Page 62 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
Bella
BELLA
how’s Germany???
LAYLA
it’s amazing! The food is really good. I’ve barely been bloated here!
I get to actually eat!!!
BELLA
AHHH
I’m so excited and happy for you!
LAYLA
how are you and Grayson?
are you still keeping that man at bay?
BELLA
…
no comment
“ I ’ve written down my, the hotel’s, and Grayson’s contact number. Oh, and also Cindy’s in case you or Layla’s mom can’t get a hold of anyone.”
My mom rolls her eyes from the couch as Charlotte, Layla’s mom, chuckles to herself. “It’s like she thinks we’re children.”
“You know you are leaving me, in my own home, and I am an adult,” my mom drawls, a spark of humor dancing in her eyes. “And I know my daughter’s phone number.”
“Ha ha, very funny.” Cocking my hip, I look at the two of them grinning at me from the couch. “Why do I feel like you’ll get up to more trouble than me?”
“Probably your intuition speaking truth,” Charlotte murmurs.
I groan. “Please don’t give me a heart attack while I’m gone, okay?”
My mom slowly rises and it makes a lump form in my throat at her fragility. Waving me off, she begins to shoo me toward the door. “Stop procrastinating, I’m fine, love. You deserve this, you work too hard and take care of me too much. Have a fun trip away.”
“Are you sure? Because Grayson would understand if I had to?—”
“Isabella Stratford, if you even think about canceling, I’ll call Grayson myself so he can kidnap you.”
I bite my bottom lip. I want to call her out on it, but I see the truth staring right back at me. “You’d tell me if you weren’t feeling okay?”
“The second I feel uneasy, I’ll call. I promise, Bella.”
Stepping forward, I wrap my arms around her. “Please call me during every treatment round, okay? I don’t want you to be lonely for the four hours.”
“What am I?” Charlotte calls out. “Slim pickings?”
I snort. “No, of course not, but…ugh, please just call, okay? It will make me feel better.”
“I’ll call, love. Just focus on having fun.” She pulls back, her smile warm, her eyes light for once. “I’ll be right here when you get back.”
Nodding, I take a steadying breath through the anxiety rearing its ugly head. “Okay, okay, I’m going.” My mom all but pushes me out the door, slamming it closed as I call out, “I love you!”
I scoff as I hear her and Charlotte fall into a fit of giggles.
“Get kicked out already?”
Spinning, I find Grayson leaning against his truck, his cheeks and nose pink from the cold, his lone dimple popping out to greet me. I can’t help but return a big cheesy grin of my own.
Fuck, he’s beautiful. Inside and out.
“That man is smitten,” I hear my mom whisper.
Gasping, I find her at the window, watching us. I glare playfully. “You know this isn’t real! And what happened to privacy?”
She all but rolls her eyes, moving the curtain aside so I can see her fully. “He doesn’t think it’s fake, not by the way he stares at you,” she blatantly drawls. Her smile stretches as she looks past my shoulder, her hand lifting in a wave. “Take care of her and make sure she has fun!”
“Scout’s honor,” Grayson calls back.
I stomp back to the front door. This is ridiculous talking through a window. I open it to my mom’s frown and Charlotte’s head rearing back from looking through the other window.
“Busybodies,” I mutter under my breath before pulling my mom in for another hug. “I love you. Get your gossip from reality TV and not my life.”
My mom ignores that last part. “I love you more. Have fun, my love.”
“I’ll try,” I whisper.
“You’re going to make that poor boy freeze!” Charlotte scolds.
My mom’s smile is warm as she ushers me out the door again. “I’ll be fine, stop stressing. Charlotte will take care of me. I love you, now go!”
The door closes, the lock flicking into place, the sound accompanied by soft chuckles.
Taking the hint, I turn and make my way down the driveway, shoving aside my worry in favor of latching onto the excitement at seeing Grayson. He walks up the driveway to meet me halfway, his hand outstretched to grab my luggage.
I stop and eye him curiously.
“What?”
“You weren’t a Scout, were you?”
He smirks. “You’re going to have to take me on a date to learn that information, Blaze.”
