Page 120 of Ice King

I shoved the paper into my purse and started to stand.

“Where are you going?” she pressed.

“Just to the restroom. I don’t want to miss a minute of the tryout.” I was beaming as I headed to the corridor, so happy I was bursting with energy.

Everything was finally coming together.

As I rounded a corner, still thinking about Ford, a sudden sick feeling pooled into the pit of my stomach. With a sudden stop, I tried to gather my bearings as a presence came forward. As soon as he walked closer, I sucked in my breath.

“Hello, Gigi. Are you surprised to see me? I must admit I was shocked when I found out that you’d called your father. After all, I’d stood by your empty gravesite right by his side mourning your loss. I couldn’t believe it. Until I was shown your picture.” He glanced at his phone, at the same photograph I’d seen a dozen times on social media.

One that left no doubt how close Ford and I had become.

“What do you want?”

“How disturbing that you make a lovely couple. Only there are a few problems that need to be addressed.” Very slowly, he lifted his head. “You and I need to talk.”

CHAPTER 25

Ford

“Where is she?” I asked, but not really to anyone in particular.

“Maybe something happened,” Beck said from beside me. “Car trouble.”

“Then why didn’t she call?”

“Phone died?”

“That’s not like her.” I pulled out my phone, checking to ensure I hadn’t missed a message. Of course I hadn’t because I’d done the same thing now fifteen times.

“The plane is going to board any minute,” my father said. “If you want, I can stay behind, son, and see if I can find her.”

My entire family was waiting to board a damn plane. There was a seat for the love of my life, but Georgia was missing. “No, that’s crazy. You’ve waited your entire lives for this moment. Two sons.”

My mother and father glanced back and forth with a knowing look. “Honey, this is your dream and we love and want to support you, but Georgia is your real future. Maybe this is just a bit much for her. The last few weeks have been overwhelming.”

“I don’t know what the hell to do.” Why did she need time to herself? Why? After Portland, she’d suddenly become very quiet, the last few days as if she was barely there. I was such an idiot to assume she would go with us to Chicago for the draft announcement, which was late this year due to the new franchise.

An event I never thought I’d be asked to attend. A dream come true. A chance at making a big name for myself. A potential contract with seven figures. I owed every bit of possible success to Georgia. And she wasn’t here.

“I pushed her too hard. I didn’t listen to her.” Her not showing up at the airport, which she’d told me she would, meant she didn’t want to have anything to do with me.

“Delta Flight is ready for boarding at gate A-17.”The announcement came over the speakers, people immediately on their feet. I’d been pacing for a full two hours.

In between making phone calls.

I couldn’t help but think something was going on, but I still couldn’t read her beautiful mind. Damn it.

“You didn’t push her too hard, Ford. I’ll stay here and find out,” Beck offered.

Everyone in the family look at him like he was a nutcase. Including me. “You earned your place in the ceremony, brother,” I told him.

“We’re all going,” Pops told us. “That’s what Georgia would want.” He wasn’t giving us a chance to object, pushing the entire family toward the gateway.

Something in the back of my mind told me this was a huge mistake.

One that I would never forgive myself for.