Ice Contact (Milwaukee Steel Riders #1)

Epilogue

epilogue

Maggie

“ L iv, I cannot believe you live in this giant hockey money mansion,” I grumble as we stand in the massive kitchen directing the movers where to put the multiple boxes of their belongings.

“Mags, it’s not a mansion. It’s just a house,” Olivia replies.

“Yeah. Just a five-bedroom home with an indoor basketball court that is getting turned into a hockey rink/gym, a pool, an outdoor kitchen, and a basement theater room complete with a fountain soda machine. Oh, and it’s on Lake fucking Michigan. I think we can call it a mansion.”

Liv smiles, rolling her eyes at me, as we unwrap dishes from packing paper. How many damn coffee mugs does she own?

“Okay, maybe you’re right. I have to admit, somedays it’s like I’m in a dream. It’s not even been a year, and I went from being in the world’s shittiest relationship to meeting the man of my dreams, getting married, and moving into this amazing space. I still have no clue how I got here.”

I snuggle into Olivia, resting my head on her shoulder and closing my eyes. “You’re one of the best, most kind-hearted people I know, so I’m not one bit surprised. You deserve this, Liv. I’m so happy for you.”

I really am happy for Olivia. Cayden was such a douchebag for so long, but Hayes is the perfect man for her. He’s so attentive, so sweet and loving. Plus, he’s cool as fuck to hang out with. I pull away, giving her a genuine smile as I bask in her joy. Getting to know Hayes over the past few months has solidified the fact that the two of them are soulmates. She deserves nothing less.

“Hey sweet girl.” Hayes joins us in the kitchen, talking to Liv as he gives her a kiss like he hasn’t seen her in a week. Okay I’m happy for her, but I don’t need it flaunted in my damn face. I’m still single as a Pringle over here and maybe just a little jealous. I swear if one more person tells me there’s a great guy out there for me somewhere, I’m gonna fucking lose it.

“You guys bought a giant house, so I feel like it’s appropriate for me to beg you two to get a room.”

“Well, if it isn’t Maggie James gracing us with her presence,” Hayes teases as he walks over to give me a hug, easily welcoming me into their new home. “Always throwing out the compliments aren’t you? Seriously, though, thanks for helping us out today. Some of the team is coming over later to move some of the bigger pieces into place. Hopefully when the movers are done, we can all grab a bite to eat.”

“Who’s all coming over?” I ask, my gaze focusing only on the dishes I’m unwrapping, hiding the fucking agony of a certain player being in my general vicinity.

“Zack and Kara. Zack’s parents are in town watching the kids, and Kara is dying to get out of the house to help us put towels in a linen closet just to get a break from the kiddos for a bit,” Hayes says. “And I think Bougie, Vladi, EJ, and Tay should all be here shortly.”

Shit. Shit. Fucking shit.

I force a tight smile, praying Olivia is too distracted to pick up on it. Of course he’s going to be here . He’s one of Hayes’ teammates and good friends. Why wouldn’t he be here helping them move into their new home? I’ve only been doing everything in my damn power to avoid him for months, and now I don’t know how I can get myself out of this situation.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

One of the movers asks them where a box of photos should go, distracting them both as I fight to catch my breath. I should just tell Liv. I should just tell her that I slept with one of Hayes’ teammates. We are all consenting adults here. Liv and I don’t keep secrets from one another. But he asked me to keep this between us. Why am I keeping this man’s secret? Why can’t we just tell everyone what happened and move on with our life?

More importantly, why am I keeping his secret when I fucking hate him?

There was a lot of bourbon served at the gala. I had enough to drink where everything is a little fuzzy, but I remember every moment of that night. One fantastic night of the most mind-blowing, toe curling, orgasmic sex of my life. Only when I woke up, more than ready for round four - he was gone. Fucking gone. No note, no text, no calls. Just gone.

The Riders season is over, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get more time with Liv without having to worry about running into the man who broke my heart. But the asshole decided to stay in Milwaukee for the summer, and now he’s going to be here helping my best friend and her husband move into their new fucking house.

Motherfucker only gives a damn about Hayes apparently.

Sucking in a tense breath through my teeth, I open a box and start putting dishes away in the cupboard above the dishwasher. You can do this. You are Maggie fucking James. You are a badass bitch, and you don’t need to act like a wounded fawn in front of him.

“You okay, Mags?” Olivia asks, her eyes narrow with worry. She knows something is up and has been trying to tear down my reinforced brick wall since the wedding. I’ve held strong, but I’m not sure how much longer I can.

I don’t know if I can keep doing this without my best friend.

I let out a sigh, flinging myself across the kitchen island. “Yeah. I’m just hangry,” I mumble with my face flat down on the granite. “Do you have snacks in this place yet? Do I need a museum docent to direct me to them?” I ask using my humor to, hopefully, deflect the terror in my stomach.

“Larsy, you in here?” a familiar voice booms from the hallway, my stomach dropping as my traitorous pussy clenches with need.

I know that voice . That voice haunts me in my dreams. The voice I still hear whispering in my ear. I jump up from the countertop. My fists shake at my sides, my teeth grinding as I fight to look unaffected. The voice that disappeared when I woke up alone in my bed.

“Yeah, man, in here!” Hayes yells back, a wide grin on his face.

His tall figure appears in the doorway to the kitchen. Well fuck me sideways with a pineapple. His dark black hair has just the slightest wave, begging for my fingers to tug at the soft strands, his tight-as-hell white t-shirt and full sleeves of ink on his arms fully displayed, doing little to hide the Adonis build underneath.

Why does he have to be so fucking good looking? This would be so much easier if he was disfigured from too many pucks to the face.

“Nice place, Larsy. I approve,” he says as he walks over to shake Hayes’ hand and give Olivia a hug. He steps back and leans against the countertop, staring at me with those green eyes I’ve never been able to forget. “Hey Maggie. Nice to see you again.”

It’s nice to see me? Fuck him. I want to cry. I want to throw up. I want to punch him in the throat. And I want to run. I want to run right into this man’s arms and kiss those soft lips. But I can’t. Because I fucking hate him.

I shove it all down and suck it up like the bad ass bitch I am.

“Hey Vladi. Long time, no see.”