Page 97 of Icebound

“There’s no such thing as a perfect family. We’re all a little frayed around the edges, but I agree with the teammate thing. That’s why whoever I end up with needs to be steady and calm because my kids can’t have two shitshow parents.”

His fingers latch around my waist. “You’re not a shitshow, Nina. You’re amazing. It takes a lot of bravery to go after what you want.”

He says the words with so much intensity, so much fervor, that I think he actually believes them, but I’m not sure I do.

“Rhode, there you are!”

I stiffen at the posh British accent. A woman with light brown eyes that match her complexion glides toward us, parting the backyard barbecue with effortless grace.

Her raven-black hair cascades around her shoulders like it’s been tousled by a sea breeze. She’s wearing a cotton-white dress that flutters to her knees, so each step makes her look like a floating angel. My eyes drop to the massive diamond ring on her left hand, and I exhale in relief.

Rhode kisses my neck. “Alright, I’m warning you. This is one of my exes. Anjali’s really nice, though. Promise. She’s a family law attorney and helped Patty with some custody issues, but she’s engaged now. We’re friends.”

“Oh. Great,” I say, sounding the opposite of great.

I smile tightly, my heart pounding at the idea of talking with one of Rhode’s pristine exes. It feels like I’m the only one he’s dated that isn’t a model, an heiress, or C-level executive, but when insecurity bubbles, I try to remind myself that even though they sparkle, we all shine for someone.

“Rhode Tremblay, you tosser!” Anjali’s tinkling laugh drifts on the crisp breeze. “Don’t you look dashing. Giving every woman those fanny flutters, as always.” She elegantly perches on the arm of the Adirondack chair next to us, cradling her chin. “And hello, lovely to meet you. I’m Anjali Patel, and you are…”

I hold out a shaky hand, trying my best not to compare her stain-free dress to my overalls. “I’m Nina, Rhode’s friend. It’s so nice to meet you.”

She gives me a warm, genuine smile. “Ah, what a lovely name for a lovely girl.” She turns to Rhode. “And how are you, doll? It’s been ages! I think the last time I saw you was when you called me after that yacht incident. I had a right laugh about that. I can’t believe you called a family lawyer for a misdemeanor offense.”

Rhode’s cheeks turn a little red in the sunlight. “Yeah, not my finest moment.”

“You were always a wild one. Bloody good time, though.” Anjali taps Rhode’s arm. “But look at you now, doing underwear commercials and making single mums around the world fall in love with that turtle on your thigh. What did you name it again? Edwin?”

“Edgar,” we both say.

“Ah, yes! That’s it. Edgar.”

Rhode smiles, but his eyes don’t scrunch around the corners like normal. If anything, he looks embarrassed.

Those creases are one of my favorite things, so I interlace our hands. “You know, I read that commercial actually generated a ton of money in donations for nonprofits, so it helped a lot of people.”

Anjali gasps, lightly slapping his arm. I try not to scowl at the motion because I know she’s being nothing but friendly. “Did it really? I had no idea. That’s unbelievable!”

Rhode brushes the hair from behind my ear, and I shiver despite the warm sunlight. “Thank you for that,” he whispers. “You’re always standing up for me.”

He smiles against my neck, tugging me tighter against him, and even though I should pull away, I don’t because his hugs calm me down more than a long run.

They continue talking, but Rhode’s thumb distracts me as it climbs higher and higher up my waist, slipping beneath my overalls to brush the underside of my breast.

I can’t stop thinking about the way he kept his comforting hand on my lower back while introducing me to his friends. How he never once balked when someone’s mouth dropped after they asked my age. The way he proudly tells people about my pottery fellowship.

As a hockey player with enough trophies to fill a mansion, I thought he would treat me like a secret, but he’s shouting my successes to anyone who will listen, the same way I tell everyone about his hockey wins.

All those meaningful little things are adding up to a big problem for my heart.

“Betty did it!” Wyatt suddenly screams across the pool. “She said ‘Dada’! Mom, Mama, y’all, she said it! Come over here!”

“No shit! Let me hear!” Rhode lifts me off his lap and leaps off the chair. He races around the pool over to Wyatt, pulling him into one of those manly slap hugs.

He’s bursting with so much excitement that I’m not even irritated with him for leaving me alone with Anjali. I smile, contemplating whether to go over there, but with the enormous crowd cooing over Wyatt holding Betty, I'd rather have some breathing room, even if it is next to Rhode's ex.

Anjali chuckles. “Well, that man sure is infatuated with you.”

My stomach does a little flip. “What makes you say that?”