Her response was immediate.
Good. I've been waiting.
I could feel her through the bond. Anticipation. Need. The heat building again. She needed us. Both of us. And for the first time since we'd bonded, I wasn't afraid of that anymore.
The Ice King was melting.
And I didn't want to stop it.
A
13
REINA
Three days without them felt like dying.I sat alone in my apartment, curled up on the couch with my laptop, trying to focus on editing photos. But every few minutes I'd reach for my phone, checking the group text thread we'd started the day they left.
Luca was in Vancouver with the Frost Kings. Three-game road trip.
Jaxon was in Calgary with the Steel Wolves. Two games.
And I was here. Alone. Aching.
The bonds in my chest pulsed with every heartbeat, connecting me to them across hundreds of miles. I could feel Luca's focus as he prepared for tonight's game. Could feel Jaxon's restless energy, his impatience to get back to me.
But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
My phone buzzed.
Jaxon’s text read,Game in 2 hours. Wish you were here, Pretty Girl.
Luca’s shot one off,Focus on your game, Roarke. We'll be back Thursday.
Grinning like a fool, I texted them back.Both of you be safe. I'll be watching on TV.
Jaxon just couldn’t help himself and replied.Wearing my jersey this time?
Luca replied quickly,She's at home, not at a game.
Jaxon was even quicker.So? I want to know she's wearing my number.
I looked down at myself. I was wearing both their jerseys, actually. Luca's underneath, Jaxon's over it. Layered like some kind of ridiculous security blanket.
Slowly I typed back.I'm wearing both your jerseys. Layered. Happy?
Both of them replied,Very.
I smiled despite the ache in my chest. This was temporary. They'd be home Thursday. Two more days. I could handle two more days.
My phone buzzed again. Not the group text this time. A text from Shayla.
REINA. CHECK TWITTER. NOW.
My stomach dropped.
I opened Twitter and the first thing I saw was my own face staring back at me.
A photo of me at last week's game, wearing Luca's jersey. Another photo of me at a Steel Wolves game weeks ago, wearing Jaxon's. A third photo, candid, of me leaving the arena with Luca's hand on my lower back.
