Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“I think you should take Jett with you, provide a united front,” Noelle suggests, and everyone nods, agreeing that it could help.
At his name, Fable looks out on the ice, exhaling heavily. “Yeah. We don’t seem to be on the same page lately, but maybe I can convince him.”
“That’s not what I see,” Noelle says, looking out on the ice as well. “To me, it seems like he is on your page and is just waiting for you to hand him the pen.” Everyone but Bea tries to hide their grins, knowing it’s true. Fable’s cheeks brighten with color as Noelle chuckles lightly. “It’s so unfair because—” She pauses, her cheeks warming as her eyes settle on Kitty. “Sorry, Kitty, but Richie and Elena really aren’t that likable, and in turn, people hold it against Fable.”
Kitty nods, feeling even guiltier. “I know it’s frustrating, but my darling, all you can do is keep showing up. You are just what the Ice Thistle needs.”
Everyone murmurs in agreement, but it doesn’t look as if Fable is convinced. She has always felt just too much, and she wears all her feelings on her sleeve. Kitty wishes she could take the constant thoughts from Fable and let her brain have a break.
Skating has always been the one thing to calm her mind.
When Noelle stands, she takes Fable’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get a beer or three.”
Fable forces a smile as she gets up to follow her friend. Once she’s gone, Bea leans in. “Things are not good between the kids.”
Hazel and Maggie nod, and Kitty exhales. “Elena has been a witch all week. I don’t know how much more Fable can take.”
“Have her move in to the apartments upstairs,” Maggie suggests, and Hazel points to her daughter.
“Two birds, one stone,” she exclaims, her eyes bright. “This way, she’ll be away from Elena and very close to Jett. This can work out for both of them.”
Bea nods. “Our boy is in his head. Apparently Elena made him feel like shit again.”
Kitty’s shoulders sag. “I don’t know what it is about him that makes her so evil. But can’t she see how amazing Jett is, how much he supports Fable?”
Everyone slowly nods as they look out onto the ice. Jett is at the point, moving a puck back and forth, but his eyes are off the ice. They all follow his gaze to find him watching Fable.
Not that anyone is surprised.
Kitty glances back at him to find his lips turned down and such pain in his eyes. He used to look at Fable like that when they were younger. As if even though she was within reach, she was miles away.
It gutted her then and still does.
“Does Fable know what her parents did?” Bea asks, pulling Kitty’s attention from the ice.
Kitty swallows thickly as she shakes her head. “I don’t think so.” She sighs harshly. “She already can’t stand them, and I worry something like that will have her running from this town once more.”
Bea nods as Hazel leans on her arm. Maggie bites into her lip. “I just want them to be happy.”
Once more, everyone agrees. “We can only support them,” Bea says, even though it’s clear in her voice she’d rather meddle in their business.
“They have to figure it out,” Hazel adds, and Kitty’s lips turn down.
“I just hope they do.”
Losing Phillip broke Kitty, but watching Fable not grab ahold of the happiness that could be hers would kill her.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Jett
Fable Winthrop has four gold medals, in my opinion—one for pairs skating, two for individual, and one for getting right up under my skin and living there.
She does it without even trying.
She leaves me breathless, my cock aching and my heart pounding.
And I’m a willing victim.
I still can’t believe how bright the torch I carry for her burns after all these years. I thought—shit, I prayed—that I wouldn’t feel a damn thing when I saw her at the funeral, but my thoughts and prayers went unheard. Instead, with each day that passes in the presence of my ice princess, the torch I hold for her burns ever brighter. I never had these feelings for anyone else. I’ve dated, I’ve hooked up, hell, I’ve gotten close to thinking about proposing to someone I thought I could be happy with, but nothing and no one compares to her. All these feelings I thought I had repressed over the years are back, front and center in my brain. They make me want to be reckless and admit everything to her. I have this need to give in to the greedy thoughts and devour her the way I’ve always wanted to.
I almost did. I almost leaned in and took her pretty mouth with mine. I needed to feel her hips in my hands as I tasted her for the first time in my life. A taste I’ve been obsessed with and craving since I set eyes on her. She may put on an indifferent front with everyone else, but I can read Fable Winthrop like the most complex hockey drill. I know when she’s anxious, when she’s overwhelmed, or when her brain is going at speeds she can’t keep up with. I know when she’s excited, happy, and hyperfocused.