Icebound (Boundless Players, #1)

by Meredith Trapp

“Is everything okay, Rhode? You’ve barely looked at me all night, and you’re only giving me one-word answers. I’m not mad at your cat if that’s what this is about. My back feels fine now.” “That’s not it.” “Then what’s wrong?” She pauses, twisting her hands in my comforter. “You don’t have to push me away if that’s what this is about… I know you don’t want me like that.” She doesn’t have a clue how much I want her, but I can’t tell Nina that she’s the only thing on my mind, and every time she touches Cruz, I want to tackle the kid. “I’m good.”

“If you didn’t want me to come tonight, you could’ve said something. I’m not great at being in new places, so if you don’t want me here, I’ll go because it seems like I’m making you really uncomfortable. Do you want me here or not?”

I wait, but when he doesn’t say anything, I hold out my arms. “How’s this for tonight?” The slowest swallow in the history of swallows makes its way down his throat. “It’s fine.” My arms drop. “I didn’t spend two hours getting ready for fine.”

“You were playing it when you first picked me up in your car.” I keep my voice to a whisper. “I didn’t know you were paying attention.” “Like I said, it’s my job.”

I trace a pattern around the room, counting the exits just in case I need to make a getaway. Calm down, Nina. You’re fine. There’s not an assassin lurking in the crowd who’s going to shoot you, and even if there was, Rhode’s biceps are big enough to block a bullet.

Lol

“I’m fine.” I suck in a thick breath of perfumed air. “Just… don’t leave me alone, please? Crowds are a little overwhelming for me.” He presses the softest kiss to my temple, and if he hadn’t been adamant about this night meaning nothing, I’d think that meant something. “I’m not going anywhere. It’s you and me tonight.”

You know, we do take on retired players.” It’s an innocent comment, but Rhode tenses, every line of his body drawing tight. His easy confidence seems to waver momentarily like he’s at a loss for words. It’s something I’m familiar with, so I interlace my fingers through his, noticing his palm’s a little sweaty like mine. Rhode jolts, looking down at where our hands are intertwined.

Did you not see him in last week’s game? He saved thirty-four of thirty-five shots, so he’s got a zero-point-nine-seven save percentage, and in the third, did you see when he stopped that point-blank one-timer? I thought that was going in the net for sure, and—” I stop when I realize Rhode’s staring at me with an open mouth. “What?” I say. His brows climb toward the chandeliers. “I thought you didn’t like hockey?” “I don’t. I just do my research.” “Uh-huh.”

They only accept five percent of the applicants, so it’s one of the most competitive fellowships in the world.” Something molten floods my body, heating me up and ruining me all at once. “How’d you know that?” Rhode flashes that lethal dimple. “You’re not the only one who does their research.”

I try to shift out of his grasp, but his hand clenches around my lower back. “Yes, I am, and this is my uh, gi–my Nina.” He winces, but the way he says my Nina is enough to make me glow.

She snuggles into his chest, and my lips press into a thin line as I take the pictures. This is the type of woman who belongs in Rhode’s life. Not a girl who’s been dumping champagne in ferns all night.

“He’s not retiring,” I blurt. “The Guardians wouldn’t survive without him.” If I have to repeat that phrase all night to keep Rhode smiling, then I will. He flinches, reaching for my hand. On instinct, I interlace my fingers through his. It’s a little moment that feels big.

“You’re kind of smart, you know that?” “Kind of smart and my dress looks fine?” I playfully nudge his shoulder. “If you’re looking for a life partner, we need to work on your compliments.”

The rhythmic circles of his thumb moving beneath my hair soothes me, but I can’t trust his touch since this means nothing.

I wanted to cover her with my suit jacket just as much as I wanted to show her off, but then, some asshole whispered in my ear about how lucky I was to be with a younger woman, and it took everything in me not to drag the guy out of the party.

“Just go.” “Just tell me if you’re okay,” I press, bordering on begging. “Would you just leave me alone?” she shouts through the closed door. “I’m having a panic attack, and I need a fucking minute!”

“Yes, let’s go. I’m exhausted. I shouldn’t have offered anyway.” She laughs, but it sounds like it’s filled with something broken. “You’re so far out of my league that we may as well be in different solar systems.”

Morgan

Who is this????

“Maybe an aisle seat? Somewhere with fewer people around and close to an exit or bathroom? Just in case I need to leave for a little bit.” “Done,” I reply, making a mental note to buy out a few extra seats around her so she’s got more space. She blinks in surprise. “Just like that?” I nod, firmly. “Just like that.”

“And Nina?” “What?” I pull my jacket tighter around her, so she’s all warm and covered up. “When I said you looked fine earlier…” I swallow. “What I meant was that you looked absolutely breathtaking tonight, and the person you end up with is going to be one lucky bastard.”

I crouch down beside her, pushing away the dark blonde strand of hair that’s caught in her nose piercing before leaning closer. I brush my lashes against her warm cheek like she said her sister used to do. This is the closest I’ll let myself come to kissing her.

Wait thats cute

“Goodnight, beautiful,” I whisper, stroking her hair. She shifts a little, but her eyes stay closed. “Don’t have sweet dreams. Have wild ones.”

Gwen looks at the people a few seats over. “Why’s no one sitting around us, or behind us, for that matter?” “Maybe they’re still coming since they’re just warming up? I don’t know. I hope no one shows, though. It’d be nice to have some extra space.”

Becuase thats what she asked for!!!!

Rhode blocks another goal, and the stadium’s roar turns deafening. “Woo! Go Thirty!” I know he can’t hear me, but it looks like he tilts his ear as if he feels me watching. Gwen stares at him with a twinkle in her eyes, but every woman in this crowd is looking at Rhode that way. My stomach knots.

