Page 66 of ICED
I arch a brow. “Careful,Bear. That almost sounded like a line.”
“Wasn’t,” he says. “Lines are for people who don’t mean it.”
I study him. The soft mess of hair under his hoodie. The flecks of chocolate still on his jumper from Lila’s dessert spoon. The open, honest way he’s looking at me like I’m something valuable. Somethingworth waiting for.
My heart thuds once, hard.
“Goodnight, Owen.”
He doesn’t correct me. Just ducks his head, eyes crinkling. “Night, Maya.”
And then he’s gone.
But the warmth he leaves behind stays with me long after I close the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
JACKO
The dressing room smells like that godawful body spray Murphy still insists on using. I’m untying my skates when he claps his hands together, loud enough to make Ollie flinch.
“All right, guys,” Murphy grins, flushed from the post-training skate. “Baby shower’s officially on. Saturday afternoon at the bistro on the high street. Sophie says no excuses, even from you losers.”
“Can we bring gifts shaped like boobs?” Ollie asks, deadpan.
“Only if they’re mine,” Murphy fires back.
Everyone groans. Ollie throws a roll of tape at his head.
“I’m not coming unless there’s cake,” The rookie pipes up from his corner.
Murphy points at me. “Already handled. This guy’s making gender reveal cupcakes. Which, by the way,” he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small, sealed envelope, “contains the magic answer. Don’t open it till you bake, Big Man.”
I take the envelope like it’s something fragile. Thin and harmless-looking, but it makes my chest warm. Trust. That’s what Murphy’s giving me.
“Don’t mess it up,” he says, mock-serious. “If I bite intosomething blue when it’s a girl, Sophie will castrate me. And probably you.”
“Can’t wait,” I mutter, but I slide the envelope into my backpack like its gold.
“So, who else is invited?” I ask.
“The whole team,” Murphy shrugs. “Our families. Sophie invited the girls from the office, too.”
“You bringing your mystery bakery girlfriend?” Ollie pipes up, all too casual.
I lift a brow. “She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Yet,” Dylan grins.
“She’s got a kid,” I say, just to shut them up.
Murphy squints. “Lila, right? Kid’s obsessed with you.”
“She’s three, almost four,” I deadpan. “Still got better taste than half of this locker room.”
Jacko: 1. Team: 0.
I shake my head, grinning despite myself. After training, I shoot Maya a quick text.
