Ice Dreams Part 2
ICE DREAMS
PART 2
BY
MELISSA JOHNS
ICE DREAMS PART 2
MELISSA JOHNS
Copyright © 2014
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or
stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Please check out these other books
By: Melissa Johns
FIRST LOVE (Now & Forever Series #1)
EVERLASTING LOVE (Now & Forever Series #2)
FOREVER LOVE (Now & Forever Series #3)
TRUE LOVE (Now & Forever Series #4)
ICE DREAMS PART 1
SENIOR YEAR
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my fans from around the world. You demanded Ice Dreams Part 2 and I listened. I read every email asking me when this book would be released and I hope you are not disappointed with it. You have given me so much.
Thank You.
CHAPTER ONE
Madison Sinclair was finally happy with her life. Everything was working out for her and she couldn’t be happier. She sat in her small apartment and started to pack up her life that surrounded her.
Just a few months ago, she had visited her brother in the States and never looked back. She fell in love with the small coastal town and also her brother’s teammate, Hunter Longo.
He was the type of guy you read about in romance novels and that was something she was very familiar with. He was tall, built, and athletic. He drew attention to himself everywhere that he went. His shoulder length brown hair and his chiseled features were only part of his attraction. Maddy was immediately drawn to his personality. He allowed her to be herself while releasing the woman that she dreamt of being.
For her twenty-first birthday, her brother Carter and his fiancé, Alicia gave her the gift of a college education. At first, she didn’t want to impose on their family but in the end, she couldn’t resist the offer.
As children, Madison and Carter lived different lives even though they lived under the same roof. Carter was groomed to be a professional hockey player and according to their parents, nothing would stand in his way, even his kid sister.
She missed all parts of being a teenager and experiencing the pleasures of first dates, school dances and kisses. As much as she wished that she could have experienced all of those things, she wouldn’t trade the past few months for anything.
“Maddy, do you want me to shove more of your clothes into these bags or do you have another idea? I’m running out of room.” Jessie shouted from the bedroom.
Jessie was her best friend. Even though her parents didn’t allow her to have friends during school, Jessie worked her way into the equation and stuck around. She would be graduating from college shortly and moving to Toronto. She invited Maddy to be her roommate but Maddy knew her life was in the States.
Madison got up and headed towards her bedroom. Her lease was ending in the next few days and her car was almost packed. Hunter hired the moving van and it had left for her new apartment the day before. Her goal was to finish packing the small boxes and leave before nightfall.
“Just keep shoving, I’m running out of room in my car. I can’t have any more boxes.”
Jessie nodded as she closed up the last of the bags. “I think that’s it. Let me help you bring these downstairs and we will do one last sweep of your apartment.”
She disappeared out the door and down the stairs. Madison looked around her empty apartment and frowned. She was never truly happy there but at the time she didn’t have many options.
Her cell phone rang as she smiled. “Hey Hunter, I thought you had practice this afternoon.”
“We just finished. I wanted to make sure that you were all set.”
“I am. Jessie helped me with the packing and we are loading the car now. I should be on the road within the hour.”
“Just promise me that you will drive safely. Pull over if you have to.”
“I promise. I will probably stop for the night at some point. Depends on traffic and how far I get.”
“Just call me so I know what’s going on. I know Carter will touch base at some point too.”
“I need to stop at my parent’s house before I leave but I’m sure I won’t be there long.”
She heard Hunter sigh. “Baby, you don’t need to do that. You don’t owe them a good bye.”
“They are still my parents, Hunter. I need to say good bye.”
“Alright, call me when you hit the road. I will see you tomorrow, Madison.”
“I can’t wait.” She smiled as she hung up. She joined Jessie at her car and hugged her. “Please come and visit me.”
Jessie nodded. “Of course, I will. I’m so proud of you, Maddy. I’m just a phone call away if you need me.”
Madison started to cry as she hugged her best friend. “I will call you when I get there.” She waved as she drove towards her parent’s house.
She pulled into their long driveway and stopped at front of the door. She took a deep breath and looked in the mirror.
Her mother hated her short brown hair. After years of long, dull hair, Madison decided to cut it and bring more flair into her appearance. She ran her hair through it and exited the car.
She was wearing a casual pair of cotton shorts, t-shirt and sneakers. Her mother wouldn’t approve at all but she was trying to do things that made her happy. As she knocked, the door opened as her father smiled at her. “Madison, I’m glad you stopped by.”
She looked around the living room and spotted her mother on the couch. “Madison, I wanted to try and talk you out of this move.”
She sighed as she shook her head. “Mother, you can’t do that. I’m here to say good bye. I’m ready to start my life and I hope that eventually you will support me.”
Her mother stood up and paced around the room. “Why must you copy your brother and live in the same area?”
