“I’ve been stupid enough to have feelings for one other person despite him being the biggest ice hole I’ve ever known, and it’s sort of gotten in the way of me making a decision…along with some other factors that don’t seem important right now…but I’d like to make it official today.” Not the most romantic or non-rambley thing I’ve ever said, but the two who matter don’t seem to mind. They’re both looking at me like I hung the fucking moon. I reach out and grab Roscoe’s hand, still gripping Jude’s firmly. I glance at both Roscoe and then Jude, before I meet Ethan’s eyes again. “I’m officially their girlfriend, so get used to having me around.”
“Did you say ice hole?” Ethan snaps.
Jude snorts. “Leave it to you to only hear that.” He turns to me. “I heard it too. Was that intentional? Ice hole?” He dips his head, his eyes never leaving mine.
I laugh. “It was. You didn’t know I’ve called you guys the Ice Holes in my head all this time?”
Roscoe throws his head back and laughs, and Jude leans over and nuzzles into the side of my face. Ethan looks ready to knock over the whole table.
“So who’s this other ice hole?” Jude teases, pulling back to look at Ethan.
It feels like the noise in the restaurant dies down as there’s a collective hush to hear my answer. The door opens and a gust of cold air comes in and the noise resumes.
“No one. I think I’m cured,” I say softly.
Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobs and I could swear he knows I was talking about him and that he feels something when I say that…what that something is would be impossible for me to ever figure out. He’s a book I will never be able to read.
“I’ll be your ice hole as long as you want me,” Roscoe says, his voice still full of laughter and it warms me from the inside out.
“Ice, ice, baby,” Jude sings. “We’re too hot together for you to consider me an ice hole,” he whispers in my ear.