Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Hope’s POV

31

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“You got a job at the rehab center?” Harley asked, his eyes still half-closed as he stuffed his cheeks with French toast.

“Hmm,” I hummed. “I should do something while I’m here.”

“Your classmate works there as a physical therapist. Jared, I think?”

“Jerome,” I corrected. “He’s the one who put me up to it.”

“Ahh,” he said. “No wonder. I think that guy likes you or something. He kept asking how you were whenever I went to the center for deep tissue massages.”

I frowned, my fork stopping midair. “I think you’ve lost your mind, Lee. Jerome does not like me. Maybe he’s just nøsy.”

He shrugged. “Whatever. It’s none of my business. But I think one of your classmates works there as a nurse, too. What was her name again?” he muttered, closing his eyes like he was trying to recall it.

“Carina? Karen?”

“Carmen?” I asked. Gosh, my brother really wasn’t great with names.

“Right, right. Her. Didn’t she bully you back then?”

I let out a deep breath.

Carmen was another familiar name because she had been Jerome’s ex-girlfriend, the head of the cheerleading team, with perfect blonde hair and, of course, that preppy, insulting attitude. She hadn’t worked very hard to break out of that stereotype.

Anyway, she was part of that clique that peaked in high school, and at one point, she had been convinced that I was flirting with Jerome.

I denied it vehemently back then, but it seemed she had simply wanted someone to insult.

My parents looked at me with concern, so I sighed and shook my head.

“I didn’t get bullied, Lee. They were just a bunch of stuck-up teens doing what stuck-up teens do. Now that we’re older, I’ve put it behind me, and surely, they had to as well.”

Harley shrugged. “Honestly, people don’t really change. They just become more mature assholes.”

“Anyway, I’m going to read the latest hockey news,” he smirked, his eyes fully open now and bright with excitement. “I wonder if there are any articles about me. I scored the most during our last game, you know?”

I shook my head and focused on my meal when, suddenly, Harley shot to his feet, his fork clattering onto the floor.

“Holy shit.”

My mom looked up at him.

“Harley!” she scolded. “Don’t curse at the dining table. Also, pick up your fork.”

However, it seemed Harley had suddenly become deaf to the rest of the world. His entire attention was fixed on his phone, his face draining of color with every second that passed.

17:15 Thu, Jul 16 D

Chapter 118

“I can’t believe this.”

“Harley,” my dad finally spoke, causing Harley to snap out of it.

“Sorry, sorry,” he muttered. He picked up his fork before sitting back down. “I just… I didn’t expect this.”

“You might want to hear this.”

He cleared his throat before reading aloud.

“Levi Reeve punches newbie player Connor Bennett. Is the star player afraid that the latter will surpass him?””

This time, it was my fork that slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a sharp clink.

My mom’s eyes widened.

“What is happening with you two today?”

I reached across the table and grabbed Harley’s phone before he could stop me.

“Hey! I was still reading that!”

I ignored his protest and began reading the article.

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It contained photos of Levi being held back by his teammates and another of him driving his fist straight into Connor’s jaw. The next image showed Connor with a split lip and blood staining his mouth.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

As I scrolled farther down, the article became worse.

Every paragraph painted Levi as a selfish teammate who refused to listen to anyone, someone threatened by newer talent, and someone whose ego couldn’t handle being challenged.

The comments were even more brutal.

Each one made my heart sink lower.

– I was a big fan before, but after seeing this, I don’t know if I can even look at him anymore.

– Finally, people are opening their eyes. He’s always been an asshole.

– This after some dating news? Great, Levi Reeve. You’re making me hate the Glaciers.

– Is his new girlfriend making him act up? She should put him on a leash.

– Connor is doing better than him.

– When has Connor even played in the Winter’s Crown?

– Connor was doing great in the practice games before Levi decided to show off.

– Accept it, Levi Reeve. You’re way past your prime.

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