Page 144 of Cold As Ice

No matter how much I wanted a goodnight kiss.

* * *

“So… how did it go?” Noah didn’t even wait for the bus to pull out before he started with the questions.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Seriously? You’re going to freeze me out? After all the bonding we’ve done recently.” He clutched his chest dramatically.

“Can’t you swap seats with somebody so I don’t have to endure this for six hours?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Does it bother you that your best friend, your teammate… your sister’s boyfriend, for fuck’s sake, cares about you and your happiness.”

“What’s that about Hart’s happiness?” Leon poked his head up over the seat in front.

“Nothing. Go away,” I murmured.

“Come on, man. Don’t be that way. I thought we were all friends. If you’re struggling with the ladies, I can probably—”

“Not struggling with the ladies, but thanks for that glowing self-endorsement.” Sarcasm dripped from my voice.

He shrugged and slipped back down into his seat. I shot Noah a hard look, and he mouthed, “What? It’s not my fault you’re a cagey bastard.”

It obviously hadn’t occurred to him that I didn’t want everyone to know my business, no matter how tight the team was.

Until Madison was mine, I planned to keep a lid on things.

Speaking of Madison… I pulled out my cell phone and opened our messages.

Austin: Have a good weekend, don’t work too hard.

“Have a good weekend, don’t work—” I smacked Noah upside the head, and he whined like a little bitch. “Was that really necessary?”

“Dude’s fucking his sister, and he still doesn’t know when to quit it,” Leon laughed. But I wasn’t laughing, and neither was Noah.

“I’m not fucking her, asshole. I live with her. And me and Austin are on the same page now.” He peeked over at me, looking all kinds of sheepish. “We are on the same page, right?”

“Yeah, you’re good, Holden.” I smiled.

I smiled, and they all looked at me like I was the one who’d lost his mind.

Maybe I had.

Because I sure as shit hadn’t felt the same since Madison walked into my life.

“It’s Valentine’s Day soon,” Noah said. “I can’t decide whether to make a grand gesture or keep things low-key. What do you think?”

“We have a game that weekend,” I pointed out.

“If you think that will stop me from finding time to romance the shit out of your sister, you clearly haven’t been paying attention.” He had the audacity to grin at me.

“Girls aren’t bothered about all that shit, are they? I mean, you’re together now.” I shrugged. “Rory knows you love her.”

“Jesus, you have a lot to learn about women. Please tell me you have a plan to let she-who-shall-not-be-named know you’re into her.”

What?

I didn’t need a special day of the year to do that.

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