Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Hope’s POV

“We should go soon,” Liam said before I could even get a word out.

55 vouchers

My eyes widened when he suddenly held onto my arm and then my waist, keeping his hand there as he dragged me away from the entrance and toward a secluded, unfamiliar area. He hid us behind a pillar, and I was just about to protest when I suddenly heard the door open and several voices fill the hall.

“Levi’s coming. Ready your questions.”

“Make sure to get a scoop!”

“Capture a lot of photos, too. His fans will eat it up.”

“Don’t let him escape until he answers our questions.”

“Ah, fuck. The camera’s not suddenly working!”

“Ask him about his injuries and whether he should play.”

I couldn’t help but frown as I heard what the media personnel were talking about. It seemed they were hellbent on getting a scoop tonight. And it also seemed that they were going all-on on Levi. Even if I tried to stop it, I couldn’t help but feel concerned for him.

With that thought, I turned back to Liam and found him looking down at me with a gaze that I couldn’t quite decipher. His eyes raked down my face and body in a way that made me uncomfortable, so I pushed him away.

“Media,” he said. “They’re persistent every year.”

“Right,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze because it was honestly too much. “Thanks for the heads up.”

I was about to head back to the entrance, but he pulled me back again, making me gasp softly.

“They’re going to camp at the entrance for a while to wait for the other players. Let’s go through the staff entrance.”

There was a staff entrance?

Again, before I could even respond, he had already pulled me deeper into the secluded area until we reached a door guarded by two security personnel. Liam merely nodded at them before they opened the door, and there, I was met with what seemed to be a “backstage” room.

There were snacks on the table and some makeup laid out on the side. Fortunately, there weren’t any people inside, because if someone found us here, I wouldn’t be able to explain why I was with Liam Moretti, of all people.

\ “Our manager told me to go through here,” he said with a smile. “I didn’t want to be questioned at the red carpet.”

“The physical therapist for the Glaciers, right? I think I saw you at the game.”

“Yes,” I answered, straightening my shoulders and offering him a small smile. “My name’s Hope.”

“Hope. That’s a cute name,” he said with a small smirk, making me bite my lip.

“Nice to meet you, Hope. I’m-”

“Liam Moretti,” I filled in for him. “I know who you are.”

Chapter 84

55 vouchers

His smile somehow widened, and looking at him up close, he did resemble Levi a little bit. Only in the eyes, though. They both had intense gazes that seemed capable of boring a hole straight into your skull.

“Ah, I’m jealous,” he suddenly said, making me tilt my head in confusion.

“The Glaciers have such a pretty physical therapist.”

My eyebrows rose slightly, surprised by the compliment. But then again, Liam had a reputation for being a playboy. I heard he had also dated Delaney, so I knew not to take his words to heart.

“Our team has an old man as a physical therapist,” he added.

I smiled professionally. “Well, that old man must be better than me. Nothing can beat experience in this field. The Pucks are lucky to have him, too.”

He didn’t say anything in return, so I met his gaze, only to find him looking at me with amusement. I was confused. Did say something funny?

“Ah, I see now why he’s always with you,” he muttered under his breath, but I still heard it.

“Who’s always with me?” I asked.

He focused on me once more and shook his head. “Don’t sweat it. Anyway, do you have a date for tonight?”

I cleared my throat and took a slight step back. I didn’t like where this conversation was going.

“I don’t think this is the place to have a date.”

“What do you mean?” he asked with a wide smile, leaning toward me without actually moving from his spot. “There are plenty of players who brought their dates. A good fraction of my teammates certainly did, so having a date tonight is certainly not out of place.”

“Right-players. I’m not exactly a player,” I responded. “I’m just here as one of the staff members of the Glaciers.”

“Well, I don’t have a date,” he suddenly said, making my brows furrow slightly. Where was this conversation really heading? “I wouldn’t mind having a pretty lady like you as mine.”

I looked at him like he had lost his mind.

Then I couldn’t help it.

I let out a loud laugh, and it seemed to surprise him, too. I covered my mouth slightly to muffle my laughter before turning back to him.

“You’re a joker, aren’t you?”

I poked his shoulder.

“I’m not really interested in having a date tonight. And even if I were, you’re still a Pucks player, Mr. Moretti. A Glaciers PT with a Pucks player would be a field day for the media. I don’t quite want that.”

He chuckled along with me.

“So, if that wasn’t the case, would you agree to be my date?”

I couldn’t help but frown this time.

He was being too persistent, and it was strange.

23

16

O

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify