Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Hope’s POV

“Levi?” I muttered.

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My eyes widened when I realized I had forgotten that I’d texted him earlier this morning, asking him to come here so we could continue his session. A small part of me had also wanted to talk about what happened in the car. Or at least try to

However, before that could happen, Connor had come in complaining about his shoulder.

“Umm, can you wait just a little bit?” I asked Levi. “I’ll just finish this up.”

“That’s right,” Connor said.

His tone immediately made me look at him. He wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was fixed directly on Levi.

“I was here first,” he emphasized. “I’m the first.”

I saw Levi’s jaw tighten.

Without saying anything, he walked closer to where Connor and I were standing. His eyes locked onto Connor’s, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Yet somehow, it felt like they were having an entire conversation. A hostile one.

“She called me first,” Levi answered.

Connor scoffed.

“You’re not the only player on this team,” he countered. “So I suggest you wait for your turn.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Or go to Delaney instead. She’s available right now.”

Something dark flashed across Levi’s expression.

Before I could react, Levi reached forward and grabbed Connor’s shoulder. The exact shoulder I had just bandaged.

My eyes widened.

“Levi!”

“Fuck,” Connor cursed immediately, trying to pull away.

But Levi only tightened his grip. The muscles in Connor’s arm visibly tensed.

“What the fuck is your problem, man?”

“Levi,” I called again.

This time, my voice came out stronger. Only then did he finally let go.

Connor quickly stepped back and rubbed his shoulder, rotating it carefully as he grimaced.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he snapped.

10:46 Thu, Jul 16

Chapter 71

I stared at both of them, confused.

What was happening?

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Levi had never shown any interest in Connor before. As far as I knew, they barely talked. Meanwhile, Connor respected Levi as a player. At least, enough that he would not curse at him.

Levi remained expressionless except for the darkness lingering in his eyes and the smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

“Looks like your shoulder is just fine.”

Connor glared at him, but Levi ignored it.

“You only played three practice games as the first-line center, and you’re already injured like that?”

The smirk on his face widened. He stepped forward and poked Connor once in the chest.

“You don’t deserve to be on the team if you’re going to be like that.”

Connor’s expression darkened.

“And besides,” he continued, “fun time is over. You won’t be the first-line center soon. You were never handed that position.”

Levi took another step closer.

“You were just holding it for me until I return.”

Before Connor could respond, Levi turned toward me. Then, without warning, he reached for my hand.

My breath caught. His fingers slipped between mine, intertwining with mine.

My eyebrows shot up, and my heart started racing faster. He had grabbed my wrist before, but never onto my hand.

For a moment, I completely forgot Connor existed. My attention dropped to our joined hands.

Levi’s hand was cold. Just like the rest of him always seemed to be. But somehow, it felt nice.

“Come on,” Levi said.

He started walking, taking me with him. I was so stunned that I followed automatically. Only when we reached his treatment room did he finally let go.

The moment his hand left mine, I felt strangely aware of the empty space between us.

I immediately pushed the thought away, then crossed my arms.

“What was that?”

“What was what?”

I stared at him.

“You know exactly what.”

He shrugged. “He was looking at you weirdly.”

I paused for a moment, internalizing his words. What did he even mean by that?

“Even if that were true,” I argued, “it’s still my job to help him when he’s injured.”

Chapter 71

“He’s not injured. He’s obviously faking it.”

I frowned.

“Lévi-”

“He was perfectly fine during practice yesterday. I saw in our group chat. He just wants your attention.”

My eyes snapped toward him.

“He was using that shoulder thing as an excuse.”

I laughed nervously. “He’s most definitely not doing it for my attention when he already has Delaney-”

“You just don’t see it,” he cut me off.

But before I could respond, he continued. “He wants you back.”

The words hit me harder than expected.

“That fucking bastard.”

The curse escaped under his breath.

I watched him bite his lip. And for some reason, the tips of his ears looked noticeably red.

My thoughts immediately stumbled.

Wait. Was he… jealous?

The possibility appeared out of nowhere. And once it appeared, it refused to leave.

My stomach flipped.

No. That couldn’t be right. Why would Levi be jealous? Just because we kissed?

My face immediately warmed. I quickly shoved the thought aside before it could spiral any further.

To distract myself, I walked behind him.

“Fine.”

I cleared my throat.

“Let’s start with your shoulder again.”

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Levi let out a long breath, as though he was forcing himself to calm down. Fortunately, he sat down without another

argument.

I started guiding him through the exercises.

The familiar routine should have helped settle my thoughts, but it didn’t.

As I worked through the tight muscles in his shoulder, memories from the previous night kept flashing through my head.

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