Page 73 of From Ice to Grace
She swallows, her blue eyes meeting mine. Acting like we’re into each other might not be that difficult. I’m definitely attracted to her, and staring at her or holding her hand is no major feat. In fact it’s something I could quickly get used to.
“I left Sweden because someone took what I gave them and broke it in a million pieces,” she says, her confession soft but hitting hard all the same. “I need to be here because I can’t go back and face him.”
The admission lodges itself beneath my ribs. She gave something of herself and he wrecked it. The thought makes me want to find the man who hurt her.
Without thinking, I lift her hand to my mouth, placing a soft kiss along her knuckles. Her breath catches.
“He’s an idiot,” I say, meaning every word.
“You don’t even know him,” she says, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly as she watches my mouth against her hand.
“I don’t have to know him to know that I’m getting what he lost,” I say, my gaze not leaving hers. “And by this time tomorrow, it will be a done deal.”
This morning, I woke up to my phone blowing up next to me on the nightstand.
Maddie Sullivan: You move fast, Murph. When we saw you this weekend you said no…and here you are, looking at her like she’s the reason you breathe.
Maddie Sullivan: Don’t screw this up.
With a huff, I toss the duvet off me and scrub the sleep from my eyes. Leave it to my sister to go overboard with her analysis of my relationship. I definitely didn’t look at Avah like she’s the reason I have oxygen in my lungs. I scroll through the rest of the messages.
Brady Sullivan: Keep it up, bro. This will help you. These headlines are already replacing the old ones. These next few days will be tight, so buckle up.
Brady Sullivan: Wedding is this afternoon at two. See you there.
Two o’clock.
It hits me like a sledgehammer to the chest. In less than seven hours, I’ll be a married man.
There are messages from my teammates too…teammates who are finding out about me and Avah along with the rest of the world.
Nikolai Petrov: I hope you know what you’re doing. Avah’s the real deal.
EJ Johansson: I know this is something you both agreed too…but know that I’m watching you, Murphy. Keep this clean or you’ll have me to deal with.
Lucas Walker: We saw the pics. You look good together, Dec. She’ll be good for you. Hannah says she knew you two had something going on.
Lucas Walker: And also, don’t mess this up.
Rubbing my hand over my face, I groan before stumbling out of bed. I’ve actually had a good night’s sleep, for the first time in a long time. The messages from my teammates don’t help too much—all of them clearly think Avah is too good for me.
I guess I’m inclined to agree. I don’t call her Snowflake for nothing.
Pulling a shirt over my head, I walk into the kitchen in desperate need of caffeine. I’m greeted with Lindgren’s face, stretched into a grin that matches the energy of a golden retriever.
“Well, well…” he says, grabbing his already made protein shake from the counter. “If I didn’t have to get to practice, I’d be staying to grill the living daylights out of you. You’ve been holding out on us, Murphy.”
I don’t know why we have to live together. Murphy doesn’t need someone to motivate him in the mornings. It’s like he was born with all the energy in the world.
“Go to practice,” I say, getting the coffee machine started.
“What I don’t get,” Lindgren continues, slowly walking toward me, tapping a finger on his chin as he mockingly looks to be deep in thought. “You said you weren’t knocking boots with Avah, but look at this.”
He shoves his phone into my face, so close I have to squint. Right there is a picture of the two of us, staring into each other’s eyes while I’m pressing her hand against my mouth. That moment was…unexpected to say the least.
“There’s no way you’ll be able to convince me that’s not true love.” Lindgren turns the phone to look at the picture again, his smile widening even more. “This is pure Disney Channel.”
“That’s a bit much,” I mutter.
