Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Hope’s POV

“Levi and Hope sitting on a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G-”

“Desmond,” I warned through gritted teeth.

But that only made him louder.

“K-I-S-”

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A hockey glove flew straight at his face coming from Levi. Desmond caught it with ease before bursting into laughter, while Spencer shook his head from across the locker room.

“Wrong sport,” Spencer muttered. “Save the throwing for the ice.”

The entire locker room erupted into snickers.

Meanwhile, I stood there wondering how my life had turned this way in less than twenty-four hours.

I had managed to survive Connor and Delaney. Only to accidentally create a completely different disaster involving Levi.

Desmond was still laughing to himself while the players continued gearing up around the locker room. The atmosphere buzzed with adrenaline.

Players shouted across the room. Music blasted faintly from someone’s speaker.

And through all the noise, I could still feel Levi’s presence from the other side of the room.

Beth suddenly nudged my shoulder hard enough to make me jump.

I turned toward her and found her slightly breathless, clipboard tucked under one arm while she rushed around helping organize the media team and accommodate the Gotham Pucks’ staff.

“So,” she started with a grin, “you actually like Levi?”

My eyes widened instantly.

“No!”

The denial came out way too fast and way too loud. A few nearby players immediately looked over.

My heart started racing for absolutely no reason whatsoever. And against my better judgment, I glanced up.

Levi was seated in the middle row of lockers, halfway through pulling his jersey over his head. His abdominal muscles flexed as he moved, the sharp lines of his body disappearing beneath black compression fabric before the orange jersey settled

over him.

I immediately looked away. However, Beth caught the action, and her grin widened.

“Your cheeks get red really quickly, huh?”

I pressed a hand against my face.

“It’s because Desmond has been teasing me since this morning,” I sighed. “I don’t like Levi. It’s just…”

I trailed off. How exactly was I supposed to explain that I only said his name to survive humiliation? That I panicked and

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Chapter 18

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dragged the team’s biggest star into my mess because my ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend looked too smug?

“It’s okay,” Beth said with a laugh, patting my back. “Honestly, despite Levi’s attitude, I can’t even blame people who like

him.

She leaned closer conspiratorially.

“That man is dangerously handsome.”

I snorted softly. Dangerously was definitely the correct word.

“Just know that it’s all one huge misunderstanding,” I clarified quickly.

Beth only hummed.

“Mhm.”

“That’s the truth.”

“Mhm.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You don’t believe me.”

“I believe you,” she replied innocently.

She absolutely did not. Then her expression softened slightly as she glanced around the locker room.

“But honestly? This atmosphere is lighter than I expected.” She smiled at me warmly. “Your addition here is actually really great.”

That caught me off guard. I smiled back at her softly.

But before I could respond, the locker room suddenly quieted.

Beth straightened immediately.

I followed her gaze toward the doorway.

Dennis Rhodes walked in with his daughter trailing proudly beside him.

Coach Rhodes wore his usual orange Glaciers polo stretched tightly over his beer belly, a piece of gum moving lazily between his teeth. Delaney mirrored him perfectly, arms crossed and chin lifted like royalty.

Aiden appeared nearby too, camera already rolling as he filmed the pre-game atmosphere.

I straightened instinctively beside Beth.

“Long time no see, boys,” Dennis greeted loudly.

The players answered with scattered greetings while continuing to adjust their uniforms.

The coach smirked.

“Glad to see everyone’s still in one piece.”

Something about the way he said it rubbed me wrong immediately.

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Chapter 18

I had heard enough stories about Dennis Rhodes over the years to know exactly what kind of coach he was.

Aggressive. Demanding. Old-school to a fault.

The kind of coach who viewed injuries as inconveniences instead of actual health concerns.

Ironically, he’d been forced into early retirement himself after destroying his body during his playing years.

Yet somehow, he still pushed players past their limits.

And somehow, it worked.

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Ever since Levi joined the team around the same time Dennis became head coach, the Glaciers had been unstoppable.

Championship after championship.

Win after win.

They showed results people couldn’t argue with.

“Well,” Dennis continued with a grin, “go out there and break a leg. Not literally. Our new PT’s still adjusting, isn’t she?”m

A few players laughed while I forced a smile.

Forest suddenly stood from the center bench and slammed his fist against his chest.

“Gather up!”

Instantly, the room changed. The joking disappeared and the teasing stopped.

Every player moved closer until they formed a rough circle in the center of the locker room, energy crackling between them like electricity.

Then Forest shouted-

“Ice in our veins!”

And every single player roared back at once.

“GLACIERS!”

The sound slammed into me like a physical force. I felt chills race down my spine. I’d heard that chant hundreds of times before through television screens and arena broadcasts.

But hearing it here was completely different.

The team finally broke apart and headed toward the tunnel leading to the rink.

Levi remained at the far end of the group, quiet as always, his helmet dangling from one hand while his equipment bag

rested over his shoulder.

Beth, Aiden, and I followed behind them.

Aiden immediately focused his camera on Levi.

As we walked. I found myself staring at the slight stiffness in his shoulder again.

My brows furrowed. Before I could stop myself, I reached out and lightly tapped his arm.

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