Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Hope’s POV

Levi’s absence in the game proved to be detrimental to the team.

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I couldn’t watch the entire game because of his injury, but from what I heard from Beth when I saw her again/afterward, things became messy fast.

Now, I was sprawled on my couch wearing soft shorts and an oversized tank top without a bra because I had never been fond of wearing one inside my apartment.

Free the boobies!

It was something I admittedly didn’t get to enjoy much when I was dating Connor because that man had an absolutely insatiable libido, especially after games. Every time I walked around braless, he always wanted to have sex.

Thinking about it now, our break-up was genuinely one of the best things that could’ve happened to me.

I happily scooped another spoonful of rocky-road ice cream into my mouth.

All mine now. No boyfriend stealing bites every five seconds.

“So, the Glaciers actually lost?” Freya asked through the phone.

I looked at the screen and snorted.

She had a green face mask smeared all over her face while munching on cookies, which I recognized was from the fast food joint we worked at.

“I still can’t believe it,” she continued. “I mean, the Pucks have defeated the Glaciers before, sure, but before the Winter’s Crown? That’s insane.”

“Spill some tea on the Glaciers,” she demanded, turning to me.

“You look really hot, by the way. Breaking up with Connor was clearly the best course of action.”

I laughed softly at her comment, but it faded quicker than expected as my thoughts drifted back toward the game earlier.

There was no doubt Forest, Desmond, and the twins were some of the best players in their respective positions.

They were insanely talented.

But watching them without Levi made something painfully obvious.

Levi balanced the team. He was the center that kept everyone grounded.

Despite his flashy plays and ridiculous skill, he was still very much a team player. He knew how to bring out the best in everyone around him. He created opportunities for the others naturally, and somehow, he managed to hold all the different personalities together on the ice.

Without him, the game must have felt disconnected.

And with Connor’s very individualistic play style, I could only imagine how difficult things became.

Honestly, Levi’s injuries worried me more than I wanted to admit. The Glaciers had just finished a three-peat championship run, and expectations for them were ridiculously high now. Their fanbase rivaled that of a K-pop group.

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Chapter 23

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People expected them to win again. People expected Levi to carry them there. However, judging from his shoulder and ankle earlier, that pressure couldn’t possibly be good for him.

“Earth to Hope!”

I snapped out of my thoughts and realized Freya was staring at me while her face was now fully green.

“Sorry,” I laughed awkwardly. “What was that?”

“I asked if Levi Reeve is actually more handsome in real life,” she said immediately. “I just saw his underwear ad.”

I nearly dropped my spoon.

“What?”

Freya grinned wickedly. “You haven’t seen it? Honey, it’s everywhere.”

She shoved her tablet closer to the screen.

“I don’t know who convinced Levi Reeve to model underwear, but whoever did deserves incredible sex for the rest of their life.”

“Freya!”

“What?” she defended shamelessly. “I’m just speaking facts.”

“Do you want me to send it to you?” she asked innocently.

I immediately shook my head.

“No. Absolutely not.”

I definitely did not need more reasons to be attracted to Levi Reeve when I already had to see him nearly every day at work. Especially after earlier.

Unfortunately, Freya enjoyed making my life harder because before I could stop her, she flipped her tablet around and played the behind-the-scenes video anyway.

My eyes widened slightly.

His dark hair looked damp and messy while bright studio lights highlighted every tattoo and muscle on his body. The white underwear sat dangerously low on his hips and… oh goodness.

Levi Reeve was very obviously-

“Hung, right?” Freya supplied helpfully.

“Frey!” I exclaimed.

“What?” she asked while chewing cookies. “We’re grown women.”

“It’s okay to thirst over someone else’s dick now, Hope. You and Connor broke up.”

“Can we please change the topic?” I begged.

Freya burst out laughing before finally placing the cookies aside and lying down dramatically on her bed.

“Alright, alright. My innocent friend.”.

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11:45 Wed, Jul

Chapter 23

“I am not innocent.”

“Sure.”

I rolled my eyes.

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“Can you tell me how work is going then?” she asked.

At that, I couldn’t help smiling. Now that my first week was over, everything still felt unreal to me. Working for the Glaciers had been my dream for years, and despite all the complications lately, I still woke up every morning excited to go there.

“Good, Frey,” I admitted softly. “Really, really good.”

Her expression softened instantly.

“That happy?”

I nodded.

“Aside from Connor and Delaney existing,” I muttered, “everyone’s actually nice.”

“And Levi?” she asked.immediately.

I sighed softly.

“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. “He’s just…”

Freya leaned closer to the screen.

“Just what?”

I shook my head slowly.

“He’s the person I thought he was,” I murmured, “but not at the same time.”

There was a brief silence before Freya gasped loudly.

“Oh, honey. That sounded like a love confession.”

My eyes widened. “What are you talking about?!”

“That was so poetic!”

“It was not!”

I pointed at her accusingly through the screen.

“You are taking my words out of context.”

She wiggled her eyebrows shamelessly.

“I approve, Hope. If there’s someone on the team that would make Connor completely miserable seeing you together, it would absolutely be Levi.”

I immediately shook my head.

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