Page 49 of Love on Ice

“You’re dating Harper Rose?” he yells at me. Huh. Wait. What? “I thought getting blown in the club by a puck bunny was bad, but you’re now dating my enemy.”

“Good morning to you. What is going on?”

“Did you not see the news?” he yells at me. “I can’t believe Issy hasn’t spoken to you about this.” He huffs.

“You woke me up, asshole. I got back from vacation yesterday, I’m jetlagged.”

“There’s an article about you and Harper. You got into an altercation with her ex and there are photos of you kissing her. I can’t think Issy is happy that you’re dating her best friend. Of all the people, she is your rebound?” he says.

I put the call on speaker, open my phone, put in my name, and low and behold, there is the news article. “Shit.”

“You think? Wait, are you dating her so they won’t kick you off the team because her family is a sponsor?” he asks me.

“No. Why the hell would I do that?” I ask, annoyed by his question.

“Because last time I spoke to you, you said that you’re already on thin ice with management thanks to your blow job scandal, which, thanks by the way, my fucking name is now attached to that story.” He moans. Dickhead. “I’d assume nearly getting into a fight is not going to help your chances as The Mavericks. So, it’s smart that you start fucking the sponsor’s daughter.”

My blood starts to boil over the way he is talking about Harper.

“Watch your fucking mouth,” I tell him.

Silence fills the air. “Oh shit, you’re really dating her.”

“Yes. I am. But I had no idea it was going to be announced this way,” I tell him as I get up and try to find Issy.

“Didn’t realize you were into older chicks.”

“She’s not that much older than me.”

“We are the same age,” he argues.

“Yes, and I know the two of you don’t get along,” I tell him.

“She told you that?” he asks.

“Yeah, first time I saw a woman gag when she heard your name.” I chuckle.

“She’s such a bitch.”

“Hey,” I warn him.

“Whatever. Did she say anything else?” he asks.

What like the fact that you were secretly dating Issy and then broke her heart by being an asshole. “No, she just said she thought you were an egotistical dick in college.”

“Really? As if she knew what I was like in college, she spent most of it partying.”

“Look, thanks for the heads up, but I have to go,” I tell him.

“Hey, don’t forget to call Mom,” he yells at me before hanging up.

Asshole.

18

HARPER

“Harper!”

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