Page 80 of Ice Cold Heart
Cole waved the bill at me. “Half is yours, city girl, and your boots are by the door. We brought you a change of clothes too.”
A nurse came bustling in because I’d jostled all the wires, and the heart monitor thought I was dead. I pointed at her. “I’m leaving in the next five minutes. If you need me to sign paperwork, get it in here.”
Her eyes flicked over me, and she crossed her arms. “Ten minutes and you have to talk to the doctor first.”
“Deal.”
She nodded. “Nice to see you awake, Avery. Your dad or your fiancé can help you get dressed.”
I turned to face Cole as she hurried back out. “Fiancé? I was unconscious for four hours. What the hell have you two been talking about?”
Cole grinned and tilted my chin up to kiss me. “I told you I was going to marry you one day.”
“Generally, I’m supposed to be involved in that decision.”
“You said you loved me,” he reminded me.
“I love cheese too. It takes a little more effort to gain a lifetime commitment.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he murmured against my lips.
Dad uttered an excuse about making sure the doctor was coming and left the room. Old me would have assumed he’d reached the end of his perceived duties, but I knew better now. He was leaving so he wouldn’t have to watch Cole charm my pants off.
Guess we were both runners.
32
The arena was a madhouse. I’d never been in attendance for a playoff game before, and unlike all the other games where Marco and I had come to watch from the top of the stands, this time I had a premium seat next to the TU bench.
I tugged at the hem of my tight t-shirt, trying to get it to sit comfortably. Dad hadn’t realized it was a sleep shirt when he grabbed my clothes, but he got a pass on his fashion faux pas because I’d been unconscious in the hospital. At least the jeans fit right.
We’d made it to the arena with little time to spare. Cole and Dad had insisted I come with them to the locker room, but my presence would be a huge red flag, especially after Dad’s absence. I wanted the team to focus on kicking Easton’s ass, not my drama.
After a lot of arguing and me throwing a shoe—not mine, I wouldn’t do that to my boots—Cole and Dad had left me in the tender care of Eva, Stephen, and Marco. They’d met me in the hallway and escorted me to my fancy new spot before splitting off to get snacks and drinks. Sitting by myself for a few minutes next to the ice was surprisingly calming. I closed my eyes and breathed in the cool air, letting my mind relax among the thousands of students and fans filling the stands.
Stephen patted my knee, pulling me from my zen as he stepped over me with his long legs. I’d met him once before, but we’d barely exchanged a few words. He was tall, attractive, and way too put together for me. I sat up at his touch, but his gaze was fixed on the others in our little group still coming down the row.
Eva flopped into the seat next to me, and the perfectly curled ponytail of her pink-streaked blonde hair smacked me in the shoulder. I knew her better than Stephen—mostly through her reputation—but we hadn’t spent much time together because I didn’t really leave Cole’s room when I was over at their house.
“How’s Henry?” I asked, trying to be polite.
“Henry’s pouting, as usual. She hates coming to games but she never wants to be left alone.” She sighed, and Stephen leaned over her to talk to me.
“Eva likes to be the only princess in the house, but she raised a duck who rivals her for attention.”
Eva whacked him in the shoulder. “Don’t be an ass, Stephen. At least give me a chance to woo her before you reveal my true nature.”
Marco dropped into the seat on the other side of me, already stuffing his mouth with an obscene amount of nachos. “I think we’re all aware of your true nature, Eva.”
I raised a brow as I looked back and forth between them. “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”
Marco scoffed and sent Stephen an appreciative glance. “Everyone knows Eva. Him, I’d like to know better.”
Stephen reached past us to hold out a hand. “Stephen Delucca.”
“Marco Lawson.”
A heated exchange passed between them, and the handshake lasted a beat too long. Stephen pulled away, but slowly. “I like your nails. Edgy.”