Page 21 of Icebound Hearts

“I don’t. But I'd rather not get caught in the crossfire if you’re about to go on a rampage.”

Aiden exhales, rubbing his face. “It’s nothing. Just my dad being his usual self.”

I hesitate, then step inside. “Want me to slash his tires? I have connections.” That earns me a chuckle. It's a small one, but still. “Tempting.”

Silence stretches between us. It’s… different. Not tense. Just there.

Then Aiden shakes his head as if snapping out of it. His usual smirk starts creeping back. “Wow. You almost sounded concerned for a second there.” I groan. “Forget it. I regret everything.”

I turn to leave, but before I reach the door, he calls my name. I glance back, eyebrows raised. “What?” I ask.

He rubs the back of his neck, looking almost awkward. “I, uh… I got something for you.”

I blink. “What?”

He gets up, walks to his desk, and grabs a small paper bag. Then he hands it to me.

I stare at him. “Is this a prank? Is something going to explode?”

He rolls his eyes. “Just open it.”

I do as he says, but I'm still wary.

It’s a coffee. My coffee. Iced caramel latte, just the way I order it. I look up at him, suspicious. “You stole my coffee, and now you’re giving me another one?” He shrugs, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

“Figured I owed you.” I don’t know what to say to that. Because of this? This was weird. Aiden Knight doesn’t do nice things. He steals my coffee.

He messes with me, but this was sweet, and that might be the most infuriating thing he’s ever done.

Chapter Eleven

AIDEN

Practice is brutal. My head is a fucking mess. I skate harder, pushing my body until my muscles scream, but nothing quiets the storm brewing inside me. Not the cold bite of the rink air, not the satisfying scrape of my blades against the ice—nothing. Because no matter how fast I skate or how many pucks I shoot into the net, I can’t outrun reality.

I can’t change that my baby sister, Sophia, is sick. I can’t fix her disease with a well-placed check or a fucking hat trick. And I sure as hell can’t make my dad see that hockey is the only thing keeping me sane right now. His words from last night still echo in my head:

“She will never get better, Aiden. Instead of spending every minute with her, you should focus on your degree. This hockey crap needs to stop. Sophia will die. I refuse to spend time with someone who will not be part of our lives in a few years.”

I’d taken the phone away from my ear before he could hear me slam my fist into the wall. Like, I don’t know there is a chance she will die. She’s still waiting for a bone marrow match.

I think about it every second of every goddamn day.

I grit my teeth and wind up for another slap-shot. The puck hits the top corner of the net so hard that it rattles, but it doesn’t feel like enough. Nothing feels like enough.

“Alright, that’s enough, Knight.”

I glance up, my grip tightening on my stick. Will stands at the boards, arms crossed, watching me like a ticking bomb. Not a lot of people know, but Will is my fraternal twin. We don’t have the best relationship because of our father. While growing up, he took Will everywhere, leaving me and Sophia behind like we didn’t matter. I don’t hold it against Will. We just don’t have the same connection I have with Soph.

“Not done,” I mutter.

“Yes, you fucking are.” His voice is firm, and I know that look on his face—it’s the same one he’s had since we were kids. The don’t be an idiot, Aiden look. I exhale sharply and skate toward him, tapping my stick against the ice before hopping over the boards.

“What do you want?”

Will hands me a water bottle. “For you to get your shit together before you self-destruct.”

I roll my eyes but take the bottle anyway. “I’m fine.” He gives me a deadpan stare.

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