Page 153 of Cold As Ice

Fuck.

The storm broke, violent anger coursing through my veins. I wanted to ask what happened, what else that fucker did to warrant a restraining order. I wanted a name, an address, I wanted to know where that asshole lived.

But I didn’t push.

I wouldn’t.

Madison had trusted me with so much that I would earn the rest. Piece by piece, even if it took months, a year… longer.

It made me look at time together in a new light though. Every kiss, every touch and moment I’d spent worshipping her body was a gift.

A rare and precious gift she’d felt safe and comfortable enough to bestow on me.

“You are incredible,” I said over the lump in my throat. “Everything you’ve endured…”

“I don’t need your pity, Austin.”

“It’s not pity. It’s awe, I promise. I’m so fucking in awe of you, Madi.”

“I did what I had to.” She gave me a dismissive shrug, but I refused to accept that.

“Easy to say that now. But you were what? Eighteen… nineteen when you left him?”

Madison nodded, barely meeting my gaze. “I should have ordered something stronger.” She drank the remainder of her iced tea. “This conversation got far too heavy for a Sunday afternoon.”

“I’m glad you told me.”

“Me too.”

“Yeah?” Hope sparked in my chest.

“Yeah. But don’t look too excited, Austin. I still don’t know what this all means for us.”

“We can take it slow. I’m not going anywhere.”

“So you’re not heading off to Vancouver after graduation?”

Shit.

“Who told you?”

“I heard the guys talking about it at the bar. I’d be a fool to start something with you again if you’re only going to leave in a few months. It isn’t fair of me to expect you to give up your dreams, Austin. I would never ask that of you.”

“I guess we’re doing a lot of this ass backward.”

We hadn’t dated or slowly gotten to know one another. We’d jumped straight to the good stuff and worked our way back to the beginning.

“Yeah, I guess we are.” She gave me a small smile.

I wanted hockey. I wanted a shot at going pro. But the truth was, I wanted my shot with Madison more.

That was a huge burden to shoulder her with though, so I played it cool.

At least, I hoped like fuck I did.

“Let’s make a promise to each other,” I said. “If I convince you to give me another chance, we move at your pace. It’s important to me that you know I’m serious about you, about this. So whatever you need, however slow you want to take it, that’s fine by me.”

“And Vancouver?”

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