Page 112 of Frozen Hearts
“We’re not a hotel, Babydoll.”
“Yeah, no kidding. You’d only have a one-star rating on Yelp if you were. Zero outta ten. Do not recommend. Lacks any sort of bed or blankets. Into some kinky shit. And forgets to feed its guests.”
“Cranky today, aren’t we?”
“If you would like an un-cranky captive you should feed and clothe her properly and ensure she gets her eight hours ofcomfortablebeauty sleep.”
He snorts, seeming to find me amusing when that’s not what I was going for. “Get dressed. It’s game time.”
Sighing, I pull on the clothes I was wearing when Logan so thoughtfully kidnapped me. I’m both excited for and not exactly looking forward to this game tonight. I haven’t been to one since Logan asked me to attend, and while I know he wants me there tonight, I’m not entirely sure what to expect. What if he loses? Will he blame it on me?
More concerningly, what if he wins? Will he expect me to be at his games? He’d mentioned as much before, but by the time his next match rolls around, this little hostage situation will be done and dusted. Once the new semester starts up, they can’t keep me here, and I refuse to have anything to do with any of them. Including going to Logan’s games.
Once I’m dressed, Royce ushers me down the stairs. I’m halfway down them when I stop, spotting Grayson standing by the front door, waiting for us. My abrupt halt causes Royce to bump into my back, and his hand flattens across my abdomen as I pitch forward.
“Always crashing into me, Babydoll,” he murmurs against my ear, his sultry voice raising goosebumps along the flesh of my arms.
“I believe you’re the one who just crashed into me,” I mutter, eyes still focused on Grayson.
As if sensing my presence, his head snaps up, gaze roaming over my face before dropping to linger on my throat. Small, circular, fingerprint bruises decorate the sides of my neck, and it’s a little tender to touch, but I refuse to let him see any of that as I stare boldly back.
“About time,” he barks, ripping his gaze away and yanking open the front door before storming out.
“I won’t leave you alone with him,” Royce murmurs in my ear. “He won’t hurt you.”
Scoffing, I turn my head to look at him. “You mean you won’t let him kill me. But everything else is on the table, right?”
His only response is the pursing of his lips.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I snap scathingly. “I appreciate your assistance yesterday, but I’ve got it from here. Believe it or not, I’ve survived worse than whatever Grayson Van Doren throws at me.”
The journey to the stadium is filled with awkward silence, and I’m glad to breathe fresh air when we finally get out of the car.
“Let’s grab some food,” Royce says once we’ve made it past the ticket kiosks. The two of them are practically glued to my sides as we make our way through the crowd and get in line for food.
“Two beers and nachos with cheese,” Royce tells the girl once we reach the counter.
“Certainly,” she says in a peppy tone all while batting her eyelashes at him. “Will that be everything?”
“Ye—”
“No,” I interrupt. “Make that three beers, and I’ll take a hotdog with all the toppings, a second nacho with cheese, and a tub of popcorn.”
The girl blinks at me for a full minute before inputting the order into the computer.
“Seriously?” Royce questions when she moves away to grab our food.
“Yes,seriously,” I state, turning to glare at him. “None of you bothered to feed me since breakfast so I’m fucking starving.”
“Leave her be,” Grayson drawls, staring at a poster advertising the stadium's new vegan options. “She’ll need her energy for later anyway.”
My hand on the counter tightens into a fist, and the three of us fall silent as the girl comes back with our food and beers.
“You sit in the middle,” Grayson demands once we reach our seats.
I roll my eyes but follow behind Royce as we squeeze between the row of seats until we reach ours. Grayson drops into the chair on my other side and it takes everything in me not to recoil. I’m still so angry at him.
I keep my focus firmly on the ice rink in front of us. I’m once again sitting rink side, and memories of the last time I was here have my heart clenching in my chest. How did everything go to fucking shit within such a short period of time? It doesn’t seem fair.
