Page 57 of Cold As Ice

It didn’t feel nice.

“I’m getting the feeling I screwed up by coming here.”

“You think?” I asked, failing to keep the incredulity out of my voice.

Austin stopped abruptly and dragged a hand over his jaw as if he was contemplating what to say next. How to dig himself out of the giant hole he’d found himself in.

“I’m sorry, okay.”

“Austin, we already did this part.” I blew out a frustrated breath. “You’re sorry, I get it. But it’s just words. It doesn’t change anything. Look, you should go. I only live on the next block over, and my parents are there watching Imogen.”

“So that’s it, huh? You’re just going to kick me out of your life?”

“Don’t tell me you want to stick around and be friends.”

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“I have a daughter, Austin. I work two jobs. I barely have any time to myself. Even if you wanted to be friends—and I don’t believe you do—I don’t have the emotional capacity to let you in.”

It wasn’t the whole truth, but he didn’t need to know that. He didn’t need to know that the fact he was even here, that he’d tracked me down, meant something to me.

And it was because of his little gesture that I knew if I gave him this, if I agreed to his offer of friendship, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself falling for him.

“You don’t believe me.” His expression was crestfallen.

“I know I said I wanted to have fun.” My voice was barely above a whisper as I dropped my gaze. “But it’s different now. I don’t think I could—”

“Stop, please.” His fingers slid under my jaw, cupping my chin gently. Austin tilted my face up to his, staring at me with an intensity that made my heart ache. “I didn’t come looking for sex. I came to apologize and say that I’d like to hang out occasionally. It’s kind of nice having someone around who doesn’t care about the fact that I’m a Laker.”

“Perhaps you need to widen your social circle if that’s the case.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” His mouth twitched at the corners, and my stupid, traitorous heart fluttered.

God, he was insufferable.

“You came, you apologized, now please go.”

“Fine. I’ll leave.” He held up his hands. “If you agree to hang out with me again soon.”

He kept saying those words.

Hang out.

Like they didn’t mean anything.

“Austin, I—”

He started walking off in the direction of my building. “Guess I’ll just walk you to your door then.”

I hurried after him, grabbing his arm. The second my fingers grasped his wrist, sparks zipped through me. Our eyes clashed again, and he arched a brow.

Dropping his arm, I stepped back. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“I’m goalie for one of the best teams in the NCAA. What do you think?” His mouth twitched, and I remembered what it was like to kiss him. How thoroughly he had devoured me.

“I think you need to leave.” The words came out muffled, thanks to the giant lump in my throat.

“Can I at least text you?”

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