Page 115 of Cold As Ice

“But we’re meeting Mason soon.”

“Can they come?”

“I don’t think Madison and Imogen want to hang out with a bunch of hockey players, buddy.”

“Why not?” He looked genuinely horrified. “Hockey is the best thing ever.”

“Is nots.” Imogen pursed her lips, and I braced myself for another argument. But Scottie merely rolled his eyes. “Princesses,” he muttered, and the three of us struggled to stifle our laughter.

“It would seem she’s won him over,” Rory said.

“I think she won the entire place over,” Kayleigh said, collecting our empty mugs.

“You want me to help—”

“No, I want you to stay on this side of the counter for once.” She gave me a hard look. “You’ve helped me enough today.”

“They could come with us,” Scottie argued again.

“Yes, Mommy. We coulds go and meet the hockey players.”

“I don’t think so, baby. Not today.”

“But Mommy, we—”

“I said not today, Imogen.”

Her lips wobbled, and I felt like the monster Mom. But I couldn’t hang out with Austin’s teammates—his friends. What if he was there? What if he thought I was trying to encroach on his life?

No, I couldn’t do that.

No matter how much we’d enjoyed hanging out with Harper, Rory, and Scottie this afternoon.

“Are you sure you won’t come?” Harper asked, and I nodded, beckoning for Imogen to climb onto my lap.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I ran a hand over her head. “Mommy has our evening all planned. We’re going to do face masks and watch a movie, and I even thought I could paint your nails. Just like a princess.”

“Pink, I wants pink.”

“Pink it is.” I smiled, peppering her cheeks with kisses. “Say goodbye to Scottie, Harper, and Rory, baby.”

“Bye-bye.”

“It was nice to meet you, Princess Immy,” Rory said, making her beam.

“Thank you,” I said over the lump in my throat.

We got ready to leave, but Imogen pulled away from me at the last second and ran toward Scottie, throwing her arms around his waist.

“Oh my God.” Harper inhaled a sharp breath, obviously concerned about his response. But to our surprise, Scottie tapped her on the head and said, “I guess hockey players can be friends with princesses.”

That put a bounce in her step as she came back to me and took my hand. “Sees you soon.” She waved at them all the way to the door.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her she probably wouldn’t see them again.

* * *

“Mommy, can we gets a cat?”

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