Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 173

173: HOPE

Hope’s POV

Harley skated toward us, but was stopped every few feet-people congratulating him, others wanting to take photos with him and squealing right after.

I shook my head in amusement. My brother has become really popular, huh?

Well, I guess that was only a given because Oakridge had just won the collegiate league. Not only that, but Harley also managed to snatch the MVP award despite only being a freshman.

I was proud of him, but as his sister, I wouldn’t say it out loud. I was sure his head was going to grow too large if I mentioned it. He already had enough confidence as it was.

He finally arrived where we were, and just like I predicted, he squared his shoulders and smirked. “Did you see that?A nearly played as well as Levi!”

I giggled and patted his head. “Fine, I’ll give you that today.”

“How’d I do?” he asked, turning to Levi next. Despite the smile on his lips, I could tell he was asking a genuine question. There was a brief uncertainty in his eyes, like he actually wanted to hear what Levi thought.

Levi smiled, and that was when Harley appeared more relaxed.

“You did great. Keep it up, kiddo.”

Harley pursed his lips, most likely trying to hide his smile. “I’m not a kid, though.”

“Anyway,” Levi continued. “Someone wants to talk to you.”

Harley tilted his head to the side while Beth enthusiastically chimed in.

“Hi, I’m Beth Myers, the CEO of the Glaciers Franchise. Do you have some time to talk about an opportunity to be with the

team?”

I watched as his eyes widened. He first turned to me, and I smiled back at him.

“Go,” I said. “We’ll fetch you later.”

He bounced excitedly, a rare moment where I saw the little kid in him, making me feel choked up. Gosh, he was truly grown up already.

It felt like just yesterday that he was the annoying little boy who would follow me around everywhere, demanding attention and complaining whenever I didn’t give it to him. Now, he was standing here after winning a championship, being approached by a professional team.

Before I could fully get swallowed by these emotions, I heard a familiar voice that made me freeze.

I turned around at the speed of lightning and immediately hugged the person who had just arrived. “Frey! Oh my gosh. It’s been so long.”

She didn’t hug me back, which made me feel guiltier by the second.

“Oh, so now you remember me?”

I bit my lip and moved away. I felt bad because I wasn’t able to update her about anything.

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12:38 Thu, Aug 13 ) F

Hands Off The Ice King

“I’m sorry,” I said, opening my arms again for a hug. “I know there’s no excuse, but I’ve been so caught up in everything Im really sorry, Frey. I’ll make it up to you.”

Just then, I felt her arms around me in a tight, warm embrace. It was the same embrace she gave me whenever I felt sad. happy, or when we were able to snag concert tickets at her favorite band’s show.

I melted in her arms, leaning against her shoulder as she continued to hug me. When she pulled away. I felt relieved to see the smile playing on her lips.

“I’m still a little bit sulky that you didn’t tell me that you were back together, but I’m so, so happy for you. Hope”

Her hands slid down from my shoulders until she was holding my hands.

“If there’s anyone in the world who deserves this, it’s you. So, I’m really, genuinely happy.”

I felt myself getting emotional, so I hugged her again. She was there at my lowest at the very beginning, and now, she was here with me again when I felt like I was floating on a cloud.

It meant more to me than I could put into words. There were people who had only seen the happy parts of my life, but Frey had seen me when I was falling apart. She knew what I had gone through, and somehow, she had never left my side.

“Thank you for everything, Frey.”

“Don’t even mention it,” she whispered back.

With that, we broke away from each other again.

Levi was waiting patiently behind me. I was about to introduce him, but Freya beat me right to it.

A gasp escaped her lips. “Don’t tell me… Levi Reeve?” she asked with wide eyes.

Levi cleared his throat and offered his hand. “I’m sorry for introducing myself to you this late. I know how important Hope is to you, so let’s get along well from now on.”

Freya took his hand with her mouth agape before looking back at me.

“Holy shit. He’s even sexier and nicer in real life.”

I bit my lips to hide my smile. “You can’t even see him properly, Frey. He’s all covered up!”

Freya snapped out of her fangirling mode and suddenly straightened up. I watched with wide eyes as she pointed a finger at Levi and narrowed her eyes.

“But honestly, Levi, you probably know this, but Hope is very well-loved. She’s not someone who will hurt others willingly unless she has already been hurt by them, so when you break up, and it’s not amicable, I have my eyes on you”

“Mind you-you might be a hockey player, but I have a black belt in both Taekwondo and Jiu Jitsu.”

“She does, she’s not joking,” I unconsciously muttered.

I watched Levi’s Adam’s apple bob before he nodded quickly.

Freya finally smiled. “Well, that’s all anyway. I came here to watch Harley play, and man, that boy can play. I remember when he was a whiny little brat who always pestered me to buy him ice cream even through video call.”

“Don’t worry. He still is.”

“Oh, one more thing,” she said, turning to Levi again. “Hope loves travelling. Take her on a vacation, and she’ll be the happiest little kitty.”

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