Fuck gwen

I don’t think Gwen would do anything with him, but I can’t be sure after everything that happened with Isaac. I’d never forgive her if she did anything with Rhode. “Stop lusting after my… Never mind, I’m not talking about this with you.” “I’m not lusting, I’m commenting, and I have Isaac, anyway, but you better get used to everyone wanting him. He’s Rhode Tremblay. The girls in the concession line couldn’t stop talking about his underwear commercial.”

I dont trust gwen

Micah keeps pointing in my direction, but Rhode refuses to look my way. I can’t see much behind his mask, but it seems like he’s fuming.

Omg

Micah stops in front of me, and I quirk my head. “Um. Hi?” I shout over the glass. “What the hell are you doing?” He glances over his shoulder with a smirk, then taps the glass with his glove. Before he can open his mouth, Rhode skates over, swoops in like some avenger, and furiously drags Micah away from the plexiglass with so much force that they slam into an opposing player.

Omg

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I shout in Cruz’s face. “I told you to focus and stop fucking around with Nina!” “The jersey was a damn joke!” “I don’t give a shit! I told you not to mess with her.” “You know I’d never go after her, man,” Cruz shouts,

Gripping his shoulder, I take a seat beside him. “Was it ‘fuck?’” Patty scoffs. “No. I wish. It’d be better than what she said. At least that’d be a good story.” “What was it?” He rests his elbows on his knees, hanging his head. “It was Nanna.

Lol

“What if that doesn’t work?” “Then, you’re fucked because it’ll just make you want more of what you can’t have.”

She’s leaning against the concrete talking to Cruz, but when I finally pull my gaze up, I realize she’s not looking at him. No. Those pretty hazels are locked on me.

My resolve snaps at the sight of his hands on her. I don’t want him touching her. I don’t want anyone touching her, but me. “Fuck it,” I mutter to myself. “Patty’s right.”

Striding past the Hall of Fame jerseys, I walk right up to her, nudging Cruz out of the way like he’s nothing more than a speck of dust. I’m not going to fight the kid. It wouldn’t be fair for him. “Come with me?” I murmur in her ear,

“You really want me?” “No.” His fingers tighten on the desk, but he doesn’t move to touch me. “I fucking need you.”

“I don’t care if it takes five minutes or five years to make you come on my tongue because every second I get to spend with my head buried between your thighs is pure fucking bliss.”

I’m lost in him, questioning whether I’ll find my way out.

“What do you want, Cruz?” “Hey, old man, what have you been up to? Cross-stitching?” Micah’s teasing lilt comes through the door. “Nice to see my evil plan to get you to pull your head out of your ass worked. Morgan’s asking for you, so tuck your tiny dick back in your pants. Party’s over.”

“Yeah, I just fucked you against a door, so if you’re going to wear someone’s jersey, it’ll be mine.”

My sister’s eyes go wide. “Hold on. I know you. Aren’t you in my art history class? You saved me from answering that question, right?” I tense. Nina tilts her head. “Wait, yeah, you’re… Rowyn, right?”

“How do you know my brother?” Nina’s mouth falls. “Rhode’s your brother?” “Hold on, you two are in the same class?” I interject, dizzy all of a sudden. They nod in unison. I try not to cringe, but it’s hard. Did I really just have sex with a girl in my sister’s class? Someone put me in the sin bin.

Nina’s cheeks turn pink under the fluorescent lights, and she waves a casual hand. “We’re just friends. I didn’t realize Rhode was your brother. I gave him a ride once.” She winces, then backtracks. “I mean, in a car. Wait, that’s not better. I didn’t ride him in a car. What I meant was—” I squeeze her shoulder. “We met a few months ago. We’re friends now.”

Lmao

Delay of game penalties at your age? Really, Ro? You know better.” Nina gasps, grabbing Wyn’s shoulder. “I was thinking the same thing!” Great, now they’re bonding. Though, I’m a little surprised Wyn’s not lecturing me, and, come to think of it, that Nina knows the meaning of a delay of game penalty. Maybe I’m the only one overthinking the age difference.

You are dumbass

Glancing over my shoulder, I see Morgan striding down the hallway wearing my Guardians jersey. The man won’t stop showing up to my games, no matter how hard I push him away.

Ahhh morgan is a boy and most likely his dad

“Are you sure?” Nina asks. “I can find a ride home. I don’t mind.” “No, I want to take you home.” I peer into her hazels behind her glasses, and she nods. Somehow, we’re able to communicate without words. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

“He came back and begged my mom for another chance, and she gave it to him. He hasn’t left her side since. Makes her breakfast every Sunday and never forgets flowers for an anniversary. Mom got him back, Wyn got a dad, and I got fucked. They forgive him, but someone needs to hold him accountable for his mistakes, and that’s on me. He’s the one who ruined our relationship when he left.”

She mimics my scoff, getting out of the car. “Maybe I’m just ‘too young to understand.’” She slams the car door hard enough to rattle the glass.

I kiss her forehead, breathing in her cinnamon scent, and commit it to memory. “I need you to know something, though… If you were older, or I were younger, I'd never let a girl like you go.”

“Yeah, but no one was using them anyway. Why?” “Nothing, just... Thank you. No one’s ever done something like that for me before. It means a lot.”

pisses me off for no reason. She deserves more. “The person you end up with should do things like that for you, Nina. That was the bare minimum.” “Maybe for you.” Her lips twitch into a smile. “Well, thanks for being my blueprint.”

Cruz Stop wallowing and come out. Yeah, Phil’s badass, but she’s leaving for Argentina. Build a fucking bridge and get over it.

lol