Page 87 of Cold As Ice

After washing up my dishes, I headed upstairs for a shower. I’d planned to go to the bar and see Madison, but my chat with Coach had left me feeling all kinds of off-kilter, and I didn’t expect I’d be good company tonight.

But as if the universe heard my strife, my phone vibrated in my pocket as I stripped out of my clothes.

I smiled at the sight of Madison’s name.

Madison: How was your day?

Austin: Pretty standard. Yours?

Madison: Same old.

Austin: I thought you were working tonight?

Madison: Already here. It’s pretty dead though. I’m just taking a break.

Austin: And you thought you’d text me?

It was fucking stupid, and part of me didn’t like how much a simple text from her affected me so much, but I immediately felt lighter.

Leaning back against the bathroom vanity, I waited for her reply, barely able to keep the grin off my face.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun with a girl. In fact, come to think of it, it had never been like this. It probably had something to do with our upfront arrangement.

Friends with benefits.

Exclusivefriends with benefits.

All of the perks. None of the drama.

Madison: I could always text somebody else if I’m inconveniencing you…

Austin: Cute.

Madison: Well, my ten minutes is up. Maybe talk later?

Austin: Yeah, maybe. Don’t work too hard!

Madison: Don’t study too hard xo

I tried not to read too much into her sign off. But for some reason, it irritated me that she’d pointed out our very stark differences. I was a college student, and she was a single mom busting her ass to make ends meet.

For the next hour, I tried to focus. I tried to keep my mind on the paper about the impact of public policy on sports and not the handsy, drunken assholes that frequented O’Shea’s.

Throwing my pen down, I ran a hand down my face, accepting defeat. I couldn’t get Madison out of my head, no matter how much I tried.

And I knew only one thing would soothe the restlessness churning through me.

Seeing her with my own two eyes.

* * *

O’Shea’s was quiet, which only made the handful of leering patrons stand out like a sore thumb.

But none of them seemed to care, too transfixed by the half-naked dancer working the pole with her toned, lithe body.

Madison didn’t spot me right away, but the hulk-of-a-security guy did. He gave me a subtle nod, which I returned before sliding into a booth along the far wall.

Content sitting for a little bit, I alternated between scrolling absently through the team’s upcoming schedule and watching her work. When she finally spotted me, her brows furrowed into an adorable scowl.

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