.
“Yeah, little miss. Big noisy game at the rink. I’ll be on the ice. Wearing pads and looking even more ridiculous than usual.”
Lila gasps like she’s just won the toddler lottery. “Can I come?”
“Lila,” I say gently, but it’s too late. She’s vibrating with excitement.
“Can I, Mummy? Please? I want to see Mr Bear skate!”
Owen winces a little at the nickname, he always does, but he doesn’t correct her. Just smiles that soft smile I’ve come to associate with trouble.
The good kind.
I sigh. “It’ll be loud. And chaotic. You hate loud.”
“I’ll wear my big-girl earmuffs!” she says brightly, like this is a bulletproof plan.
“And it’s cold.”
“I’ll wear two jumpers!”
“And if he gets in a fight,”
“Fights?” Lila gasps, now positively vibrating. “Like dragons?”
Owen chokes on a laugh. “Definitely not dragons. But there might be a few angry penguins.”
She looks at me with wide, pleading eyes.
Oh God. I’m so screwed.
I glance at Owen. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it? Bait the child, wear me down.”
He holds his hands up, mock-innocent. “I’d never. I’m far too sweet.”
“You’re not sweet. You’re enormous and infuriating and far too charming for your own good.”
“Charming?” He cocks an eyebrow. “That’s new. You sure you’re not coming down with something?”
I toss a tea towel at his chest. “Shut up.”
He catches it mid-air, easily, then walks it over to the sink and sets it down like he lives here. Like it’s just something he does.
And something in me softens a little.
He doesn’t ask again. Doesn’t push. Just leans back against the counter and watches me work like he’s got all the time in the world.
And that’s the problem.
Because he’s not pushing. He’s just being Owen. And I’m not used to people who don’t want something from me the second I let them in.
“Maya,” he says, voice lower now. “It’s just a game. You and Lila come, eat hotdogs, shout at the ref. You leave whenever you want. No strings.”
“Except the ones wrapped around my heart,” I mutter.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
