Page 23 of Icebound Hearts

“Aiden, do you want to play?” Roman asks. I nod, stand up, and sit beside him in our giant beanbag. I grab one of Roman's remotes and start picking my team, but I still feel her. Lately, I feel her everywhere. I think about her during school, practice, and at home. She has invaded my head, and I can’t stop thinking about Katerina Hart.

She has Maddie on the loudspeaker, talking animatedly about figure skating. She says people don’t take it seriously enough and should be considered one of the most challenging sports.

I smirk to myself. She’s so passionate about it, so utterly Kat,

that I almost let it slide. Almost.

“Figure skating isn’t a real sport, Kat.” I don’t even look up when I say this. I just toss it out there like it’s a fact, waiting for the inevitable explosion. Roman snaps his head towards mine, eyes wide in disbelief at what I said.

“Excuse me?” I finally glance at her. She’s staring at me, the phone still pressed to her ear, looking like she’s torn between ending the call or strangling me. I shrug.

“It’s performance. Not a sport.” Something shifts in her expression. It’s subtle, but I see it—the moment I hit a nerve.

Kat hangs up without another word and stands up. She marches towards me and plants herself directly before me, blocking my view of the TV.

“Say that again.”I raise an eyebrow, amused. She’s pissed. Really pissed.

“Fuck man, You did this to yourself,” Rome says, patting my back as he stands up to leave. I didn’t want to argue with her, but I couldn’t help it. I like seeing her angry, mainly when that anger is directed towards me. Which means I can’t stop now. I lean back, stretching my arms over the back of the couch.

“It’s a hobby. Not a sport.” Her hands ball into fists at her sides. And fuck me, she’s cute when she’s mad.

“You think just because your sport revolves around shoving

people into walls, it makes it harder than mine? You don’t know a damn thing about what I do.” I smirk.

“I know you get judged on how pretty you look.” The throw pillow hits me square in the face. I catch it, laughing. “Touch a nerve, Hart?” She glares.

“If you think it’s so easy, why don’t you try landing a quadruple jump?” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

“Why don’t you try taking a hit on the ice and still finishing the game?” Her eyes narrow. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I sign up to get slammed into a wall for fun? No, I have actual skills.”

I chuckle. “Skills? Please. You twirl around in sequins and call it work.” The second pillow comes flying at me before I can duck. This time, it hits. I wipe a hand down my face, grinning.

“Resorting to violence, Angel Face?” She throws her hands up.

“You are insufferable!”

“And you love it.” Kat groans, spinning on her heel and storming off, mumbling something under her breath. But I don’t miss the way her pulse jumps at her throat. The way her ears flush pink.

I don’t miss the fact that, even as she leaves, she doesn’t want to.

And fuck, neither do I.

Chapter twelve

KATERINA

I can’t breathe. I don’t know what triggered it or pulled me under, but the air is thick and pressing down on my lungs, and my fingers tremble as I dig them into the couch cushion.

“I love you, but you can’t be pushing yourself that hard,” my mom says, her voice tinged with concern on the other side of the phone.

“It’s starting again, Mom. I don’t know what to do.” My voice cracks, and I can hear the helplessness creeping in. I look at myself in the mirror, but I only see a reflection of Max standingbehind me with a creepy smile. The tiredness in my eyes is only matched by the exhaustion in my body.

‘You are so weak, Katerina. Only made to please me.’

‘I’m the strong one. You are nothing.’

I shake my head, forcing the thoughts back. “Get out of my head, Max. Get the fuck out of my head.” I slap my temple, the sting doing little to ward off the wave of anger and fear. Tears roll down my face, a mixture of frustration and sorrow.

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