Page 20 of Breaking the Ice

Isabella: I already regret asking.

If I weren’t really desperate to figure out my blocking, I would have just gone home. But something about Cecily’s first scene with Algy doesn’t feel right to me. Ideally, I could practice with Jaden, who is cast in the role opposite me. But he’s got a part-time job at a restaurant, and he’s working tonight. So, I reserved some time in the auditorium and recruited Ariana and Vanessa to help.

But Ariana needs to cram for a test she feels iffy about, and Vanessa’s roommate is going through a bad breakup, and she wants to be there for her.

So here I am, opening the back doors of the building to let Evan in. He smiles and tosses his hair, sending a jolt of desire through my body. He probably just came from practice, because he smells like aftershave and body wash. Or maybe he oozes those delicious scents all the time.

He’s just a guy, I remind myself. A hockey player, at that. Sure, he’s pretty, but pull it together.

“Thanks for helping me out.” I clear my throat as he glances around the cluttered hallway. It’s littered with prop lumber and wadded up scripts. “I appreciate it.”

“Of course. I don’t think I’ve ever been in this building before.”

“Seriously?” My mouth drops open.

“Yeah. Not much cause for the auditorium.” He shrugs. “But it’s cool. Is that the stage through there?”

He jerks his thumb towards the open backstage doors, looking interested.

I nod. “Yeah, wanna see it?”

“Absolutely.”

I take him in the back and through the wings. We step over a milk crate full of drumsticks—why are those backstage?—and skirt a barrel of scrap wood that wants to impale us. Tugging on the rope pulley at the control panel, I open the heavy black curtain, revealing the brightly lit stage.

“Wow.” Evan shields his eyes as we step onto the boards. “I didn’t know the lights would be so blinding.”

“And hot, too.” I tug at the neckline of my oversized sweatshirt. Or maybe that’s just him.

He glances out at the empty seats. “It doesn’t freak you out to think about performing in front of this many people?”

I rock on the balls of my feet. “Does it bother you when the hockey arena is full?”

“Nah.” He shakes his head. “A good crowd gives me energy.”

“That’s how I feel, too.”

“Cool.” He locks on me, his blue eyes twinkling, and I can’t handle how much I like his gaze.

Clearing my throat, I look away. “So, I need to work on blocking tonight, plus lines again. Do you mind?”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

I only need him to give me my cues three times as we rehearse. Having another body to work with on the stage helps me figure out how I want Cecily to move around Algy, too. Obviously I need to see if Jaden, who’s playing the other character, is a fan, but he’s pretty easy-going. I think he’ll be happy if I give him some ideas.

After we’ve run the scene a few times, I stop for a swig from my water bottle. Evan sits beside me on the edge of the stage, feet dangling.

“This Cecily chick is crazy.”

“Maybe a little.” I shrug. “I prefer to think of her as young. Innocent.”

“She wants to marry a man she barely knows.” He snorts. “Maybe Algy is the problem. He’s a lot older, no? Kinda creepy.”

“I think he genuinely loves her. I like to pretend that he takes good care of her, and they have a great life together, making each other happy.”

“That’s sweet, I guess.” Evan looks skeptical, then turns his intense gaze on me. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?” I draw my brows together in confusion.