Page 30 of Icebound Hearts

“Are you okay? You’re breathing weird.” My mom studies me, concern laced in her voice. I force a casual smile. “Yeah, just excited for dinner.” Liar.

No one knows me better than my mother, so I avoid her gaze.

“Let’s grab some ingredients so I can cook,” she says, connecting her phone to my car’s Bluetooth. The moment she starts playing Russian music, nostalgia hits me like a freight train. I missed her. I missed this.

When dinner rolls around, the entire house is buzzing with energy.

The girls and Alexei arrive first, eager to help with the meal. The boys arrive exactly at six—loud, chaotic, and ready to meet my mother.

“Honey, I’m home!” Will announces dramatically, stepping into the kitchen like he owns the place. I grin, but my smile falters the second I meet Aiden’s gaze. He’s unreadable, his expression carefully blank. But the tension crackles in the air between us, thick and undeniable. The guys introduce themselves one by one, earning hugs from my mother. But something shifts when Aiden steps forward.

“Hello, ma’am. I’m Aiden.” His voice is calm and polite, but his eyes flick to me for half a second. My mom smiles, wrapping him in a hug.

“Nice to meet you, Aiden. You seem like a quiet one. Let me guess, you keep them in check, don’t you?”

He laughs slightly. “I try. It’s your daughter who keeps us in check.” I blink. What? Since when do I keep him in check?

My mother raises an eyebrow, looking between us. Suspicious.

Then, before I can react, Aiden moves toward me—and in a swift motion, he crouches slightly and wraps his arms around my lower back.

My heart stops. Why is he hugging me?

“Angel face,” he murmurs, his voice low and hoarse.

I freeze. Then, like a reflex, I wrap my arms around his shoulders. My fingers press against warm muscle, and his scent—a mix of clean soap and something undeniably Aiden—invades my senses.

I breathe him in, my eyes fluttering shut for just a second. Why do I like this?

Aiden, let’s go first and takes a step back. The loss of his warmth makes my skin prickle. I meet his gaze, my heart hammering, and he smirks at me.

Asshole.

This is a game. He knew the hug would throw me off. Fuck him. He nods at me once before heading toward the kitchen.

I barely have time to process it before I hear my mother

clearing her throat. I turn slowly.

She’s standing there, arms crossed, eyebrows raised. “Just roommates, right?” I gulp. “Of course.” She does not look convinced at all.

When we all sit in the living room, my mom announces dinner is ready. We approach the dining table, but Will flashes right by me and into my seat. Will grins at me while I shoot daggers at him. I glare at him again, taking the only seat available with a sigh. I was supposed to sit by Maddie, but someone almost glued himself to the chair… cough…cough…. Will, forcing me to sit next to Aiden.

I feel sick. Not because the food isn’t incredible—it is. But because every time Aiden moves, his thigh brushes mine. I can’t focus. I can’t breathe.

I hear Aiden scoff, and I bring my attention to him. “Problem?”

He shrugs. “Your mom was saying she loves your new coach. I was just thinking it’s insane that your coach has you training six hours a day on top of everything else.” My mother’s head snaps toward me.

“Malyshka, is that true?” I murder Aiden with my eyes. He just smirks, taking another bite of his food. Oh, he’s dead.

Tonight.

I don’t care if my mother is here. Aiden Knight is going to suffer. I don’t care that we’re in the middle of dinner. The second I can get him alone, it’s over for him. I glare daggers at him as I force a tight smile toward my mom, who is observing me, her fork hovering mid-air.

“Malyshka,” she says slowly, “are you pushing yourself too hard?” I shake my head immediately. “No, Mama, I—”

“She is,” Aiden interrupts, casually sipping from his water like he didn’t just throw me under the bus.

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