Icebound (Boundless Players, #1)

by Meredith Trapp

“Going to tell me what?” I demand, whispering low so our audience can’t hear. She coughs. “That I’m in college. Art school, specifically.” I drop my hands like her shoulders are made of fire. “How old are you?” “Twenty-two,” she admits, cheeks turning pink.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Were you trying to get me to sleep with you or something?” I yank my eyes up to Rhode’s scowl, standing tall under his brooding gaze. “Yes, Rhode. I spent that first day we met stalking you from my car… No. I don’t even watch hockey. You’re the one who pursued me, remember? I tried to end things.” “Good point, but you still should’ve told me.”

“Don’t call my sister an asshole,” I snap. His brows soar to his hairline. “That’s a strong reaction. You’re really defending her after what just happened?” “Of course.” I puff a foggy breath. “She’s my sister. Only I’m allowed to call her an asshole, and believe me, I do. Hourly.”

“Why didn’t you just lead with the age thing, though? It would’ve stopped this in a second. Look, I’m sorry for everything that happened in there because there’s no chance I’m dating a twenty-two-year-old. I’m way too old for you.” He runs his hands through his dark hair. “Is this illegal? It feels illegal.”

When I was twenty-one, you were… Holy shit, you were nine. I’m going to be sick.” “I was ten.” He gags. The gorgeous Wall of Steel actually gags.

LMAO

“Don’t call what happened a mistake,” I say, releasing my bottom lip. “I liked it… a lot. You sure know what you’re doing.” He clasps his hands behind his neck, looking up at the sky like he’s begging the blue to swallow him. “That’s it. I’m going to hell for dry humping a teenager.”

LOL DUDE

“Maybe you should call me in ten years.” He flinches, backtracking. “I shouldn’t have said that.” “Why do you care so much about my age?” He glances away like he doesn’t want me seeing whatever’s on his face. “I just do, but it’s mostly that we’re in different places. Are you ready to get married and have kids?” “No. I’m only twenty-two.” He flicks a hand. “See? That’s why.”

“Box tickets and a favor of my choosing to be owed at any point in my life.” He casts me a flat look. “So, I’m just going to be indebted to you forever?” “Pretty much.” I wave a hand. “Feel free to bow down and get on your knees.” The blue in his eyes heats like the hottest flame. “I’m not getting on my knees for you, Nina.”

“Let’s be clear about one thing,” he murmurs, eyes dropping to my lips. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression, so I’m going to be a little blunt. I’m too old for you, so I’m not touching you unless we have to at the event, and even then, I’m going to keep it friendly, alright? Nothing’s happening between us.”

“If you want people to believe I’m your date, you’re going to have to touch me, Rhode.” He mutters a curse, pinching his eyes closed. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?” “Welcome to life. It’s not easy.”

He scans his computer screen, and my heart rate kicks up. “Rowyn?”

Omg she has class with his sister!!!!!

“So, how’re things with Rhode?” she blurts. I wave a hand, keeping it vague. I’m never talking to my sister about my love life again. “We’re kind of fighting right now, but he’s completely obsessed with me, so we’ll be fine.”

Do you want to talk about it? I know I said he was too old for you, but I still want you to be happy. What happened?” There’s no way I’m telling her the truth, so I make a sarcastic comment instead. “I said his dick was only nine inches instead of ten. He didn’t like that.” She snorts,

“You need to call her and see if she can bring you your beanie. That’s why you’re playing like shit.” “Tone it down. I’m not playing like shit because I don’t have my beanie. I’m just off today.” I push him back, but he’s got a strong hold. “I’m not calling her. We’ll be fine.” “Call her.” His grip tightens on me. “Call her right the fuck now or I will.”

“I’m not doing that.” “Why not?” he asks. “Who cares if she’s not a doctor? Yeah, she’s way too young for an old man like you, but it’s cool as shit that she does pottery. Call her.” I flinch at Cruz’s comment. “I know I’m too old for her. You don’t need to tell me.”

“Sorry, Tremblay, but this is too important. You know not to mess with the rituals,” Patty says, lowering his voice. “Also, I want to meet this girl you can’t stop talking about.” “I don’t talk about her,” I cut out, struggling in his grasp. Patty rolls his eyes. “You spent three hours in the hotel last night researching her pottery fellowship, and then telling me all the details, but sure, you don’t talk about her.” “I was just curious about it.”

