Page 63 of Ice Me Out

“I’m going to hold you to it.”

“It’s you who’ll need to hold on,” she teased as she twirled an imaginary lasso in the air, rolling her body with the tip of her tongue out. “I’ll meet you downstairs, Sweet Hart!” she said before ducking out of the suite.

“Fuck me,” I groaned as I adjusted myself before donning my sunglasses and beanie.

***

My tongue lapped at the sweet sake on her tongue, and I didn’t know which made me more inebriated—Vera or the Japanese rice wine.

We sat in a booth in the darkest corner of the city’s best Japanese restaurant, enjoying each other’s company, a sushi boat, and the best sake I’d ever had.

I grumbled when Vera pressed her fingers against my chest and gently pushed me away.

“Save some for later, huh?” she teased, wiping away her lipstick from my lips.

I nodded.

“What does your schedule look like for the remainder of the week?” I asked.

“On Monday, I’m working on homework and studying before going out with Monica. I have classes all day Tuesday, more studying and homework on Wednesday, classes and your game on Thursday, and whatever else you have planned for the weekend.”

“Leave Wednesday afternoon open for me, and do you mind sharing your calendar and location with me? I’m not trying to be some controlling prick or something, but sharing our calendars would take the guessing out of everything, and you’ll be traveling frequently because of my games. Heaven forbid something happens, and we’re in another state or country, I’ll at least know where to look for you.”

“That makes sense,” she said agreeably, retrieving her phone from her purse. A few minutes later, our calendars and location were shared, I’d taken care of the bill, and we were walking hand-in-hand down the streets of Toronto. “I think I may have drunk a little too much sake,” she admitted, giggling after a slight misstep off the curb.

She wasn’t the only one. My head had been swimming since we left the restaurant. I was on the precipice of being properly buzzed and needing a sobriety field test.

“We can call it a night if you want—”

I was cut off when Vera stopped in her tracks and gasped at a brightly lit store display.

“It’s so beautiful,” she mumbled, drooling over the guitar in the window. I didn’t know much about guitars, but from the craftsmanship alone, I could tell it was high quality with a steep price tag.

“Tell me about it.”

“This is a Paul Reed Smith or PRS. The company started producing them in 1985, but didn’t really start gaining traction until the 90s. PRSs were popular with nu-metal bands because of the high sound quality. The grain patterns are exquisite, and the bird-shaped inlays on the fretboard are an amazing detail.”

“Do you want to take a closer look?”

She flapped her hand in front of her as if someone had blown a cloud of smoke into her face.

“No, it’s fine.”

Wordlessly, I grabbed her hand and dragged her into the store.

She’d soon learn that all she had to do was ask, and I’d give it to her.

Sugar Daddy Duties

Hart

We’d barely stepped into the music store when Vera ditched me to find assistance. I kept my distance, not wanting to smother her more than I already did, and ensured my mask was in place as I meandered around the store with my hands in my pockets.

At first, I thought a beanie and sunglasses would be enough to mask my identity, but I decided to take it a step further and grabbed a mask I had stashed in my duffle bag. During the height of COVID, the league had us masked up practically everywhere we went. It was annoying and uncomfortable, but it proved useful when you wanted to pop in and pick up a to-go order without being hassled for an autograph or picture — or when you wanted to entertain your secret sugar baby in peace.

I glanced over at Vera, who was speaking to the shop attendant at the front counter. I bristled at the bored look he gave her, but then she set her purse on the counter and squared her shoulders. That was all it took to remind me she didn’t need anyone fighting her battles for her.

I absentmindedly traced the strings of a nearby guitar while eavesdropping on her conversation.