“I love that town. It’s perfect for me: small, quaint, quiet and most of all, I want to be near him and Alicia. It will make the wedding planning run much smoother.”
Her mother stopped and turned towards her. “Why are you planning their wedding?”
“Alicia asked me to be her maid of honor.”
Her mother gasped. “Why would she do that?”
Madison grabbed her purse and headed towards the door. “Mom, I know you don’t like me but I’ve learned that others do. I’m not going to allow you to talk to me like that anymore. See you when I see you.”
She shut the front door and took a deep breath. She leaned against the door for a moment and headed towards her car. She started the engine and headed towards her new life.
Once she entered the expressway, she headed towards the border. She reached for her phone and dialed Hunter. “I just left.”
“How did it go with your parents?” he asked.
She chuckled. “Exactly like we thought it would.”
“Don’t look back, Madison. I can’t wait for you to get here so we can start our new life.”
“Me too, I received the confirmation letter from the nursing school. I’m all set for the summer semester.”
“I’m so proud of you, Madison.”
“Thanks, I guess I should pay attention to the road. I will call you tonight.”
The next few hours passed quickly. She quickly passed over the border and stopped for dinner in Virginia. As she got back into her car, she realized that she was tired and knew she wouldn’t make it to Carter’s tonight.
She found a nice hotel down the road and called him from the room. “Hey Carter, I’m in Virginia. I’m tired.”
“I’m glad you pulled over then. You will get here tomorrow afternoon. It will be better to arrive during the daylight anyways.”
“I agree. Hey, I have a feeling that Alicia never told our mother about me being the maid of honor. She knows and isn’t happy.”
“I know, she called me earlier and told me. Don’t worry about it, ok? Alicia just rolled her eyes and moved on. You were her first choice and never second guess that.”
“Thanks Carter. I will see you tomorrow, ok? Will you be around?”
“If I’m not here, Alicia will be. Hunter and I have a game tomorrow night so I may be at the arena.”
Madison hung up the phone and fell asleep a short time later. When she awoke in the morning: she took a quick shower, grabbed a free bagel from the breakfast service and headed out the door.
About six hours later, she pulled onto her new street and smiled as she saw the ocean. She felt as if she returned home. She pulled her car into the parking lot of her new apartment building and spotted the moving truck already there. Alicia was walking around giving directions to the movers.
Maddy got out of her car and stretched. She waved at Alicia as she ran over to her. “You are early! I was hoping to have these guys done by the time you got here.”
“You are amazing, Alicia. You didn’t have to do all of this.” She hugged her future sister in law.
“It’s my pleasure. I’m just so happy that you are here. Are you excited?”
Madison nodded. “I’m scared but excited.”
Alicia grabbed her hand and led her to back apartment that overlooked the ocean. “Carter paid the first and last month’s rent plus security. It’s just to get you started but he’s willing to pay a few months’ rent until you get on your feet.”
Madison walked through the door and looked at all her boxes. She walked through the living room, into the kitchen and smiled. She loved her appliances that Carter had supplied her. Everything was clean and beautiful. “Alicia, he has done so much for me. I can’t repay him.”
Alicia walked into the kitchen and placed her hands on her shoulders. “You don’t have to. He wants to do this for you. Plus, Hunter chipped in too.”
Madison turned around to face her. “He did? I never told me.”
Alicia pointed to a card on the dining table. “Open it.”
Maddy grabbed the envelope and ripped it open. She smiled at the simple card as she opened it.
Maddy,
I’m sorry that I can’t be there today to welcome you into your new home but I will see you tomorrow. Enjoy your gifts and don’t think twice about them. I owe you this.
Carter
Madison looked at Alicia and started to cry. “I’m just not used to this.”
Alicia hugged her. “I know that, sweetheart. No one will ignore you again. Carter will make sure of that. Hunter didn’t want to leave you a note but I have a feeling he’s driving in after the game so expect a late night knock on your door.”
“That’s crazy! I don’t want him to get into an accident.”
Alicia shrugged. “I told him that you would say that.”
Madison grabbed her phone and quickly sent him a text. I’m here, safe & sound but please don’t drive home tonight. Stay in the city and leave in the morning.
She walked into the bedroom and noticed her bed still needed to be set up and her suitcases surrounded the room. She walked down the small hallway to the bathroom and continued into the smaller bedroom which she decided to make into a small office.
“Maddy! You have to check out your view,” Alicia shouted from the living room.
She walked back down the hallway and entered the living room. She moved around the boxes and joined Alicia on the balcony. “I know. Hunter sent me a picture the day that they found the apartment. It’s breathtaking.”
Alicia leaned against the railings. “I’m so happy that you are here.”
