Page 69 of Icebound Hearts

And it didn’t. So I need to let it go.

Forcing my eyes back open, I press away from the door and set my purse on the bed before unzipping my dress, trying to ignore the tight lump in my stomach.

It’s probably for the best anyway, I tell myself as I unclasp my bra and toss it into the hamper along with my dress. I dig out my favorite sleep shirt and tug it on, relishing in the comforting feel of the soft, worn fabric against my skin. I grab my purse from the bed and set it on the dresser, digging my phone out so that I can plug it in to charge overnight.

But just as I’m about to crawl beneath the covers, a notification pops up on my phone, accompanied by a small pinging sound. I frown, realizing it’s an alert from the dating app.

I swipe to read the message, then almost drop my phone as my eyes go wide.

Sawyer T. just liked you! Match now to get the conversation going.

Chapter 23

Violet

I stare down at Sawyer’s profile on my phone, my heart beating so hard that I can hear the blood rushing in my ears. My thumb hovers over an adorable picture of him and Jake taken at the school field trip skating event at the arena the other day. Jake is sitting on Sawyer’s shoulders, and they’re both holding hockey sticks. Beneath that picture, the pop-up message practically screams out at me.

Sawyer T. just liked you! Match now to get the conversation going.

My mouth goes dry, and I swallow, drawing in a steadying breath as I drag my finger across the screen to the right. The pop-up notification disappears, replaced by a space for us to message each other.

I hesitate, my thumbs hovering over the screen. Then I shake my head and type the only thing I can think of to say.

ME: Um, hi.

Little bubbles pop up immediately, indicating that he’s typing.

SAWYER: Hi.

I can’t fight back my grin at his simple response, and my thumbs fly over the screen as I tap out another message.

ME: What are you doing on the dating app at this hour?

SAWYER: Well… this woman I know signed me up for an account so I could get back on the horse. She said I needed to “get my player back on the ice.”

I snort and bite my lip.

ME: Sounds like she really has a way with words. And how has that been going for you?

SAWYER: I’m not sure.

ME: What do you mean?

SAWYER: Well, I went out tonight with the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met. The problem is… she wasn’t my date.

My heart stutters in my chest, my stomach dipping and swooping like I’m on a rollercoaster as I read his message. I sit down on the edge of my bed, trapping my lower lip between my teeth as I take the leap and text him back the truth that I’ve been trying to deny all night.

ME: I know how you feel. There’s this hockey player that I can’t seem to get out of my head, no matter how hard I try.

SAWYER: Fuck, are we crazy?

I laugh softly, cradling the phone in my hands as I stare down at the text on the screen. I shake my head, typing quickly.

ME: Maybe. I know I’ve been driving myself crazy wondering if you felt any of this, or if it was all in my imagination.

SAWYER: It’s not your imagination, heartbreaker. So fucking far from it. I can’t stop thinking about you. I wanted to kiss you so badly tonight, you have no idea.

Blood rushes to my face, and a wave of heat follows. I clench my thighs together as a torrent of images flash through my mind, picturing what might’ve happened if Sawyer had kissed me in that dimly lit bathroom.