Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Hope’s POV

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The look on Delaney’s and Connor’s faces nearly made me laugh. But I was still way too angry for amusement to fully settle

Connor looked like the ground had been ripped out from under him, while Delaney appeared seconds away from losing her mind completely. Her glossy lips parted slightly, her perfectly curated expression cracking for the first time/since she walked in here acting like she owned the arena.

Good.

Maybe now they’d stop treating me like some desperate stalker.

Desmond, meanwhile, looked entirely too entertained by the situation.

Before I could step away, he casually wrapped an arm around my shoulders and tugged me against his side in a gesture that was somehow friendly, flirty, and obnoxious all at once.I stumbled into his chest.

“How’s my favorite PT doing this morning?”

My eyes narrowed while his grin only widened. Then, as though he suddenly remembered we had an audience, he glanced at Connor and Delaney.

Scott and Spencer finally caught up to us, both carrying equipment bags. Spencer immediately patted my shoulder.

“Yo,” he said, impressed. “Whatever you did to my ankle the other day was actual magic. It usually acts up before important games, but now?” He flexed his foot experimentally. “I feel like I could fly.”

Warmth flickered briefly through my irritation.

“Glad to hear that,” I said honestly.

Scott, however, was staring directly at Connor and Delaney.

“You guys are back?” he asked casually.

Delaney cleared her throat quickly and straightened her shoulders, trying to regain control of the situation.

“Desmond, Scott, Spencer…” Her gaze flicked toward me. “Why are you acting so close with her?”

“That’s because Hope is my favorite PT,” Desmond replied again in his usual shameless tone.

Connor’s face turned paper-white. He swallowed hard, his gaze darting toward me before quickly looking away again.

“So…” he started slowly. “She’s really the new physical therapist?”

“Yup.” Scott answered immediately.

Then his brows furrowed.

“Wait, you seriously didn’t know?” He looked confused. “Didn’t you read the group chat?”

Connor said nothing.

“Desmond’s been thirsting over her in there for two straight days.”

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Chapter 17

My eyes widened, my head whipping toward Desmond.

“You what?”

Desmond looked entirely unapologetic.

“What?” he asked innocently. “I support women in medicine.”

Spencer leaned closer to me. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Desmond thirsts over literally everybody.”

I let out a startled laugh and shook my head. At least one person here was honest about being ridiculous.

Then I turned back toward Connor and Delaney, the irritation returning instantly.

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“So,” I said sweetly, “now that we’ve established I actually work here, could someone please stop the security guards you called on me?”

Delaney bit her lip.

The three players immediately looked at her.

“You called security on her?” Spencer asked.

Scott blinked slowly.

“That’s… kind of messed up.”

Desmond’s playful expression faded slightly as he looked at Delaney.

“That’s not cool, Delaney.”

Her eyes widened instantly, like she couldn’t believe she was being questioned.

“I was only looking out for you guys,” she defended quickly. “You know how crazy fans can get.”

“As the assistant manager of the team, it’s literally my job to protect everyone,” she continued, placing a hand against her chest. “I was being careful.”

Fascinating. Aside from being Dennis Rhodes’s daughter, she was also the assistant manager of the team.

Apparently, the universe thought I needed additional obstacles.

“Alright,” Desmond said with a shrug. “Still, don’t bother Hope too much.”

I glanced sideways at him immediately. The look on his face told me exactly one thing.

He was about to make this worse.

Much worse.

“Or,” he continued casually, “do you already have a grudge against her because she looks great with Connor?”

Then he winked at me.

“What?” Delaney asked sharply.

Scott immediately choked on a laugh while Spencer snickered beside him. I shot both of them a warning glare, but neither

cared.

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Chapter 17

Connor, meanwhile, turned toward me slowly. And I hated the small flicker of satisfaction I saw in his eyes.

Oh, absolutely not.

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No way was I letting this man think I still wanted him after he cheated on me and replaced me with Delaney Rhodes.

“Don’t you think Hope and Connor look good together?” Desmond continued shamelessly.

I wanted to physically fight him.

Delaney looked seconds away from exploding, while Connor suddenly seemed way too pleased with himself.

This was becoming a nightmare.

I turned toward Connor just in time to catch him lifting a brow confidently, like he thought this entire conversation somehow proved I still had feelings for him.

“Desmond,” I said flatly, “Connor and I do not look good together.”

I forced a smile.

“Clearly, Connor and Delaney make a wonderful pair.”

“I agree,” Scott said immediately, finally deciding to help me instead of laughing at my suffering. “They extended their vacation while everyone else came back on time.”

His mouth twitched.

“Honestly, even Levi didn’t extend his vacation, and that guy deserves a lot more rest.”

Spencer barked out another laugh.

Connor’s confidence visibly dimmed.

But apparently Desmond had chosen chaos today because he leaned closer and continued anyway.

“But Hope,” he asked loudly, “aren’t you a fan of Connor?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Then he bent slightly and whispered near my ear-

“I’m helping you. You can thank me later.”

HELPING ME?

This man was digging my grave!

“Is that so?” Connor asked.

And there it was again. That smug expression. That stupid smirk I used to find charming before realizing it belonged to a liar.

“So you still like-” He stopped himself midway, pretending to correct his wording. “I mean, you like me?”

I inhaled slowly through my nose.

Patience, Hope. Prison orange would not suit you.

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Chapter 17

“That’s not true,” I said calmly. “I don’t like you.”

Connor’s smirk faltered slightly.

“If there’s anyone on this team I’d actually like,” I continued, “it definitely wouldn’t be you.”

Desmond gasped dramatically.

“Is it me?”

“It is absolutely not you,” I deadpanned.

Scott laughed out loud this time.

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Delaney, however, still looked tense, her eyes flicking between Connor and me carefully. Then, suddenly, her expression softened back into fake sweetness.

“You can be honest if you like Connor,” she said gently.

I almost rolled my eyes.

“However,” she continued, “it would be pointless.”

Her arm slipped possessively around Connor’s.

“Connor and I are together now.” Her smile widened proudly. “We made it official in Bora Bora.”

The emphasis she placed on Bora Bora was impossible to miss.

Connor looked awkward suddenly, like he didn’t expect her to bring that up.

“Don’t worry,” I replied with a small smile. “You can keep him all to yourself.”

Then I tilted my head slightly.

“I already like someone else.”

That shut everyone up.

Delaney scoffed immediately like she didn’t believe me for even one second. Connor didn’t look convinced either.

“Oh really?” Delaney asked. “Who?”

The question hung in the air.

Just then, like the universe was planning something, Levi appeared.

He walked down the hallway carrying his equipment bag over his good shoulder, tall and broad and annoyingly handsome without even trying. His dark hoodie stretched across his frame, his expression unreadable as always.

The second he noticed us blocking the locker room entrance, he slowed. I stared at him for one long second.

Honestly, I didn’t even think before speaking.

I just knew I needed something.

Something to make Connor stop looking at me like I was pathetic. Something to make Delaney back off. Something to survive this conversation.

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So before my brain could catch up with my mouth, I said-

“It’s Levi.”

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11:43 Wed, Jul 15 AMM.