Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Hope’s POV

35 voucher

“Can you maybe put in a discount?” I asked the young cashier, who was chewing gum behind the counter with the most unimpressed expression I had ever seen in my life.

One perfectly shaped eyebrow lifted. “Why would I do that?”

I cleared my throat and showed her my employee ID. “Well, the Glaciers are sponsored by the franchise, right? I was told the players can get drinks here whenever they want.”

“Right, right,” she muttered lazily. “But you’re not a player.”

“The drink is for Levi Reeve,” I clarified.

At the mention of his name, her eyes flickered toward the absurdly large drink order displayed on the screen. There were enough syrups, toppings, and add-ons listed there to give someone instant diabetes.

A mocking chuckle escaped her lips.

Then, without mercy, she pointed toward the register.”

“That’ll be forty dollars.”

I nearly choked on my own saliva. “Excuse me? How did it become forty dollars?”

Her smile widened, but it was painfully sarcastic. “The sprinkles are four dollars per scoop. You can see the full breakdown on the receipt later.”

“…Sprinkles?”

“Yes.”

I stared at her blankly.

What kind of rich-people nonsense was this?

I looked at the giant drink again.

Levi Reeve was a menace to society.

Still, with gritted teeth, I pulled out my card and swiped it.

My stomach twisted slightly while waiting for the payment to process.

I really shouldn’t have been spending money like this. Not when I still had lingering debt from buying Connor that expensive hockey duffel bag he “needed” for the upcoming season. Not when I still have to send money back home for my family.

But right now, if buying this ridiculous drink meant finally getting Levi assessed before Monday’s game, then fine.

I’d survive it.

Probably.

The cashier handed me the drink with the kind of pitying smile people gave struggling customers.

Wed, Jul 15 A

Chapter 10

“Have a wonderful day,” she chirped.

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1 forced a smile back. Then I hurried out of Aurum and practically sprinted back toward the rink, clutching the drink carefully while checking the time every few seconds.

The cold wind whipped against my face while I ran, and by the time I reached Levi’s room, my lungs were burning.

I slammed the door open.

Levi was still sprawled across his bed in the exact same position I left him in, one arm behind his head, looking infuriatingl relaxed. Slowly, he opened his eyes and glanced toward the timer beside him. Then he looked back at me.

“You’re actually on time.”

I marched toward him and shoved the drink into his hands before I lost control of my professionalism.

He stared at the cup for a few seconds and frowned.

“I don’t like sweet things.”

“…What?”

“You were the one who ordered extra syrups and whatever this is. That’s literally the exact order you gave me.”

He merely shrugged before placing the untouched drink on the bedside table and closing his eyes again.

“Buy me an almond donut from the same shop.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Levi-”

“I’ll let you assess me afterward,” he interrupted smoothly. “Go on. You have another ten minutes.”

For one terrifying second, I genuinely imagined pouring the coffee over his stupidly handsome head. Seriously, what did he think I was?

I was the team’s physical therapist, not his personal assistant.

Still, Nate’s words echoed faintly in my mind.

Be patient with him.

So instead of committing homicide, I turned around sharply and stormed out of the room again.

The moment I re-entered Aurum, the cashier looked up and laughed under her breath.

“You’re back?” she asked. “We still can’t give discounts.”

“It’s fine,” I muttered through clenched teeth. “One almond donut.”

“It’s twenty-five dollars,” she said slowly, like she assumed I couldn’t afford it.

Honestly, she wasn’t wrong.

“These pastries better extend human lifespan,” I grumbled under my breath while pulling my card out again.

“What was that?”

Wed, Jul 15

Chapter 10

“Nothing.”

I paid for the donut and grabbed the tiny paper bag from her hands.

Sixty-five dollars.

Sixty-five actual dollars for coffee and a donut.

By the time I returned to the rink again, Levi’s room was empty.

“Oh, come on.”

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I spotted him farther down the hallway already dressed in his uniform, his hockey bag slung over one shoulder while he walked toward the ice rink.

“Wait!” I called out, hurrying after him. “You said you’d let me assess you once I bought this!”

“It’s time for night practice,” he muttered without even slowing down.

“What?” I muttered under my breath.

I quickly grabbed the abandoned coffee from his room and followed after him despite how ridiculously long his strides

were.

“You don’t even have night practice scheduled,” I argued. “I checked the calendar.”

“I still practice when there’s no schedule.”

“But your body needs rest,” I shot back immediately. “You already trained this morning and this afternoon.”

He ignored me entirely. We entered the actual rink, the freezing air immediately wrapping around us. The massive arena lights reflected beautifully against the untouched ice sheet, making everything glow silver-blue.

Levi placed his things down on the bench before calmly sitting to strap on the rest of his gear.

Meanwhile, I stayed behind the barricade gripping the donut bag and overpriced coffee.

“But you promised,” I insisted stubbornly. “The almond donut is right here.”

He glanced toward the bag briefly and shrugged.

“I’m allergic to almonds.”

I felt my pulse spike so hard I thought I might pass out from pure rage./

Seriously?!

“Do you know how expensive these were?” I burst out. “This coffee and donut cost sixty-five dollars! I paid for them using my own money!”

Levi paused mid-motion before setting his helmet down slowly.

“I’ll pay you back.”

“That’s not the point!”

My voice echoed loudly through the empty arena.

The sound bounced across the ice.

11:42 Wed, Jul 15 AMM.

Chapter 10

Levi went completely still.

I knew exactly who I was yelling at.

The Levi Reeve.

The league’s superstar.

The highest-paid player.

The terrifyingly talented hockey prodigy everyone worshipped.

But at that moment, I genuinely didn’t care.

35 voucher

“The point,” I continued, breathing hard, “is that you made me run around doing all these things just because you wanted

to.”

His jaw tightened slightly.

“I know money probably means nothing to you,” I continued, “but what if it does matter to other people?”

I stepped closer unconsciously, frustration bubbling out faster.

“What if someone can’t afford to waste money like this? What if they can’t afford to run around catering to every little demand you throw at them?”

His expression hardened.

“If you can’t handle it,” he said coldly, “then quit.”

The words hit like a slap. For a split second, my chest tightened painfully. Not because I wanted to quit. But because people had been telling me variations of those words my entire life.

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