Page 59 of Ice Darling
“You and Cordelia seemed close the other night. Is something going on between you two?”
Max barks out a laugh. “What?”
“It’s a simple question, Max.”
Max’s eyes drop to my fist. “Then why do I feel like if I answer the question wrong, you’re flying over the table and punching me in the face?”
“Don’t be dramatic.”
“Who’s the one being dramatic here?”
“Cordelia and I are involved,” I blurt.
Max’s jaw hits the desk.
I glare at him, searching for any signs that he wants to challenge me for Cordelia’s attention.
Max just looks dumbstruck. “Since when?”
My bravado falters. I haven’t thought that far yet. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is she’s mine now.”
I’m leaving out a critical piece of information, but I have no intention of admitting to Max that the relationship between Cordelia and me is fake. He’s too close to our sponsor—who also happens to be Cordelia’s mother. If he slips up in front of her, the entire ruse will be compromised.
I’m making a strategic decision here. That’s all there is to it.
Max’s dumbstruck expression turns into a mischievous grin. “How serious are you two?”
“Very,” I growl.
“Then why’d you brush her off after the play-offs?”
I roll my eyes to the ceiling. I’m really starting to regret the decision I made to ignore Cordelia that night. If I’d just played along with her from the get-go, Max wouldn’t be looking at me like he knows something I don’t.
“Answer the question I asked, Max.”
“You want to know what I think about Cordelia?”
“Not really. I just need to make it clear that whatever you think about her should be kept to yourself from now on.”
“I think she’s pretty.”
“I think you meant ‘extremely beautiful,’” I correct him. “And I said I don’t want to hear it.”
“She seems like a cool person, if a little on the cold side. Sometimes, she can be a bit scary with all the leather and the bike…”
“She relaxes with the people she’s close to,” I snap. “And women who smile all the time for absolutely no reason are the scary ones. And what the heck is wrong with leather and bikes?”
Max is laughing his head off.
“What’s so funny?” I grumble.
“I’m just messing with you. I’m not interested in her.”
That ticks me off too. “Why not?”
If Max smiles any harder, his face might tear in half. “Bro, you’re offended that I don’t like her now?”
I blink. He’s right. Isn’t that what I wanted?