“Okay, same. I want to meet this girl.” Cruz picks up my phone and types in my passcode. How does he know my birthday? Nosy fucker.

LMAO

He scrolls through my texts. “Don’t worry, I won’t look at your nudes. I’ve already seen your mutant cock, anyway. I don’t need a repeat.” “What’s wrong with your cock, Tremblay?” someone shouts in the locker room. “You haven’t seen it?” Cruz scrolls my phone. “It’s girthy as fuck.”

LMAO YO

“Don’t call her, Cruz. I’m serious.” “I won’t. What do you think I am? A grandfather like you?” I go limp with relief in Patty’s grip, but then, Cruz smirks. “I’m FaceTiming her, obviously.”

LMAO

Cruz sleeps with anyone, and I don’t want him going there with Nina. “Listen to me, Cruz. Do not fuck around with Nina. I mean it.” Patty hisses in a breath. “Damn, look at Tremblay’s face. You probably shouldn’t have said that.” “I’m not scared of Gramps over there. What’s he gonna do? Throw his dentures at me?”

“Rhode?” All of us go rigid. My chest tightens at the sound of Nina’s throaty voice. Cruz’s eyes widen when he looks at the screen. “Hot damn. Phil? Is that you? What the hell are you doing answering Tremblay’s call?”

“Micah Cruz?” Nina says, and dammit, it sounds like she’s smiling, but I can’t see her. “Why are you calling me from Rhode’s phone? Also, how many times did I tell you in high school not to call me Phil? You know I hate it.” High school? “No, you don’t,” Cruz says. “You secretly love that we have our inside joke.” They have inside jokes? “Okay, fine. Maybe a little.” “That a girl, Phil.”

“You two know each other?” I demand. “Hell yeah.” Cruz grins, and I want to wipe the smile off his face. “Phil and I were both Crimson Valley Vipers. Stay Violent!” he whoops. “It’s stay violet,” Nina interjects.

“Why is my old high school friend FaceTiming me from your phone, Rhode?” Cruz pops his head into the screen, knocking against my temple. “Aw, come on, we were more than friends. You kissed me under that arch thing.” What the hell? She kissed him? Something hot and grating slithers under my skin. I shove him, but Cruz doesn’t budge because our center’s made of bricks. Patty sticks his head on the other side so all our sweaty cheeks are squished together. His beard is real damn itchy. “No,” Nina counters. “You kissed me, with too much tongue, I might add.”

My teammates start filing out of the locker room, and Nina shifts her focus to me, softening. “Don’t let Micah get to you. I’ve seen you play. You don’t need a good luck charm to win. You got this, Rhode.” And with that piece of encouragement, she clicks off the phone.

“I like her already.” Patty slaps my back. “You’re in so much trouble with that one.” I grab my helmet, feeling the familiar weight in my hands. “Yeah. Don’t I fucking know it.”

After the game ends, Micah FaceTimes me again. Despite the celebration in the locker room, Rhode gives Micah the saltiest glare I’ve ever seen before he swiftly exits the screen. I have no idea what he’s so mad about because he played amazing.

Lol gril cause hes jelly

“Hey, Phil,” Micah says. “Guess what? We played our best period this season with you watching, so you’re our good luck charm now. You know what that means, right?” “No, what?” He wiggles his dark brows. “You’re icebound.” “What? Icebound?” “Yeah. Means you’re bound by the rituals of the hockey gods like us, so you have to watch all our games.

He mutters a curse, lurching for a sweatshirt hanging on a rack and tugging it over his head. “Sorry. Thought it was the guys. I didn’t realize it was you.” I watch him struggle to get it over his shoulders like he’s worried I’ll be offended by his nudity. “No need to put on a shirt for me. That six-pack is better than anything I’ve had to drink.”

“You shouldn’t be saying things like that to me, Nina. I’m too old for you.” “No, you’re not.” “Yeah, I am.”

“Don’t call me by my last name,” he demands. I raise my brows at his tone. “Please,” he adds begrudgingly. “Why not? Everyone else does?” “You don’t.”

