Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Hope’s POV

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“Where have you been?” Lia exclaimed the moment I emerged into the break room. I was only planning on getting a cup of water, but I found her having coffee by the counter.

It was already late in the afternoon, and my legs were still feeling sore.

Damn Levi and his big size.

“Is Levi alright?” she asked.

Based on how we had sex earlier, he was definitely alright. Although I still couldn’t tell. It felt like he was hiding the fact thay his shoulder was hurt again.

Lia suddenly showed me her phone, and it displayed the article that Beth was probably talking about.

“The media is having a field day again, so Beth sent me here to do some other work. She’ll be smothered with media work for the next few hours.”

I pursed my lips, already feeling bad for her.

“Anyway, the game went alright. Forest and the twins crushed Connor’s team. I think Connor was a little mad by the end of it, but it was pretty satisfying to see-especially since I think he bumped into Levi on purpose.”

I pursed my lips.

“You think so?”

“I mean, I can’t say for sure, but it looked that way to me. Along with that, I just don’t trust anyone who associates themselves with Delaney. All of her friends are gremlins to me. So, as her boyfriend, he’s also the spawn of Satan.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed until my abdomen started hurting.

Aiden and Lia really didn’t like Delaney, huh?

Well, it was understandable. It was just a good thing I hadn’t been running into her these days.

“What was the score?” I asked, steering the conversation back to the game.

“4 to 1,” she answered with a smile. “Connor tried to shoot a lot, but Desmond blocked them all. He always plays well. But that asshole moved like he was back in high school. It seems he was really angry that Levi was taken out.”

The smile on her face widened with every word, and I watched her with amusement.

Before I could process what I was saying, I had already asked, “You like him a lot, hmm?”

She stopped talking, and I also froze.

Oops.

I didn’t mean for that to come out. However, it was already out in the open, so I felt like I had to go through with it.

“You like him, right?” I muttered as she finally looked at me properly. “Desmond?”

She smiled widely, patting my shoulder.

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10:49 Thu, Jul 16 d

Chapter 81

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“Of course,” she exclaimed. “Desmond and I have been friends since we were kids! We were neighbors, and we went to the same school. I also played hockey back in college before I was injured.”

“I don’t mean like that, Lia,” I said softly, looking at her in a way that hopefully made her feel like she could trust me.

I could tell she was trying to mask her feelings, but in the end, her composure crumbled.

“Is it obvious?” she muttered.

I couldn’t help but smile. Now, it didn’t feel like my assumptions were mere assumptions anymore.

“Not at all,” I said, reassuring her. “I’m just very perceptive.”

She sighed in relief, slumping against the couch before taking a sip of her coffee. However, it must have been too hot because she immediately cursed and placed it on the table.

“I thought my cover was blown. I’ve been hiding it for years,” she muttered.

“How many years, perhaps?” I asked, pushing my luck.

She looked at me, and I caught the slight guilt in her eyes.

4

“Is fifteen years too long?”

My eyes widened.

“Fifteen years? That’s more than half your life!”

Lia sheepishly smiled and scratched the back of her neck.

“You’re right about that. But it only started getting serious once we graduated from college.”

“That’s still a long time, Lia,” I muttered, sitting right next to her.

I immediately flinched when a sharp pain shot up my back.

“Are you alright?” she asked the moment she saw my face.

I smiled.

“Yeah, just a little sore from a workout,” I bluffed.

A very intense workout.

“Anyway, you can talk to me about it,” I quickly added, diverting the topic back to her feelings.

She sighed and leaned against the couch.

“I’m trying to move on, but it feels impossible. I’ve liked him for too long. He hasn’t been in an official relationship except for one person, and every time I see him with someone else, I feel comforted and hurt at the same time.”

“Comforted because I know they’ll just be a passing fancy.”

“But hurt because I know he doesn’t want to be in a serious relationship,” she muttered. “And of course, I already know that he doesn’t see me like that.”

I pursed my lips and merely patted her back.

Her situation was actually more complicated than I had realized. Liking someone for fifteen years sounded exhausting.

THU

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10:49 Thu, Jul 16

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