Page 24 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
Bella
LAYLA
he took you to the winter carnival???
a man after your heart
BELLA
how the hell do you know where we are?
LAYLA
the puck bunnies are all over it
BELLA
you’re joking
LAYLA
not in the slightest
I’m glad for it though. It feels like I’m right there beside you
He went all out with his outfit too! How cute
BELLA
stop internet stalking me
LAYLA
never xxx
I ’ve never felt positively overstimulated.
Something within me came alive as we pulled into the carnival.
Something that has felt dead for over a year.
I forgot to have fun . I forgot that life is meant to be enjoyable.
I forgot that in between all the doctors’ appointments and rushed hospital trips and endless chemotherapy, I was meant to be making my mom’s life fun .
I can ponder how to do that later, but for right now, despite Grayson letting me ramble about which way to go, I still feel overwhelmed.
I want to do it all.
I want to try all the food, to laugh, to play every game available. But there’s so much—so many lights, so many people, so many noises and smells.
Grayson steers me to the left, marking the beginning of the clockwise motion. Grinning down at me, I find the tension in my chest falling away as he takes the list of options away from me.
“Are you ready?”
“For what?”
“Twenty-one questions.”
I nearly stumble over my own feet. I completely forgot why we were here, completely forgot that this isn’t a real date. That the warm muscular arm around my shoulder is nothing but a friendly gesture as he steers me toward the first stall.
“You can go first,” I say, my nerves buzzing frantically.
“When was your last relationship?”
I whistle as we get in line for the first carnival game. “Jumping headfirst into the tough questions, I see.”
Grayson’s eyes rove the stall as he shrugs. “No point in wasting time.”
The line moves, and Grayson peels his gaze away and slides it toward me. Staring into his eyes is like diving into the middle of the ocean. It’s hypnotic, peaceful, and so surreal that you get turned around. The ocean swallows you whole, and suddenly, you don’t know which way is up or down.
“I haven’t had a serious relationship since college.”
“Why did it end?” he asks softly as we move forward .
Bumping his shoulder, I grin. “That’s two questions.”
“Humor me,” he drawls.
Sighing, I lower my voice. “He cheated on me with my roommate.” I wasn’t laughing when it happened, but I chuckle now. “He claimed it was dark and he fell into the wrong bed.”
Grayson’s eyes widen in horror. “No, he didn’t.”
“Oh, yes, he did.”
“And what was her excuse?”
My nose wrinkles in disgust. “Nothing. She had this weird competitive streak with me. It was always one-sided but she was never self-aware enough to realize that.”
His head rears back in disgust. “That’s…fuck, that’s awful. Please tell me you didn’t have to room with her for long after that.” I give him a look that has him groaning. “No, don’t say it.”
“I couldn’t switch roommates that far into the year, so I was stuck for six months with her…and him.”
Grayson slides a hand down his face, shuddering. “No.”
Chuckling at his horror, I snort. “Yep. They started dating until I started seeing someone casually and my roommate suddenly found an interest in him.”
“She sounds horrible.”
“She was.” I’m about to make another retort when a large yellow stuffed bear comes into view. I can feel my eyes widen, the memory of my first heartbreak falling off my shoulders as a small squeal escapes me.
Grayson looks around us before following my line of sight, directly to the large Winnie the Pooh bear. I don’t care if it’s childish, I still find that bear the most adorable character ever.
“You want it?”
“Want it? I need it. Look at how cute he is, Grayson! He’s eating a little jar of honey!”
A low grumbling laughter vibrates through his chest. “Never thought I’d see a grown woman get excited over a stuffed animal.”
“Then your imagination is severely lacking.” Rising onto the balls of my feet, I crane my neck to see exactly what we’re in line for. My brow quirks as I find a group of teenagers shooting from a water gun, aiming at the targets whizzing past them .
“Think you can win?”
“Think?” He grins. “Stratford, I know I can.” He peers down at me with a twinkle in his eyes. “Sometimes I think you forget what I do for a living.”
I roll my eyes at that. “Trust me, your sweaty gym bags and socks don’t let me.”
His eyes widen as he slaps a hand over his chest, pretending to be wounded. “I am a very tidy human being, Miss Stratford.”
“You may be tidy, but your laundry hamper knows your secrets.”
His quiet laughter trails off as the person in front of us leaves and Grayson steps forward, placing a twenty-dollar bill in the stall attendee’s hands.
The teenage boy stares at Grayson with such admiration it makes me realize that perhaps I do forget what he does for a living sometimes.
And that’s when I see several other men, varying in all ages, looking at Grayson as if he were a god.
Have they been looking at him like this the whole time? How have I not noticed the stares?
Grayson’s deep gravelly drawl pulls my attention back. “Want to make a bet?”
Cocking a hip, I cross my arms over my chest. “Feeling cocky, are we?”
“Hockey is all about reflexes.”
“That may be so, but most carnival games are rigged.”
A crooked smile appears on his face. “I’m going to enjoy proving you wrong.”
“I’m going to enjoy watching your misery,” I sing.
His head tips back with a boisterous laugh before he turns to the attendee and dips his chin. Lifting the water gun, he closes one eye and waits.
Targets pop up along the wall, flying in all directions over the board. Some move in zigzag patterns, while others fly back and forth so quickly my eyes feel like they’re watching a tennis match.
And suddenly, I realize that Grayson had a reason to be cocky.
One target goes down .
Then two, three…four.
And on it goes.
In just a short forty-two seconds, Grayson hits each and every target.
The look he sends my way as he turns and winks is purely devilish, his competitive streak flaring as he leans over, his lips grazing my ear ever so gently. I suck in a gasp as he rasps, “Never tell an athlete they can’t do something.”
I wish I could pick my jaw up and retort something witty but as he turns back to the attendee, pointing to the giant yellow teddy bear, I find my brain empty, with only the buzz from his lips brushing my ear.
My heart beats furiously as Grayson holds out the giant Winnie the Pooh bear.
It’s so dang large, he chuckles while I try to fit my arms around the whole thing.
Moving out of the way so the patrons behind us can have a go, I ignore the sets of eyes on us as Grayson slowly follows me, his gaze glinting with carefree joy. He cups his ear. “I’m sorry, what did you say? That I’m the best carnival water shooter?”
A laugh bubbles out of me before I can squelch it. “Yes, Grayson, you do seem to be undefeated with that time.”
He straightens, his chest puffing out slightly. “That’s what I thought.” Placing an arm around my shoulder, he guides me away toward the next stall a little farther down.
As the stall comes into view, I grin. “I wouldn’t be getting too comfortable with that title yet. How about a round at the basketball stands, one on one?”
“Oh, you are so on.”