Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 78

Sydney

Luci barely gets the door closed before I turn to her. “Sending you a picture of the way that guy stares at you.”

“What?” Luci is confused. “Did I miss something?”

“Easton Reed looks at you like it’s painful for him to tear his eyes away and I finally got photo proof of it for you.” She still seems so modest about his feelings for her.

“Ok.” Luci slowly says, shaking her head. “That might be a bit much.”

“Seriously Luci Lou, he stares at you like you light up the sky. You’ll see it for yourself finally. Now start talking about the ratchet toad’s ramblings. Your text didn’t say much.”

She tells me everything and I sit silently processing it all.

“That makes no sense. She’s either certifiable or playing some game. I’m with Easton on how she could have kept him. He was hanging on her every word especially as vulnerable as he was trying to navigate being a parent. But I agree. This has to be about wanting what suddenly isn’t available. Why now is the question.” I frown as I think.

“I thought maybe she saw him on the news but she bought her ticket five days before that. Mr. Jason confirmed it.” Luci adds.

“We’ll find out somehow. Eventually she’ll show her cards and emerge from whatever asylum she’s hiding in. I mean seriously, she needs professional help. How can you not love that little boy?” I know I do.

Maxton

I’m not the only one watching this morning again, which fascinates me. The other watcher returned today. Yesterday, I thought it was merely a coincidence she was standing there and staring. Her shoulders tense as she watches Easton throw Luci over his shoulder before they step inside her apartment. I step farther back into the shadows and decide to observe her today too.

Their routine is off which is going to cause problems. But maybe this chick can help me with that. I recognize her. Lorelei Winters. Easton’s ex–girlfriend and if I’m not mistaken, probably the mother of that boy.

When they leave and he’s staring down at her, I hear her cursing lowly. They leave in separate cars for class meaning it’s time for me to go too. I move forward and she doesn’t hear me, she’s lost in her thoughts.

“They are a true pain in the ass aren’t they….looking all happy together when it’s a bunch of bullshit.”

She gasps and whirls around. “Who…what are you talking about?”

“You were here yesterday watching them too.” I smirk at her.

“Who are you?” She tries to raise her nose in the air like she’s better than me.

“Another interested party to the downfall of Easton Reed and maybe Luci Forrester.” Her eyes travel over me quickly, assessing me.

“You’re Lorelei Winters. His ex and…..baby momma.” I say it with confidence.

“What if I am? He a friend of yours?” She sniffs diffidently.

My chest rumbles with the sarcastic chuckle. “No honey, we definitely are not friends. Name is Maxton Porter and I have a very real interest in taking them both down. She’s collateral damage, he’s who I really want to fall off the Reed pedestal of perfection. I’m guessing you want her gone. Maybe we can help each other. They come back here every morning. She’s nothing better than a puck bunny.” I hand over a piece of paper with my number. I’d scribbled it down after seeing her face when they left together.

“You’d be wrong. Goodbye.” She strides away after giving me a look of disgust.

I watch her leave but see how she slips the paper in her pocket. A slow sense of satisfaction creeping up at the care she takes to hold onto it. If I was truly wrong, she’d have wadded it up and thrown it on the ground. She’ll call. I just need to be patient.

Easton

I fire off a text to Luci as I sit and wait for my brothers to finish getting dressed. Practice was long, but Matt seems like he’s going to be an awesome coach. He really paid attention to our strengths and had us change things up a little. He also called me in and wanted the real story behind Maxton being kicked off the team. I tell him about Luci and he sits back shaking his head. “His father called me to ask he be reinstated on the team. Saying Humphries was a bully. Which is true but not to his son. He won’t be coming back to play for me. Thank you for telling me what was not in the dean and campus security reports.” He’s only furthering my like of him. Maybe Dad should have him coach for the pro team. I need to suggest that later.

“Have fun at girls night. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She was probably staying with Sydney tonight, which I wanted to protest against for purely selfish reasons, but she needs time with her friends. I read up on her spiraling a bit and basically she needs someone not involved or related to it to truly decompress it. That was one very good argument for being apart for the night, but I also don’t want to smother her. Which is a lie, I want to smother her completely.

“Go to bed early and rest. I’ll tell you goodnight now so I don’t wake you. I love you.”

“No you call me when you are about to go to bed sweetness. Wake me up.”

“I won’t wake you. Why do you want me to wake you up?”

“To talk to you before both of us sleep. That way, I’m the last thought you have when you fall asleep.”

“Possessive of even my thoughts when I’m sleeping, huh?”

“Dreams too, sweetness. No one else is allowed in there. I love you. Enjoy yourself. Call. Me.

Later. Your voice helps me sleep too.”

She sends me a picture of her with Stormi and Sydney making faces at the camera. I smile, glad to see her acting normal. Jackson sits next to me sighing as he slips his shoes on before he offers, “Pick up dinner from the food truck? Dad has Cole out at grandpappy dinner and

Baker is off.”

“You do have good ideas sometimes.” He glares at my comment.

Becker and Kingston are in and we drive there. The owner grins when he sees us. “Oh the hockey team is here. We might have to close or make another supply run. What can I get the Reed kings of the ice?”

“Mr. Torres, you can’t ever shut down again without telling us.” Kingston tells him seriously as he places his order.

I’m last and he gives me a smile. “Pretty lady–less tonight?”

“She abandoned me for her friends and cheesecake.” I make a can–you–believe–it face.

He laughs. “That’s good for them. Time to miss you makes them even more happy to see you later. She had a pretty smile, Captain, and sweet manners. My advice to you is keep her.”

“Doing my best.”

I give him my order. As we wait for it, we sit at one of the tables with two plates of mini brisket.Becker sighs as he eats one of them. “I meant it. You break up with Luci and we’re excommunicating you. I can’t believe she found they were still open.”

“She’s not going anywhere.” I tell him honestly. “Dad would adopt her.”

“All the Reed brothers!” I hear an excited squeal.

“Oh…fuuck.” Kingston drawls lowly as he stares behind me with near contempt.

She steps up next to our table. Nicole Haney again.

“Hi guys! Is this place good? Saw it while we were driving by and told Wallace we needed to try it.” She grins widely.

“It’s good.” I say shortly. She goes to read the menu, thankfully leaving us.

I see Wallace heading our way and fervently hope our food is done fast. Like in the next two seconds before he makes it to us.

“The Reed boys….” His annoying voice says as he smirks like our name is an insult. He always thought we were competing with him. Not sure why, we never had anything in common or to do with him.

Hope decides not to show up tonight leaving me irritated as we are stuck sitting here. I shove a whole chimichanga into my mouth to avoid talking to him.

“Just you four, huh? No girl tonight, Easton? I gotta say, I was surprised to see you with anyone the other night. After Lorelei left, I thought you’d just pine after her. And that girl definitely was wayyyy below your standards. I mean just comparing her to Elena…damn. Getting desperate?”

I reach up and grab his shirt, yanking him down to where his head is level with the tabletop as I glare at him.

“I’d watch how you speak about her. None of us really like to hear her being insulted.” Jackson says with cold malice.

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