Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Hope’s POV

Take responsibility for his boredom?

What was Levi going on about now?

He wasn’t the type to initiate our conversations, and he still hadn’t even agreed to the deal with Apollo.

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Still, since this was the first time in years that he wouldn’t be playing, I could tell this wasn’t easy for him. Even with the annoyance written all over his face, there was something underneath it—restlessness. The kind that came from wanting to be on the ice so badly that sitting still felt like torture.

For a second, I felt guilty.

“What do you want to do?” I asked, finally giving him my full attention. “I think I can spare some time before the others get here.”

He still looked irritated as he said the next words.

“I’m hungry.”

I pursed my lips, suppressing my laughter.

He sounded like a grumpy little kid.

“Why didn’t you eat before coming here?” I reprimanded.

“I don’t eat before games,” he answered. “It makes me feel heavy.”

That actually made sense. With how intense he played, I could imagine how careful he was with routines before games. It was probably a habit built over years.

I sighed and pushed my hair back.

“Do you want to go to that place you like?” I asked. “Golden Lotus, right?”

For the first time since this conversation started, some of the irritation in his face eased.

He nodded once.

“Let’s go.”

Without another word, he grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward the exit.

However, Connor’s voice stopped the two of us.

Right. He was still here.

I turned my attention back to him.

Connor looked between the two of us silently for a moment, his expression unreadable at first. Then his eyes dropped to where Levi’s hand was wrapped around my arm. His jaw hardened.

His gaze lingered there for a few seconds too long before he stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.

Now I was stuck between them.

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Chapter 37

I felt both their grips tighten subtly, feeling like neither of them planned on letting go.

At this point, Connor wasn’t even looking at me anymore. He was staring directly at Levi.

“We’re not done talking,” Connor said, a smirk slowly appearing on his face.

Levi didn’t even blink. “It seemed like you were.”

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Connor turned his attention back to me. “Can you look at my knee after the game? I need it to be in the best/shape before the league starts.

“Hope, let’s go to Golden Lotus,” Levi said, cutting Connor off and tugging me toward his body.

Connor immediately tightened his hold on my wrist in response, and the sudden pull between them made me flinch.

“Can you two let me go?” I finally snapped.

They loosened their grips instantly, and I quickly stepped away from both of them.

The second I did, they both looked at me at the same time.

“Let’s talk later, Connor,” I told him before he could start another argument. “I’m just going with Levi to grab food.”

Connor’s expression darkened the moment I moved toward Levi. Meanwhile, Levi looked far too satisfied with himself.

Why was he smug right now?

“Since when have the two of you been this close?” Connor asked coldly, his eyes fixed on Levi. “Or is this because you think she has feelings for you?”

Levi raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer.

Connor let out a humorless laugh.

“Hope and I are actually-”

The second I realized where this conversation was heading, I grabbed Levi’s wrist and started dragging him away before Connor could finish that sentence. It seemed he was going to tell Levi that we were exes. Well, Levi already knew but it felt like Connor was going to add something that would only add to my humiliation.

“Let’s go,” I cut in quickly. “I need to be back before the players arrive. Thirty minutes, tops,”

Behind us, Connor’s frown deepened.

With that, I pulled Levi farther away before the two of them could say anything else to each other.

Honestly, having Levi and Connor in the same room was already exhausting enough.

By the time we reached the back exit, I realized my hand was still wrapped around Levi’s wrist. I immediately let go.

“Sorry,” I muttered. “Do you still want food?”

He looked down at the hand I’d just removed before shifting his gaze back to me. Somehow, his annoyance had returned again.

“What now?”

He stared at me for a few seconds longer before he clicked his tongue.

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Chapter 37

“Let’s just go.”

There he was again.

Moody Levi.

He walked out first, and I followed after him.

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