Page 58 of Icebound Hearts

But this past week, focusing on my studies and having Aiden help me skate just enough to stay prepared for my return has made me realize something. I wasn’t living. I mean, sure, technically, I was, but not really. I was so consumed by figure skating, so obsessed with winning that stupid gold medal, that I lost sight of why I even started. I used to skate because I loved it, it made me feel alive. Not for a medal. My new goal? Reignite my passion for figure skating.

I shake my thoughts off and skate around the rink, gaining speed with each glide.

“Bend those knees, angel face,” Aiden commands, his voice firm but laced with something that makes my stomach flip. I bend my right knee slightly, casting him a grin.

“Just like that. You’re doing so good.” A rush of heat spreads through me at his praise. My core tingles and I have to fight the sudden urge to press my thighs together. What the hell is wrong with me? One compliment, and I’m in shambles.

“You’re such a—”

“Aiden, stop it.” I come to a sharp halt, skidding on the ice, and turn to face the devil himself. Aiden stops and smirks at me, knowing exactly what he’s doing. My heart slams against my ribs. I hate this. I hate how he makes me lose control.

“Stop what?” I glare at his stupidly attractive grin and shove him with my left arm, but my balance wavers. Before I can fall, two strong arms wrap around my waist, steadying me.

Suddenly, being held by Aiden is far worse than the teasing. His scent—clean, woodsy, intoxicating—wraps around me, making my head spin.

“Stop what?” he asks again, his tone lower this time. I press my lips into a thin line, looking everywhere except his eyes.

“You know what. Stop with the compliments.” Aiden’s smirk widens, a knowing glint sparking in his gaze.

“I didn’t know you had a praise kink, angel.” My jaw drops. The audacity—

I slap his chest with my left arm, attempting to wiggle out of his hold, but he only tightens his grip, keeping me close.

“I don’t,” I say, my voice firm despite the warmth creeping up my neck. “I think we’re done for today. I want to go home and take a bath.” Aiden quirks a brow, licking his bottom lip. “Ugh, yes, you can join. Let’s go.” He gives me a full-blown smile—the kind that could make me collapse if he wasn’t holding me up. Aiden doesn’t smile often. Most of the time, he walks around with a resting bitch face or an annoying smirk, but when he does smile,I want to take a picture, print it out, and lock it away in a safe where only I have the key. So I can look at it whenever I want to.

“Are you and the girls coming to the game tonight?” Aiden asks as he effortlessly intertwines our hands and skates by my side toward the bench.

“Yeah. Roman is still being an ass to Alina, and I don’t like it, but I’m pretty sure she will still go to support him.” I sit on the bench as Aiden kneels in front of me and starts undoing my laces.

“I promise you, he cares about her,” Aiden says. “Roman’s been through a lot. It’s just… hard for him to express himself. Meanwhile, your best friend? She’s very expressive.” I chuckle, nodding in agreement. Aiden finishes with his skates first, swaps them for slides, and then kneels again— this time to put mine on.

“Aiden, it’s just slides. You don’t have to do that.” He ignores me, grabs our bags, slings them over his shoulder, and reaches for my hand.

This man will be the death of me. I stand and let him take my hand, a soft smile tugging at my lips.

“Let’s go take that bath.”

I roll my eyes, chuckling. “You’re such a guy.”

Twenty minutes later, we step into the house, and my jaw drops when I see Will and Maddie cuddled up on the couch. Aiden freezes beside me, equally stunned.

“When she’s gone, he’s dead,” Roman announces from the staircase. I grin at how stressed he looks. The vein in his forehead is ready to pop, and if it does… I want front-row seats.

“This fucker came up to me and said, I like your sister. You can do whatever you want to me, but I won’t stop wanting her. I punched his dumb-ass, and he just grinned at me like a damn psychopath.”

I bite my lip, fighting back a laugh, and glance at Aiden, who looks just as amused.

“We’re right here, Roman. I can hear you—”

“I don’t give a fuck, Will.”

Roman spits the words out, and this time, I laugh. Roman glares at me, so I shut up, pressing my lips together to stop laughing. I love how protective he is of Maddie. I often wish I had a sibling, someone to share all my joy and sadness with, someone who could be there for me when I feel lonely.

“Sorry, Rome. Maybe you should call my best friend and have her come over,” I say, placing my right hand on his shoulder for comfort. His glare fades into something softer and sadder, and my chest tightens.

“She won’t answer my calls,” he mutters. “I think I fucked everything up.” I sigh, stepping forward to wrap my arms around his waist.

“It doesn’t hurt to try. The Alina I know would come here in a heartbeat if you needed her to.” Aiden claps a hand on Roman’s back.

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