Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Levi’s POV

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“The driver is still passed out drunk in the bed, and even if I wake him up, he just goes back straight to sleep,” Aiden said with a groan as he threw himself onto the couch. “I think we’ll have to get back a little later than scheduled.”

Everything had already been prepared. We were supposed to head back to the rink this morning. Our bags were lined neatly along the corridor, packed and ready to go. However, the crew enjoyed their stay here far too much last night. Everyone looked half-dead except for Hope. Though, she seemed more interested in avoiding me.

“I’m heading back,” I said, grabbing my keys from my pocket.

I had barely taken a step when Beth grabbed my arm.

“What?” I asked, raising a brow.

She bit her lip before straightening herself.

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“Well…” she started carefully. “There’s a lot of work waiting for me back at the rink. The other staff can leave once the driver becomes functional again, but… is it alright if we head back with you?”

I frowned, making her lift both hands defensively.

“I know you don’t like people inside your car, but I’ll have the company pay for the cleaning fees right after.”

“Please,” Aiden begged from the couch. “I have so many behind-the-scenes videos lined up for editing. Your fans are going to start a riot if I don’t post them.”

I looked him straight in the eyes. “That doesn’t sound like my problem.”

His face dropped. Beth’s did too.

That was when I noticed Hope looking at me. This was the first time she had actually looked at me all morning.

“Um…” she started quietly.

My attention shifted toward her.

“The faster we get back,” she continued, avoiding my eyes again, “the faster I can continue working on your shoulder.”

She cleared her throat. “These two also have a lot of work with the Winter Crown getting closer, too. So it’s best we head back together.”

I stared at her, but she turned her head away again. A small smirk pulled at my lips before I could stop it.

I turned back toward Beth. “Make sure my car gets cleaned afterward.”

Beth’s eyes widened while Aiden nearly jumped off the couch.

“Of course,” Beth said. “I’ll personally handle it.”

A few minutes later, the four of us walked toward my car. The same car I had never allowed anyone to ride in. Even Matthias once begged to ride in it after his car broke down. I called him a cab instead. That was the extent of my kindness.

I opened the driver’s side and got in before waiting. I was waiting for Hope to sit in front, but Aiden opened the passenger door and slid inside instead.

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Chapter 53

He clicked his seatbelt into place before turning toward me with a grin.

“I’ll be your passenger princess today.”

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I stared at him and looked away. Through the rearview mirror, I caught sight of Hope sitting quietly beside Beth. She was looking outside. There was something strange about her expression.

Did something actually happen last night?

When I couldn’t find an answer in my mind, I started the engine with a soft click of the tongue.

The drive back to Manhattan would take around two hours.

The silence inside the car was exactly how I liked it.

However, a few minutes later, Aiden reached for the radio. I turned to him with a glare. He froze, and slowly, he pulled his hand back.

Thirty minutes later-

“Oh gosh,” Beth suddenly groaned from the back seat. “It feels suffocating in here. I feel like even speaking would get me jailed.”

I kept my eyes on the road. “That’s because you drank too much.”

“That is definitely not it,” Aiden said.

He leaned back dramatically.

“It’s so quiet in here that my headache somehow got worse. Right, Hope?”

Hope blinked. It was like she had only just remembered she was inside the car.

“Hmm?”

“See? You agree, right?”

“Oh.”

“Yeah… right?”

I massaged the bridge of my nose.

“I shouldn’t have let you ride in this car.”

I exhaled slowly and reached forward, turning the radio on.

I glanced at Aiden, whose face had brightened. “Happy now?”

He smiled sheepishly.

“Yeah.”

There was a small pause before he spoke again, “But it would be even better if we stopped for ice cream.”

“Ice cream?” I asked with a scowl. “Eat it back at Manhattan.”

He groaned. “But there’s still an hour and a half before we arrive, Levi. There’s a joint right there with good and cheap ice cream. Let’s get some,” he insisted.

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