Page 16 of Love so Cold

Oh, Larry! Larry!

Sebastian

I'd rather not picture what goes on in Larry's bedroom.

Roman

Do you and Willow want to star in your own enemies-to-lovers romance?

I can see the book now: *The Wrong Pucking Pipeline.* Guaranteed to hit #1 in the Kindle Store.

Lawrence

You're lucky I'm traveling right now, Roman. Otherwise, I'd come strangle you myself.

Roman

Whoa. I never said this book was going to be a reverse harem.

That's a whole different ballgame, no pun intended.

Sebastian

Getting us back on track. Vic, find out who's spearheading the protests. That's your target audience.

I pause, fingers hovering over the screen. I think back to my encounter yesterday. The little girl gliding across the ice, with those same chestnut curls. Her innocent eyes were wide with a mix of bravery and fear as she approached me.

"My mom doesn't like you," she said timidly as she pointed up to the stands. My gaze had followed her tiny mittened finger to a woman in the bleachers, arms folded, eyes fierce with disapproval. Chestnut.

"But she's letting me play because she believes in me."

"Who's your mom?" I'd asked, my curiosity piqued despite my best efforts to remain detached.

But when I'd finished turning around, the little girl had already skated off, her courage only lasting so long.

I didn't know what to make of the exchange at the time. But now, recalling that moment, the connection clicks like a lock opening. Could Chestnut be the leader of the dissenters? She was at the protest and, of all thefaces at the practice, she seemed to be the one person immune to charm or charity.

Victor

Maybe.

But if she's as tough as she looks, this won't be a cakewalk.

Sebastian

Nothing worth doing ever is.

You've got this, man.

Victor

Thanks.

Though I'm not convinced. Winning over Chestnut feels like trying to warm ice with a stare. But it's a start, a direction to skate toward. And maybe it's my only shot at turning this whole icy mess around.

Chapter Nine

Avery

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