Page 67 of Icebound Hearts

He nods. “Okay.” I blink. “Okay?”

Aiden nods again, a small smile tugging on his lips. “You think I’m gonna stop you?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Yes?” Aiden shakes his head, stepping closer, gripping my waist, as he pulls me closer to him. My heart starts picking up at the proximity, flashbacks of last night replaying in my head.

“I’m not here to stop you, Angel Face.” I inhale sharply as he

Looks at me, his stare steady, grounding. “Then what are you here for?” He smirks, leaning in, his lips grazing my ear. Goosebumps erupt all over my body, at such a simple gesture.

“To make sure you don’t fall.” I nod, as I lose the battle against my own heart. He lets me skate as he watches, giving me pointers or helping me here and then. Around eight pm, Aiden drives us home. We end up tangled on the couch, a movie playing in the background that neither of us is paying attention to. I’m still wearing his hoodie, curled up against his side, his fingers lazily tracing patterns on my thigh.

And for the first time in forever—

I don’t feel like I’m running from anything. I feel safe.

I feel home.

Aiden presses a slow kiss to my temple, his voice quiet. “I’m going to ruin you for any other man out there.” I tilt my head up, smirking. “Not if I ruin you first.”

His gaze darkens, his fingers tightening on my thigh.

“Angel Face.”

I grin. “Knight.” He smiles and lowers his head down to kiss me. Slow and deep and devastating.

And I let him.

Chapter thirty - two

AIDEN

I’ve spent weeks thinking about how to make this night perfect. Not just good. Not decent. Perfect. Because Kat deserves perfect.

It starts with a hoodie she wears once—oversized, washed-out black, with “Cigarettes After Sex” written across the front in white letters. I remember her tucked into my side one rainy evening, humming along to a song with no beat, no drop, no chorus—just soft melancholy and floating lyrics that stick with you long after the sound fades.

That’s when I know. That’s when the idea starts forming.

And tonight? Tonight, is the night.

She has no clue.

I pace in front of her dorm like an idiot, the ticket QR codes already sitting in my Apple Wallet. I’ve even splurged on merch ahead of time—the hoodie she’s been eyeing is folded up in the backseat of my car. I can’t remember the last time I tried this hard.

Hell, I don’t think I ever have.

The door creaks open and there she is—Kat, with her usual soft expression and that half-smile she only gives me when I catchher off guard. She’s wearing light-washed jeans, a black crop top, and a zip-up jacket. Simple. Beautiful. So her.

“You look like you’re about to pass out,” she teases, closing the door behind her.

“I was starting to think you were standing me up.”

She rolls her eyes but slips her hand into mine like it belongs there. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“You and your damn surprises.” She leans into me as we walk. “If this ends with you handing me a slice of pizza, I’m not complaining.”

I grin but stay quiet. Let her guess.

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