Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Hope’s POV

I immediately let go of his ankle like it burned me. And maybe it did. Heat rushed across my entire body.

“I don’t,” I blurted out. “It’s not like that, Levi.”

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He only raised a brow, appearing amused. That stupidly handsome, irritating expression on his face made my pulse race even harder.

Honestly, I could tell he’d gotten more comfortable around me over the past week. At first, he barely tolerated my existence. Every interaction felt like I was poking a grumpy wolf with a stick.

However, that slight comfort came with repercussions. Now, he teased me constantly.

“That wasn’t what you said this morning,” Levi pointed out.

I thought he already forgot about that!

He never acknowledged it afterward, so I’d convinced myself he either didn’t hear me properly or simply didn’t care enough to remember. Apparently, neither was true.

My own words were now coming back to haunt me.

“It’s not like that,” I repeated weakly.

Levi stared at me like he could see straight through every lie I tried to tell.

Panicking, I quickly added, “You’re not my type!”

The words slipped out too fast.

At that utterance, I saw his jaw tighten almost imperceptibly before his expression smoothed over again.

“Desmond and the twins already told me you liked me a lot.”

I internally cursed Desmond for the hundredth time today. That man was a menace to society.

“And judging from the way you react every time I’m around…” Levi started, standing from the bed like his ankle wasn’t injured.

My breath caught slightly as he slowly started walking toward me.

My heart started pounding harder with each step he took until my back finally hit the wall behind me.

I looked up at him nervously.

Levi was already staring down at me with those dark, unreadable eyes that always made me forget how to think properly.

My cheeks burned instantly, so I looked away. But before I could fully avoid his gaze, his hand came up and gently held my cheek, guiding my face back toward him.

The touch made my stomach flip.

“…it doesn’t seem like that idea is too far off,” he finished quietly.

I bit my lip nervously.

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11:45 Wed, Jul 15

Chapter 22

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Okay. Maybe I couldn’t deny that I was attracted to Levi Reeve. Literally anyone with eyes would be. He was unfairly handsome, ridiculously talented, annoyingly confident, and somehow even more attractive whenever he was being mean.

But being around him lately also made me realize there was something underneath all the arrogance and sharp edges.

Sometimes, when he forgot to put his walls up, I caught glimpses of it. And those moments made him dangerously easy to like.

Still, absolutely none of that mattered.

Our worlds were completely different.

Levi Reeve was hockey royalty.

I was the girl who bought peach soap because it came in a buy-one-take-one deal.

And after Connor, there was no way I was involving myself with hockey players ever again. Never.

“It really isn’t like that,” I insisted.

I placed both my hands against his chest and pushed as hard as I could. However, Levi barely moved an inch.

He just looked down at me with his head tilted slightly to the side, like he still didn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth.

I swallowed nervously.

What would it even take to convince him?

Then suddenly, an idea entered my mind.

I really didn’t want the team finding out about Connor and me. Especially not Desmond. That man would never let either of us live it down.

Still, if Levi genuinely thought I liked him, then maybe I should explain. At least enough to clear things up.

I sighed softly.

“I made it look like I liked you,” I admitted carefully, “but it was only to show someone else that I didn’t like them.”

Levi’s smirk disappeared immediately. His brows furrowed slightly.

“Let me explain,” I rushed out.

For some reason, his expression only darkened further.

“Connor and I were together.”

That made him go completely still.

“Were,” I emphasized quickly. “Past tense.”

“We broke up because he cheated on me with Delaney.”

I awkwardly continued rambling because nervousness turned me into a machine that couldn’t stop talking.

“I found out after I got hired for the team,” I explained. “And I never got the chance to tell him I was working here, so when he saw me earlier, he thought I followed him or something.”

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11:45

Wed, Jul 15 A

Chapter 22

I scoffed bitterly.

“As if I’d willingly chase after a cheating ex.”

Levi remained quiet.

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“And then Desmond kept insisting that I liked him,” I continued. “Connor and Delaney looked convinced too, and I really didn’t want their egos getting bigger than they already are.”

I crossed my arms.

“They’re already unbearable.”

“So when I saw you walking toward us…” I sighed. “I just said I liked you instead.”

I finally stopped talking and looked up at him again. However, the look on his face wasn’t what I expected.

He looked really annoyed.

Did I say something wrong?

Did he hate being dragged into my mess that much?

“So… sorry,” I muttered awkwardly. “It just happened in the moment.”

He stared at me silently.

“And thanks for understanding too,” I added quickly. “I hope that cleared up the misunderstanding.”

He just kept looking at me with that same unreadable expression that was making me increasingly nervous.

“Is…” I hesitated. “Is that okay?”

Levi let out a slow breath then finally spoke.

“So if any other player walked over there…” he asked quietly, “you would’ve told them you liked them instead?”

I tilted my head to the side. What kind of question was that?

“I mean…” I thought about it briefly before nodding. “Probably?”

The second I answered, something in his expression hardened. He appeared even more irritated than before.

“So…” I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Can we continue the treatment now?”

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