Page 22 of Breaking the Ice

“I volunteer as tribute.” Evan raises a hand. “I can stand backstage and be your official dresser.”

He winks, and my whole body heats again. He’s such a flirt, but I wish I wasn’t attracted to him. It’s so inconvenient. Because obviously he’s joking.

I glare. “No, thank you. And I’m sure you’re busy with hockey during the performances, anyway.”

His face falls. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

As my dad has always demonstrated, hockey comes first. Why would this time be any different? Just because I’m back home and tutoring one of his players doesn’t mean anything will change.

With that thought, I force myself to wipe the desire I feel towards Evan from my mind. “Now that I’m in costume, wanna run through things again?”

His eyes bounce all around the room, refusing to settle on me. “Uh, I just remembered. I’ve got something with the team. I need to go.”

With that, he spins on the ball of his foot and darts from the room like it’s on fire.

Of course. Hockey calls. Why would I ever have expected anything else?

Chapter

Ten

EVAN

Evan: I’m sorry if this is a huge ask…

Evan: But…

Isabella: Just spit it out.

Evan: I really need a shower.

Isabella: You’re on your own there.

Evan: Darn.

Evan: But, like, desperately. And if I have to wash my back myself, I’m gonna be late if we meet at the library.

Isabella: Are you anti-library?

Evan: No, but I am anti-sweaty and anti-smelly.

Isabella: Maybe you should have thought of that before you got into hockey.

Evan: Can we meet at my place to study?

Evan: Please?

Isabella: Won’t you get distracted?

Evan: I promise I will be so focused. Cross my heart.

Isabella: Fine.

I finish throwing the last of my dirty laundry into the hamper before there’s a knock at the door, and I hustle out to the living room to answer before one of my roommates does.

Nerves churn in my stomach. I haven’t seen her since that night at the theater last week. She looked so incredible in that dress, and the feel of her skin against my fingertips almost undid me. I hated to leave, but my god she was so hot. There was no way I could hold it together and run lines with her—I’d probably propose marriage and try to kiss her. And now I can’t stop thinking about her lips.

Unfortunately, this distracts me. Jonas and Hadley were doing something in the kitchen, and Hadley gets the drop on me, beating me to the door.