Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 170

170: HOPE

Hope’s POV

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I hadn’t known Lia for that long, but even with a smile on her face, I could tell that she was unhappy about the situation, The smile she wore never quite reached her eyes.

Honestly, who wouldn’t be?

Another season had already ended, and Desmond was still his same playboy self.

If I were Lia, I would have slapped Desmond in the face already. However, she was just too kind and too much of a martyr for her own good. She always put everyone else before herself, even when it hurt.

He sat right next to Levi and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “I kept my promise, didn’t I?”

Levi clicked his tongue and removed his hold. He gestured to the girl he was with. “You said no strangers.”

Desmond pursed his lips. “Why don’t you get some food and drinks, Karlee?”

The girl smiled, appearing clueless about the situation. “Okay. Don’t have too much fun while I’m away.”

“Of course.” Desmond winked at her.

Karlee left the space and headed toward the food area.

“Technically, she isn’t a stranger. We hooked up around last month. Just saw her at the game, and she insisted on coming.”

Forest sighed and shook his head. “Seriously, Desmond. When are you going to learn? You could have brought someone who actually fits you-like Lia!”

My eyes widened, and I immediately turned to give Forest a look.

His eyes slightly widened, too, before he awkwardly flashed me a discreet peace sign.

I turned to Lia, and fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t heard. She was still busy taking care of Beth, who looked like she was on the verge of crying.

“Lia?” Desmond asked with a slight frown. “No way, man.”

Gosh, Lia wasn’t hearing any of this, and my heart was already breaking for her.

“Lia and I have gone through a lot together. She’s like my brother.”

Brother?

He didn’t even see her as a woman!?

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, Desmond called out to her.

“Right, Lia?”

Lia’s eyes widened. “What?”

“We’re best bros?”

She bit her lip before nodding reluctantly. “Yeah…”

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Hands Off The Ice King

“See?” Desmond shrugged before taking a drink of water. “It’s impossible for us.

I heard Levi sigh from beside me.

“Well, you say quite a lot of useless things, so I’ll say something useful for the team.”

His hand slipped away from my waist, and he suddenly stood.

“Now that the team is complete, I guess I’ll take this time to announce something important.”

Everyone’s attention turned toward Levi, and the music was lowered. Conversations gradually died down until the room became almost completely silent.

I tilted my head to the side in confusion.

An announcement?

He didn’t say anything about this to me.

“Are you guys getting married?” Desmond asked, shattering the serious atmosphere.

Levi clicked his tongue. “If we were, I wouldn’t even tell you. You won’t be invited.”

“Hey,” Desmond complained, but Levi shut him off with a wave of his hand.

“Anyway, as you all know, I’ve been playing for five years without any break. At the beginning of the season, my body was on the verge of breaking-until someone stubborn, amazing, and pretty came in and changed everything for me.”

I bit my lip and looked down at my lap as I felt everyone’s attention shift toward me. Heat crept up my cheeks, and I resisted the urge to hide behind Levi.

When Levi spoke again, I looked up at him once more.

“Honestly, I’m still not in my best shape, especially after the strenuous last two games. That’s why I made this decision.”

He let out a deep breath.

“I won’t be playing for the Glaciers next season.”

Murmurs erupted across the entire room.

Exclamations from his teammates rang out one after another, every single one of them filled with disbelief.

My breath hitched.

But then I suddenly remembered that one night.

That one quiet night when he asked me if it would be alright for him to take a longer rest after this season.

The memory was hazy because I had been half-asleep, but I remembered my answer to him back then.

“I’ll support your decision, no matter what it is.”

With that, I reached up and held his hand.

He smiled, his fingers tightening around mine before he addressed the room again.

“Back then, I didn’t want to take even a single day off because it felt like I had nothing else to live for except hockey. It was the only thing that made me feel like I wasn’t an empty shell.”

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“But now, I feel that there is more to life than just being on the ice. I want to go out and travel. Do more things for the people I love. Explore things that I’ve never gotten to do because I had to grow up fast.”

He smiled at all of them, and the sight of him standing there looked unreal.

He was so utterly beautiful because he looked genuinely happy.

And I was so grateful to be a part of that happiness.

“So, I hope you understand my decision and where I’m coming from.”

Silence settled over the room.

No one seemed to know what to say after the explosive reactions that had greeted the start of his speech.

Then, all of a sudden, a loud sniff echoed throughout the room.

My eyes widened as everyone turned toward the oldest Glacier, Forest himself, tears streaming freely down his cheeks.

It wasn’t only him.

Although they weren’t crying, the other guys looked heartbroken, too. Their smiles had disappeared, replaced by expressions that made it obvious just how much Levi meant to them.

“So… you’re leaving the team? This is it for Levi Reeve?” Forest asked, his voice cracking as he broke the silence.

I looked back up at Levi, who now wore an amused expression.

“Who said I was leaving? Goodness, you guys and your selective listening.” He shook his head with a laugh. “I said I wouldn’t be playing next season, which is the regular season.”

The atmosphere immediately brightened.

Relieved laughter spread throughout the room, and several shoulders visibly relaxed.

I squeezed his hand as he continued.

“All you have to do is play well so that we can secure a spot at the Winter’s Crown.”

“This is definitely not the end for me. I’m way too good, anyway, to stop this soon.”

Levi smirked.

“I’m just giving you guys some time to catch up to me.”

A soft giggle escaped my lips as complaints immediately bombarded the entire room.

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Hands Off The Ice King