Melting The Ice Captain

EASTON CARTERAnother round of hurrah from the boys. We had decided to have a night off before the big game. Four years of playing in the NHL, and I'm ready to go loud on the Glacier Guardians tonight.“You know what? We might as well have a bit of fun while we're at it, Captain.” He looked at me. “You're the best player on the team, but you're lacking something.” Hale wiggled his brows, and the others followed suit.“What?” I asked absentmindedly.“Some ass!” they cheered.“Keep it down, this is still a bar.”“Oh, come on. Is the princess cranky tonight?” my best friend, Ronny, said.“Whatever. Besides, I can get ass anytime I want. With a face like mine, it's easy to get any woman I want.”“You sure about that, Captain?” Gregor asked with a tilted brow.Of course I'm fucking sure. I've just been busy, that's all.“I dare you,” Hale said. “I dare you to walk up to that girl, get her a drink, and see what happens from there.”He pointed to a brunette who had just walked in, head down.

OLIVE BECKETT“Oh! That’s Easton right there!” someone said, pointing to the back of a man. I immediately ran up, grabbed him by the back of his hand, and spun him around to look at him.My face hit his shoulder from the impact.“Owwww,” I screamed, my hair falling over my face.“I’m terribly sorry,” he said, touching my face to check. He pushed my hair behind my ears and stared into my eyes.My eyes shone as I stared back at him. That pervert from the hotel?! I nudged him in the chest.“So… prove it,” Freya said. The whole crowd had already walked up to us. Elliot and Jane stood side by side in front of me. The audacity of him bringing her here as his date.“What’s going on, Olly?” Elliot asked. My hands shook as I held Easton. I tried to look anywhere but Elliott's face.“Are you dating Easton Carter? Since when?”I couldn't help the way my chest still felt heavy. My heart hurt in a different way.“Easton and I have been seeing each other for a while,” I blurted.“You know, Olly, if

OLIVE BECKETTHe can't be serious. Is he? I didn't drive three hours to get twisted in some messed-up family drama.I stood up, didn't wait for anyone to say a word, and walked out.Okay, deep breaths. I need to calm down. Maybe that was just a lie. Just to rile up his brother.“Olive,” I heard. I turned to the voice. It was Summer, standing behind me in her sunny dress.She walked to where I stood, just outside the porch.“What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with them, stopping the fight?”“No. They're big boys; they'll make up sooner or later. I came to talk to you. Look, I know how this looks, but it's not what you think.”My brows furrowed. “What I think?”“I'm not dating Easton… or any of them, really.”“Then why are you getting married to Ethan? From everything I know, I can see that you do not like Ethan. So why are you marrying him?”“I've known Easton all my life. He was my friend since I ever knew how to speak. I never liked Ethan much, but I wasn't forced to m

EASTON CARTERI knew I was probably doing the wrong thing when I agreed to follow her to meet up with her ex—the man who didn't care about her, the man who was getting married today. My phone pinged with a notification. It was from Ronnie. Since that night, I hadn't gotten back to him or the team. I scrolled down, looking past the fifty-six missed calls from Coach.I'm not ready to see them right now. The thing is…I suck. I missed the game, and now I'm totally chickening out on an apology. What's worse is them finding out that I'm engaged on TV.I need to get this done with. I checked my watch again as I waited for her to get into the car. I meant what I said to Olive—she didn't need to prove anything to anyone. She's a friend, and I'd hate to lie to someone I consider a friend.A small knock on the car window shook me. I turned to it and opened the door for her. She looked amazing, dressed in a burgundy dress that matched her hair—hair pinned back, cascading down her shoulders with

EASTON CARTER I placed a kiss on the top of her head, carefully inhaling her scent. I love her scent—she smells so beautiful that I had to sneak a whiff of her shower soap.Guilty as charged.The show took a while until it was over. We both took a few pictures, exactly as we planned. Like we were in love.Olive was quiet the whole show, and that was weird because I know she's not always so quiet.“Are you okay?” I asked the minute we got out of the hall.“Yeah… I-I'm fine.”Her body movements felt slow. She barely spoke, barely said a word.We got to the car and both slipped in. It felt like hard work, you know, with all the cameras flickering in all directions.She still didn't say a word.“Did you see him?” was all I asked. It had to be that.“Who?”“Him.” I really don't know much about women, but one thing I know is that they rather not mention the names of their exes, especially if they're still healing.“Yes,” she whispered. “I saw him… Matter of fact, he sat across from us.”“And