Can I please come in? I’m freezing, and I brought cat treats for Chicken since you said he hates people, and I want him to like me.” A divot forms between his brows. “You remembered my cat’s name?” “Yes. I listen to you.”

“Can you make me one?” His laugh rumbles against my back. “I’m serious, Rhode. I want one.” There’s a pause. “You really want one of my shitty cross-stitches to hang up at your place?” “Absolutely. I’d ask for two, but I’m sure you don’t have a lot of extra time to cross-stitch during the season.”

“What is it?” “Nothing.” He shrugs. “It’s just that you’re the first person besides my mom and sister to ask me to make a cross-stitch for them.”

Goosebumps prickle on my drafty skin. “You’re not little, and I stand up for you. You should hear my trash talk when I watch your games. I’m getting good.”

“Charlie’s our sister. Charlotte.” I’m surprised the admission slips from my lips so easily, but there’s a steadiness in him that I think my chaotic soul craves. “You have another sister?” “No. I had a sister. She died when I was five because of a heart condition, so I barely remember her. Most of my early childhood was spent in hospitals because of it,” I say in a robotic voice.

“Can I ask about the four-leaf clover right here?” “Oh. Yeah, that one’s easy. I felt like my life was a mess and I needed some more permanent luck. It hasn’t worked out that way.” “Not sure about that. I feel pretty lucky that I met you,” he blurts.

Rhode moves to stand in front of me, shielding me from Micah. “Well, hot damn, Phil. Look at you. I like the new tats. What’s going on in here, and how do I get an invite?”

“Damn, and here I thought Phil would be the one scratching up your back, not the other way around.” “Stop talking about Nina, and she told you to stop calling her Phil,” I grit out. “Respect that.”

“I’m only going to say this once. I know you’re friends, so I’m asking you to do this for me. Find someone else.” He flashes me a wicked grin. “Damn, look at your face. This is gonna be a hell of a lot of fun, isn’t it?”

“Phil! It’s so good to see you, pretty girl. I’m a little offended you didn’t keep tabs on me after high school, but whatever. I’ll let it go this time.”

Lol

“You know who’s younger?” Cruz smiles down at her with a glint in his eyes. Glaring at him, I grip the leg of the stool and pull her closer to my side, so Cruz gets the point. The loud, slow scrape echoes through my apartment. Chicken scatters across the rug. Even Vienna quirks her little head at the noise. Nina pushes her gold glasses up her nose. “Was that really necessary?” “It was very necessary.” I keep my eyes on Cruz, whose lips curve in a dare.

pull my gaze away to find Cruz staring at Nina’s chest. I slap a hand on the counter to get his attention, and his eyes snap to mine. “What’s up, old man?” “You did not just call Rhode that,” Nina interjects. “That’s so rude.”

“I’ll do anything. Anything.” “She said no,” I interject in a hard voice, hating seeing Cruz on his knees for Nina. She smiles at me, but then turns back to Cruz, giving him an exasperated look. “Can I think about it?” “Sure, as long as you come.” Cruz winks in my direction. “To the game, I mean.”

“Now, come sit down, Phil. We’re gonna teach you some hockey terms, starting with the fact that it’s called the penalty box or the sin bin, not boy jail.”

Lol

“Language,” Patty groans. “My girl’s gonna have the dirtiest mouth if she keeps hanging around you.” Nina catches my eye. “There’s nothing wrong with a girl who’s got a dirty mouth. Isn’t that right, Rhode?” That teasing edge to her voice is going to be my undoing, and I want nothing more than to flirt back, but that’s not fair to either of us.

“Speaking of dirty things.” Cruz gags, lifting Vi in the air. “I think something died in your girl’s diaper, Patty-Daddy. Here. Take her. This stench is offensive.”

He dangles Vienna in the air. “You made her. You change her.”

LMAO

Nina’s laugh fills the room. “You’re a lot nicer to her than you have been to me tonight. I’d be jealous if she weren’t so cute.”

“What about you?” She hands me another packet of Wet Wipes from the diaper bag. “Do you want kids?” I pinch Vi’s tiny feet. “Yeah, I do.” “Well, that shouldn’t be too hard since you could probably get someone pregnant by sneezing on them.” I almost laugh, but I rein it in.