Page 98 of Icebound Hearts

“No, but-”

The words barely leave his mouth before my drink flies into his fucking face.

I don’t wait for his reaction. I turn and walk away. “Fucking asshole!” I mutter under my breath.

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?” Maddie demands as she pulls me into a hug. I scoff. “Apparently, all it takes is one blonde bitch for Aiden to forget I exist.” I see him walking toward me. “Nope,” I tell Maddie. “I don’t want to talk to him. Let’s go dance.”

The music pulses through my veins as another Latin remix starts playing, the beat sinking into my bones. Alina, Maddie, and I move in perfect rhythm, our hips swaying in sync. At one point, we all move to the beat at the same time, and we squeal in excitement, grinning like idiots. I fucking love dancing.

Alina and I always joked that if ice skating didn’t work out, we’d become professional dancers instead. Right now, I believe it.

A pair of hands settle on my hips, pulling me back against a solid chest. I let it happen, because fuck Aiden. No man will ever make me feel small. No man will ever make me feel like I don’t matter.

The guy behind me grips my waist firmly, his body pressing against mine as we move together. I let my head fall back slightly, pretending—just for a second—that I don’t care. That I’m not seething inside.

A hand yanks my wrist, pulling me away from the guy so fast I nearly stumble.

“What are you doing?” Aiden growls, his voice sharp, furious.

I scoff, wrenching my wrist free. “Fuck off, Aiden. Go back to your blonde bitch.”

His tongue pokes at the corner of his mouth, his jaw flexing. Then—he laughs.

It’s a dark, low chuckle. One that makes my pulse spike. I know that laugh.

“Are you with him? Is he bothering you?” the guy asks, eyeing Aiden warily.

I chuckle, my tone sharp and unforgiving. “No, I’m not. He’s

nothing to me.”

Aiden flinches. Just barely. But I catch it. I don’t give either of them a chance to respond before I turn and walk away. I need to find Alexei. I need to get the fuck out of here.

“Kat, wait,” Aiden calls, his voice laced with frustration. “Katerina, I said fucking wait.”

I grit my teeth, my hands shaking. “Fuck off, Aiden.” I don’t stop. I don’t want to hear whatever excuse he’s about to throw at me. But I don’t make it two more steps before his strong hands wrap around my wrist, pulling me into his chest. He doesn’t let me go. Instead, he drags me toward an empty room, shoving the door closed behind us before locking it.

“Just listen to me, please,” he says, his voice tight. “I’m not losing you over something fucking stupid.” I cross my arms, glaring at him. “Then maybe you should have thought about that before saying I wasn’t yours.” His hands run through his hair, his frustration evident.

“The only reason I said that is because she asked if you’re my girlfriend. Which technically you are not. But you are my girl and she means nothing to me. It’s just Molly, she’s an old friend.” I scoff, shaking my head.

“Do you think I’m five, Aiden? Do you really think she wanted to be just your friends. She was rubbing her hands all over you and you let her.” His lips press into a thin line, and then he nods.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t realise her intentions were different from mine. I was just talking to her as an old friend. I didn’t touch her. I would never risk what we have. Never!” I turn away, inhaling sharply. Don’t fold, Kat. Don’t fold.

But then he says the one thing that makes my heart stop.

“I was going to ask you to be my girlfriend on New Year’s. I had it all planned out.”

I whip around, my breath catching. “You were?” He nods. “You can ask the guys.”

The silence between us is thick. Heavy. The only thing we hear is the muffled music outside.

Aiden takes a slow step toward me. “Hearing you say it… I hated it. So I know how you felt.”

He moves closer, and my heartbeat thunders in my chest. “Will you please be my girlfriend?” His voice drops, almost

pleading. “Because I can’t do this anymore.” I let out a slow breath before nodding, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Yes.”

---