Page 123 of Cold As Ice

“You can play wingman, though, if you want,” Leon laughed.

“You’ll be needing all the help you can get with that new haircut.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Leon ran a hand over his buzzcut.

“You’re practically bald.” Mason smirked.

“Yeah, so? The ladies dig it.”

“What are they supposed to hold onto when you’re… you know, kissing the kitty.”

“Kissing the kitty?” We all gawked at Ward. “What are you, twelve?” Noah burst into laughter.

“Oh wait, I know,” Mason added. “She can hold onto his ears.”

“Fuck off. You’re all fucking idiots. I’m telling you, I’ll be fighting them off.”

“Big words for a bald man.” Mason and Aiden shoved him down the sidewalk, Ward following behind, leaving me with Noah.

“You’re not going home,” he said.

“Yes, I am.”

“No, you’re not. You’re coming out with your friends.”

“Rory—”

“Loves you and will be happy to see you. Just like everyone else.”

“Fine,” I grumbled. “Just for an hour or so.”

“Thank fuck.” He relaxed his hold on me as we caught up with the others. “I really didn’t want to have to drag you there.”

“Like you could take me.”

The guys fell into a debate about the team’s performance tonight while I tried to empty my mind.

I could manage an hour or so at Zest.

It was usually a bunny-free zone and not the usual college crowd.

But the second we stepped inside, my plans of surviving Noah, my sister, and our friends all went to shit.

Because sitting there nestled between Rory and Harper with a drink in her hand and a smile on her face…

Was Madison.

CHAPTER22

MADISON

“Fawn, tell me how this happened?”I murmured under my breath as we stood at the bar, ordering another round of cocktails.

“Uh, the hockey girlfriends insisted we join them, and I’m a really bad friend and couldn’t say no, but you love me anyway.” She peeked up at me through her thick lashes, clearly amused by the whole thing.

“Mm-hmm.” I made a derisive sound in the back of my throat, nervous energy vibrating through me.

The night had been fine until Fawn insisted we go to a different bar, and we walked in to find none other than Harper and Rory there.

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