Page 67 of Cold As Ice

“The team’s surely going to miss you,” Aiden added.

Connor sucked in a sharp breath, and I noticed Ella comfort him. He gave her an appreciative smile and mouthed, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

God, they were so disgustingly in love.

I’d never been jealous before around them, only slightly nauseated. But something felt different now.

Thankfully, the guys turned the conversation to easier topics.

Connor was quiet, but I didn’t blame the guy. He had a lot on his mind.

“So, where’d you go last night?” Noah asked, and I blinked when I realized he was talking to me.

“None of your business.”

He smirked. “Well, according to Cutler, you didn’t stay over at Lakers House, and I don’t remember seeing you on our couch. So where were you?”

Fuck.

Why didn’t I consider that someone would ask around after me?

“Noah,” Rory hissed, cutting through the tension as we remained locked in a stare off.

“I have other friends outside of the team, and you four idiots, you know,” I said.

“So you were over at a friend’s?” Mason asked.

“I am not talking about this.”

“Was said friend a girl friend or a guy friend?”

“You’re an asshole.” I pinned Noah with a dark look.

“Come on.” He grinned. “We’re only busting your balls. If you’ve got a newfriend, it’s all good.”

“Fucking idiot,” I muttered, grabbing a bottle of water and walking straight out of the kitchen.

I didn’t owe him an explanation, and I certainly wasn’t going to give him one in front of everyone.

I didn’t get all up in their business, so fuck knows why they assumed they could stick their noses into mine.

Grabbing my earphones on the way out, I headed for the door and didn’t look back.

I needed to burn off some steam before I said or did something I couldn’t take back.

CHAPTER12

MADISON

“Whew,that lunchtime rush was really something.” Kayleigh, the owner of Sugartown Coffee Shop, was one of the best people I knew.

A real entrepreneur, she’d built Sugartown from the ground up with nothing but sheer grit and determination and a bank loan that gave her hives every time she thought about it; her words, not mine.

But business was booming, and thanks to a prime location right on the edge of Olin Bay and Lakeshore U, she drew a year-round crowd of tourists and students who couldn’t resist her homemade bakes and uniquely flavored iced coffee and cold brews.

“It’s the student crowd trickling back after winter break. They can’t resist,” I said.

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