Page 124 of Icebound Hearts

Alina appears beside Alexei, her gaze flicking between me and Aiden before she beams. “Oh, thank God. If I had to watch you two be miserable for another week, I was going to start throwing things.” I huff a laugh, shaking my head.

“So much for subtlety.” Alina waves me off, looping her arm

through mine.

“Please, everyone knew you two were inevitable. It was just a matter of when.”

Aiden smirks. “Took her long enough.”

I smack his arm, but he just grins, catching my hand in his and pressing a kiss to my knuckles.

Alina pretends to gag. “Gross.”

Alexei nudges her. “You’re just bitter because your love life is a disaster.”

Her expression darkens. “Don’t start, Romanov.”

I glance at her sharply, catching the way she tenses, the way her expression shutters just a little and suddenly, I know exactly what she’s talking about.

Roman.

Aiden must notice too because his grip on my waist tightens, his voice dropping into something more serious. “Are you okay?”

Alina forces a smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”

I know she’s not. But I don’t push. Not yet. Instead, I squeeze her hand, offering silent reassurance before turning back to the ice. Because for the first time in a long time, I’m okay, and I refuse to let anything take that from me. Last night while we were tangled in the sheets, he asked me to be his girlfriend again. The words still feel strange on my tongue.

Girlfriend. It feels different. It feels real now that we have come clean about our feelings.

After practice, Aiden doesn’t tell me where we’re going. He just shows up at my door with that stupid cocky smirk and a hand outstretched toward me like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

“Come on, Angel Face. Let’s go.” I narrow my eyes at him, arms crossed. “Where?”

He just grins. “You’ll see.”

I pretend to be annoyed, but there’s no stopping the warmth spreading through my chest. So, I roll my eyes, grab my jacket, and let him take my hand.

The drive is quiet, but not uncomfortable. His fingers tap absently against the steering wheel, his free hand resting on my knee, tracing absentminded circles through my leggings. I hate how much I like it. The casual intimacy. The way he just does things without thinking, like it’s second nature. Like touching me is a habit he never wants to break.

We drive for about thirty minutes before I realize where we’re headed. The lake.

My heart does something stupid in my chest.

Aiden parks near the edge, the water reflecting the city lights in the distance, shimmering under the early evening sky. There’s a blanket already laid out a small picnic set up with takeout containers from my favourite restaurant.

My throat tightens. “You planned this?”

Aiden shrugs, but there’s something almost shy in the way he looks at me. “Figured we’ve never had an actual date before.”

I bite my lip, trying and failing to keep my heart from soaring.

“You didn’t have to do all this.”

He steps closer, fingers tilting my chin up so I’m forced to meet his gaze. “I wanted to.”

I swallow hard. “Why?”

His brows furrow slightly, like he can’t believe I even asked that. “Because you’re mine, Kat.” His voice drops lower, rougher. “And I want to do this right.”

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