Page 69 of Icing Hearts

I huff a laugh. “I’m going to make sure that it does.”

“How would that be possible once she finds out about our family?”

“I intend to tell her first, head it off. I’ll tell her the truth about her father as well.”

“If you tell her the truth about her father, he’ll tell her the truth about her mother.”

“He won’t have the chance. I’m going to tell her everything, Dad.”

“What if she reacts badly?”

“She will.”

“What if she gets the idea to tell someone?”

“She won’t.”

“You know what I’ll have to do if she does.”

I laugh heartily at the open threat. “Like hell you will.”

“I’d have to, Victory. She’d become a liability. This kind of thing is all about who strikes first. I can’t risk her going to the police at large.”

“If you think I’d let you harm her, you’re more deranged than I thought you were. You seem to forget who raised me. I know how to disappear.”

“She’ll want nothing to do with you.”

“I wouldn’t give her a choice.”

“So, what? You’ll kidnap her and flee the country? Give up everything you’ve worked for? I never expected you to take over when I retire, but hockey—”

I lean forward, rocking in my chair. My index finger smacks the desk, punctuating my fervor. “Hockey means nothing if I lose her. There is absolutely nothing—no amount of money, no threat, no sport, no level of success—that is worth losing her over.”

Unspoken words cross between us. My father looks at me and he knows. He knows I would choose Clara over my family, too. I would never let her betray my family, but I will cut them off if she asks me to. If it means we can be together. That’s why I need to tell her the truth at the tournament. I have a month to lay the groundwork and build up my courage.

Because this will change everything.

Chapter 40

Victory

Clara was supposed to bring me books on Monday. But she didn’t show up to school. Vince was clueless, as usual. On Tuesday, I asked Jack about her absence. He said she was sick. Vince overheard and texted her to see if she needed anything. I tried to reach out, but she completely ignored me. Wednesday made three days of withdrawal from the only drug I’ve ever been addicted to: her smile.

Thursday morning, I find her at her locker. “Where have you been?”

“Morning, Tory.”

“I was worried. Good morning.”

“Just sick.” She shrugs, but it feels like forced nonchalance.

“That’s it? Vince said you wouldn’t let him come see you, and you didn’t even answer me. Jack was the only one with anything useful to tell me.” I cross my arms, working hard to dial back my indignation. She doesn’t owe me an explanation, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

“I’m just one of those people who likes to recover in solitude. I think one of the kids at Thanksgiving gave me something.”

“Oh…okay. You look adorable, by the way. Did you do something different with your hair?”

She smiles, and, from my position studying her profile, I notice how the action pulls her nose down into a curve. Clara uses makeup to make her nose look smaller. I like looking at her from the side. When her nose curves down, I know it’s a real smile and not one that’s been rehearsed in the mirror dozens of times.

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