Madison smiled at her. “I am too. I said good bye to my parents before I left. Hunter wasn’t happy about that.”
“I heard. I wish I could tell you to just ignore them but I know that they are your parents and that’s difficult to do. Don’t worry about the wedding planning either. You are my maid of honor and that’s that.”
“Thank you. It means so much to me. Are you sure that your friends won’t be upset?”
“They are just fine being bridesmaids. Believe me, it’s better this way.”
Madison smiled as she felt her cell phone buzz. She looked down at the screen. It’s been over a month since I’ve seen you. Nothing is stopping me from being at your place tonight. - Hunter
“He will never listen to me, will he?”
Alicia chuckled. “He’s a man. They never do.” She grabbed a box from the living room and carried it into the bedroom.
After the moving truck left, Alicia helped her unpack and made the apartment acceptable to live in. Madison collapsed on the couch and closed her eyes.
When she woke up, she noticed that the sun had set and Alicia was gone. She saw the piece of paper on her coffee table.
I didn’t want to wake you but I headed home. Call me if you need anything! I will touch base with you tomorrow and we will go out for lunch - Alicia
Madison walked into her bathroom and found a towel so she could take a shower. She looked at her watch and noticed it was after nine. She turned on the water and stepped in. She let the warm water run down her body as she reached for her lotion. She smiled as she thought about Hunter. She would see him again soon. She had fallen in love with him already but she didn’t want to tell him.
She didn’t want to scare him away until she knew how he felt about her. She finished shaving her legs and grabbed her towel. She dried her hair and searched for clean clothes throughout the boxes.
She didn’t have her cable hooked up yet so she grabbed her book and took a chair from the dining room out onto the patio. The sun had set already but she could see the waves glistening in the moonlight.
She lit a few candles, put her feet up on the bars and looked around. The neighborhood appeared quiet. Her neighbors weren’t making a sound. Her building housed four apartments. She looked over at the patio next to hers. She could see the light through the blinds but no sound. The other apartments were below them and didn’t provide patios for the residents.
Maddy opened her book and started to read. She was so happy at that very moment. The ocean was in front of her, her boyfriend would be in her arms shortly and she was finally starting her life.
Her attention moved to the apartment next to hers as the sliding door opened. A male stepped out and leaned against the railing. He looked upset. Maddy tried to keep her attention on her book but couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with him.
She couldn’t see him clearly but she could tell that he was taller than she was. He had short dark hair and worked out. He must have noticed her candles as he turned towards her.
Maddy timidly waved as she said, “Hello.”
He pushed away from his railing and walked closer to her balcony. “Hi, did you move in today?”
Madison stood up and placed her book on the chair. “Yeah, I don’t have anything set up so I’m hanging out on the balcony.”
He smiled and stretched to reach her hand. “I’m Mike. Welcome to the building.”
“Thanks,” she replied as she shook his hand. “I’m Madison.”
; “You sound like you have an accent. Where are you from?”
She smiled. “I’m from Toronto.”
“Wow, that’s cool. Why did you move to the states?”
Madison smiled. “I moved here to start college and to be closer to my brother and my boyfriend.”
“That’s great. If you need anything just knock away or yell over.”
“Thank you. I may take you up on that offer. My boyfriend is arriving later tonight and I tried to clean up some boxes but I’m exhausted from the drive.”
“Where is he coming from?” he asked.
“The city, he had a game tonight.” She couldn’t make out his face but she sensed he didn’t understand her.
“Is he an athlete?”
Madison nodded. “He and my brother play hockey.”
He gasped. “You are kidding me, right? Who are they? I’m a huge Carolina fan.”
“My brother is Carter Sinclair,” she paused.
“Sinclair! That’s awesome. I can’t believe I’m living next to his sister. Who are you dating?”
“Hunter Longo.”
Mike sat in his chair. He stared at her. “I’m just blown away. I was having a shitty night and you just cheered me up in ten seconds flat.”
She frowned. “So, it made you happy that I’m surrounded by pro athletes but I didn’t have that affect on you.”
Mike immediately frowned. “God, I’m so sorry.” He jumped out of his chair and leaned against his railing facing her. “I’m an idiot for saying that. I finally have a decent neighbor who isn’t seventy years old and doesn’t smell like ointment and I ruin it already.”
She looked at him and felt he was truly sorry. “It’s ok, Mike. I’m on edge and not used to a lot of people talking to me.”
“Well, consider me your friend next door and not because of your brother or boyfriend but you seem really nice. I had to start my life over too and I know how it feels.”
She nodded. “Thank you and I’m sure it has nothing to do with you being afraid that Hunter would kick your ass.” She smiled and turned around.
“Man, I didn’t even think of that. Please don’t tell him that I upset you.”