Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Levi’s POV

She ate the food with so much gusto that it felt like I was watching a food broadcast.

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Every single bite came with a reaction. Her eyes widened whenever she tasted something she liked, her nose scrunched whenever the spice hit her tongue, and she kept making these tiny satisfied sounds under her breath.

It made me realize how expressive she truly was.

“How come I’ve never been in this place before?” she muttered, shaking her head as she pointed her chopsticks at the dishes laid out in front of us. “I’ve been staying in Central Manhattan since studying here, but I’d never discovered this place. What a bummer.” She sighed heavily before stuffing another dumpling into her mouth. “I should have lived more years eating

here.”

I couldn’t help the smirk tugging at my lips as I watched her.

It was true that this was the first time I had ever brought someone to Golden Lotus.

I’d ordered takeout for years and made some of my teammates try their dishes after games. However, I’d never actually brought someone here.

Somehow, this place had always felt too personal.

Marie had let me use this private room reserved only for her family whenever I visited. Back then, I used to eat in the main dining area like everyone else. But after winning the championship, privacy became impossible to find.

So eventually, I stopped coming out front altogether.

This room became my escape, and instinctively, I kept it that way.

But Hope suggesting we come here felt different from me inviting her myself. Different enough that I didn’t stop it.

She continued eating while I picked at my food. I wasn’t particularly hungry. Before games, I usually avoided eating too much anyway. At this point, it had become muscle memory more than an actual routine.

Still, somehow, I found myself reaching for food over and over again like I actually had an appetite. Maybe it was because she looked like she was enjoying everything too much.

“Do you come here with your family often?” she suddenly asked.

My hand froze midway to my mouth. I felt my mood dampen in an instant.

My family.

Out of all the things she could’ve brought up, it had to be that.

My jaw tightened. That topic wasn’t something I liked discussing with anyone.

“Why do you want to know?” I snapped before I could stop myself.

Her smile faltered slightly.

Weirdly enough, I felt some guilt hit me after I snapped at her.

It felt foreign.

Chapter 40

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I wasn’t used to caring whether my words hurt someone or not. Most people annoyed me enough that I never bothered filtering myself around them.

She cleared her throat softly and lowered her gaze toward her food. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” she said quietly. “I was just a little curious since there weren’t any news about your family before.”

My expression hardened.

I hated when people searched for pieces of me online like they were trying to solve some mystery. Before I could say anything else, though, she suddenly started talking again-changing the subject herself.

“My family’s pretty normal,” she continued casually, tilting her head slightly with a small smile on her lips

The tension in the room loosened little by little.

“My dad is the biggest sports fan ever. He really likes your team, too, but he’s a bit biased toward the Pucks.”

She laughed softly.

“It’s because-”

She cut herself off abruptly. Something flickered across her face so quickly that I almost missed it. Sadness. Just for a second Then she smiled again like it had never been there.

“Meanwhile, my mom’s a nag, as always,” she continued, rolling her eyes affectionately. “But she’s the kindest nag I know.”

There was warmth in her voice when she talked about them.

“She doesn’t call me often, but she texts every week to check if I’m doing okay,” she said. “When I was younger, I used to think it was annoying.”

Her lips curved softly. “But now, I see myself looking forward to her texts. Without those texts, it feels like my entire week isn’t complete.”

She started rambling after that. Still, instead of zoning out, I found myself listening to her. The irritation from earlier faded without me realizing it.

“And oh, my brother’s such an annoying brat, too,” she chuckled. “I mean, I wouldn’t exchange him for the whole world, but I’d also exchange him for a chicken nugget, you know?”

A laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it.

Her eyes widened slightly like she didn’t expect it either.

I unconsciously leaned closer just to hear her better.

“Oh shoot,” she suddenly blurted out. She pulled out her phone and checked something before groaning.

“I still have to clean out one of the rooms because he’s coming here by the end of the month

I raised a brow. “He’s studying here?”

“Yup,” she answered proudly.

“He got a full-ride scholarship at Oakridge.”

“He’s going to the same school you went to,” she continued with a wide smile. “That cheeky little guy. I knew he liked hockey, but he never told me he wanted to go pro. I only found out from my mom when he was already a senior.”

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Chapter 40

She shook her head. “Then he had the audacity to tell me he wanted to surprise me.”

“I’d have to renovate one of the rooms,” she muttered. “Some of Connor’s trash is still in there.”

My mood darkened at the mention of his name.

Connor.

Just hearing it annoyed me.

“You lived together?” I asked.

Her entire body stiffened. She slowly covered her mouth like she could shove the words back inside.

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“You already said it.”

She groaned quietly before dropping her hand.

“I didn’t want to reveal it,” she muttered. “But… yes. We lived together to save rent.”

There was a short pause before she added dryly, “Although I was the only one paying for our rent anyway.”

My frown deepened. Just then, the interaction from this morning replayed in my mind.

The way Connor looked at her-it seemed there were some lingering feelings there.

The memory alone irritated me.

“How did you break up?”

She bit her lip at the sudden question. She then leaned back slightly, studying my face carefully.

“Would you believe me if I said he cheated on me?”

“Yes,” I answered right away.

Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits as she stared at me.

“Do I look like someone people cheat on?” she muttered under her breath.

The offended look on her face almost made me laugh. She looked like an angry kitten.

I clicked my tongue.

“Connor looks like the type to cheat on someone.”

Her eyes widened slightly at my bluntness.

For a second, she just stared at me. Then, she laughed softly through her nose.

“How long did you date that bastard anyway?” I asked.

“Four years,” she answered casually.

My brows furrowed instantly.

Four fucking years?

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