“I’ve cleaned your dirty laundry. Surely that counts for something,” I declare, hopping into the passenger seat and noting that he put the seat warmer on for me.
“Hmm, doesn’t count. I need to be wined and dined.”
I burst out laughing. “And what does wined and dined look like to you?”
He jumps in the driver’s seat, pulling away from the curb with a devilish smirk. “Spending time with you.”
“That’s a bit lackluster.”
“Not from where I’m sitting.”
The heat that fills my veins is like an inferno. I have to look out the window so he doesn’t see the blush creeping across my cheeks.
This man and his words.
They’re going to be my undoing.
K ieran raises his hands in surrender, walking backwards through the hotel entrance. “I’m just saying that if it were me, I’d have said yes to the date.”
“Then date yourself,” Grayson mutters.
“She’s in Germany, lover boy. Of course she’s going to say no.”
Kieran has been nonstop talking about Layla for the entirety of the plane ride and the drive to the hotel. Layla is going to have a fit when she finds out.
He clutches his chest like he’s in pain. “Why can’t you put in a good word for me?”
“Maybe because you’re a man whore?”
Asher walks past, his head thrown back on a deep belly laugh. “You can’t even argue with her on it.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m a man whore, per se.”
“Then what would you call it?” I ask.
His smile is full of satisfaction. “Spreading love throughout the world. ”
The guys around me groan, Cindy gagging beside me. “Disgusting,” she mutters.
“I heard that.”
“You were meant to,” she sings.
Kieran just rolls his eyes and walks off to check into the hotel.
“He’s never going to let this go,” Grayson grumbles, watching his best friend.
I frown. “Why?”
Cindy’s nose scrunches. “I think she’s the only one who has turned him down.”
My brows fly into my hairline. “Surely not.”
“I hate to say it, but I think Cindy is right.”
She barks out a humorless laugh. “Jeez, thanks, Crawford.”
He clicks his tongue. “You know it’s not like that. But yeah, I think this is the first time someone has turned him down so…”
“Brutally?” I supply.
Asher’s eyes spark. “Oh shit, please tell me she gave him lip.”
“She absolutely gave him lip.” Which I’m still utterly stunned by.
The team piles into the lobby, each taking turns checking in. Grayson wraps an arm around my shoulder, the move so casual and effortless, it’s like he’s done it a thousand times. My body warms, practically humming at his touch.
“You should have heard her. She said he was the only dog that deserved to be in a kennel.”
Asher whistles as Cindy cackles.
“Hearing Kieran Ashford get humbled wasn’t on my bingo card for the year,” Cindy says between chuckles. “I need to meet her. She sounds hilarious.”
“You would love her. I think you two would get along well. Next time she’s in town we’ll take you to Totti’s. They have the best fruity cocktails.”
A smirk plays along her lips. “You had me at fruity.”
Grayson steps forward to check in, giving the woman behind the desk his name.
“How is the treatment going?” she asks softly, referring to Layla .
“They haven’t started yet. They’re still doing all the pre-tests.”
Cindy’s eyes soften. “I hope it works.”
“Me too. It’s such a horrible illness, she?—”
“There you go, Mr. Crawford,” the woman behind the desk says. “Your one-bedroom suite is located on level?—”
“One bedroom?” I cry out. I spin on my heel, gaping at Grayson.
His gaze darts behind me before an easy-going smile stretches across his lips.
“It’s not a secret we’re together, Blaze.
” He steps forward, bending low so his lips brush the shell of my ear, his husky voice making my toes curl.
“Couples share a bed.” He pulls back, a slight challenge in his sparkling blue eyes that has me swallowing.
Turning again to the receptionist, I smile. “I had strict parents,” I say flippantly. Snatching the key, I clutch it in my shaking hand and wave Cindy off. “I’ll come to your room before the game. Text me which number!”
And before Grayson can comment, I’m hustling for the elevator, stewing about how I’m going to have to share a bed with Grayson Crawford.
My self-control is about to be tested.
And for the first time in my life, I might fail this test.
BELLA
Grayson and I have to share a bed
LAYLA
you have no idea how loud I just screamed
the people in the waiting room are now whispering and hissing under their breaths