Breaking All The Ice

Fairy-tale Love ❤️

*Amelia*

On the way back from our shopping field trip, we stopped at a Publix to get some essentials for the cottage.

Or as I've decided to call it, 'Meltopia', my dream home. Liam and Jake went over the ground rules again making sure to stress the 'No Boyfriend Allowed' rule.

Both men were shocked and embarrassed when I told them I didn't plan on losing my virginity to any of the jocks during my short stay here.

I don't know why, though; being a virgin at my age isn't as rare as they think. I'm only 20 years old and there are plenty of girls who are older than I am that are still virgins.

I don't do boyfriends and I damn sure don't plan on falling in love.

My life was complicated enough dealing with my own emotions, and quite frankly, I didn't have the capacity to deal with a boyfriend or anything remotely close at the moment.

We also went over my backstory very thoroughly and they even gave me a pop quiz inside of the store.

I got every answer correct, of course, and it made their confidence soar.

It looked like this would be a smooth 9 weeks. I just hope we sail through this without a hitch. A girl can only hope.

By the time we returned to the estate, the sun was nearly ready to set.

It made the cottage look like a place where only a fairy tale love could reside inside.

I don't know why, but the thought gave me butterflies.

I could polssibly fall in love with myself again. I could forgive myself for the past.

I could get over my past traumas. I could mourn the loss of my mother.

I could cry, scream, laugh... I could feel again and it would be okay.

I need this.

I had to remind myself that I needed this.

Not only me, but Jake needed this as well.

I got to witness what Jake looked and behaved like when he was with his brother and it blew my mind.

At first, I thought he just needed to loosen up a bit, but then I realized that Jake had been there for me through my spiraling to distract himself from his own.

He was just as depressed back home as I was. Only he was way better at hiding it.

We were leaning on one another to cope with the life thrown at us.

That's why we were so drawn to one another and spent most of our time together.

He really was like a dad to me so calling him that wasn't weird at all.

He's never tried to take advantage of me or do anything inappropriate.

Nothing questionable at all. Not a hint of lust even as he watched me grow into the woman I am.

I've never really seen him look at anyone with any real interest. He's always been to himself and seemed to love it that way. I was the exception I guess.

He saw something in me besides my aggression. He pushed me to be the best on the ice no matter the sport.

He was there through all of my success and my trauma.

I didn't know who my real father was, and at this point in my life, it wouldn't make a difference if he was alive or dead.

Ma said he would come and go as he pleased. Which wasn't often, however, when he did, he promised that it was the last time.

She would be stuck with a new heartache and a new child growing in her belly every time he left.

That was until she got pregnant with Tyler.

Mom had finally had enough apparently and told him if he left this time then that was the end of their relationship and to never come back.

She couldn't take it anymore, she needed stability. She thought that would make him get his s**t together and stay so we could all be a real family.

Needless to say, he decided he was perfectly fine without us in his life.

He kissed each and every one of us, even Mama's belly. Then he walked away and never looked back.

I was too young to remember anything, but he could've kissed our asses for all I care.

Ma became the shell of the loving mother she once was. She turned to drugs and became a functioning addict.

There were 6 of us all together. Adam, Fion, Leo, Owen, myself of course, and Tyler. Five boys and one girl.

Our names were an acronym for AFLOAT. Ma said she did that because our dad always made her feel like she was on cloud nine when he was around.

She was a helpless romantic at heart.

My oldest brother, Adam, had to take on the responsibility of raising us at 14 while Ma only took care of the bills.

She figured as long as the bills were paid, there was food in the fridge, and a roof over our head that meant we were well taken care of.

That was her standard. She didn't care that we had to witness her slowly deteriorating until she died.

I would say it was the drugs, but I know it was because she gave up living the day our father walked on her.

Her heart broke and it never recovered.

So yeah, f**k the sperm donor.

Jake has done more for me in my life than any man ever has.

So, I'd say he has more than earned the position of 'Dad' in my life.

I loved our relationship, but it would be selfish of me not to want him free from his demons just so that I could continue to cling to him.

We were both damaged.

I'm going to ask Liam if he's willing to help us while we are here.

Even if it means going to therapy and opening up about what happened 6 years ago that made me into the shell of the person I am today.

I'm f*****g terrified and I've never been willing to do it for myself.

However, I was willing to do anything to continue to see Jake as happy as I saw him today.

This was a top priority of mine. Take care of Jake like he has taken care of me all these years.

He could try and fight me on this if he wanted, but he'd soon come to know I'm just as determined if not more, to make things how they should be.

I was looking out my window in the backseat admiring the view of 'Meltopia' when my thoughts were interrupted by Liam.

"Well, we're home."

We pulled in front of the cottage behind the main house.

"Today was fun and all but I just wanted to warn you that tomorrow I'm gonna be on your ass. I can't give you any special treatment. I mean, I'll make sure you don't get hurt on the ice, but that's as far as it goes.

"Don't take anything I say or do personally. It may seem as if I'm picking on you, but none of the guys are going to think you deserve to be on the team, so it's our job to show them why I went out of my way to "recruit you" two weeks after the season's already started."

Liam made air quotes but had a serious face as turned around to face me and explain everything.

"Just give those boys hell and don't hold back. They sure as hell won't. Especially Trenten. Challenge him as much as you can. No one has the balls to get in his way and I've never seen anyone get in his face like you did today.

"If he knocks you down then you better damn well make sure you get back up. They'll think you're bat s**t crazy for taking on T. You'll make a name for yourself and everyone will stay away from you after that."

If I've learned anything today, it's that Liam was an evil genius, and it made sense to me.

I wholeheartedly trusted his advice and figured he knew what he was talking about.

"I understand. As long as you know, I'll be giving back all that's being thrown my way. This isn't anything I'm not used to. I've even gotten into a few scuffles of my own on the ice. Trust me, I can handle my own."

Jake had a knowing smile on his face which made me wonder what was on his mind.

He knew I could be a monster on the ice when I wanted to be.

He was in the passenger seat sitting silently. I guess he wanted Liam to find out on his own.

"By the way, I won't be in attendance with you guys tomorrow. I have a few things that I need to take care of that can't be put on the back burner so I'll be out all day."

Jake was looking straightforward while he stated this, and that piqued my curiosity a bit.

He was obviously avoiding eye contact which meant he was up to something. I'll let him keep his secrets for now.

I'm sure he has his reasons.

"You guys head on inside, get settled in, unpack and unwind. You're gonna need the rest, Mel, so sleep in, and I'll see you on the ice at 3:00 pm sharp. Don't be late, and have a good night, Princess."

I rolled my eyes at Liam's teasing.

He wants a daughter so badly.

He's said so at least fifty times while we were out.

Liam got out of the car to help us bring all of the boxes and shopping bags inside before leaving in his Jeep to the main house.

The inside of the cottage was just as beautiful as the outside. It was fully furnished with beautiful appliances as well.

I didn't have time to appreciate the decorative artwork hanging on the walls at the moment.

I knew it would take me all night to turn this place into my very own Utopia. It wasn't bad, it just needed a woman's touch.

Liam said I could do whatever I wanted while I was living here. I swear that man was trying to spoil me rotten.

I just hope he doesn't slip up and call me princess during practice.

He couldn't seem to help himself today while we were out. I can't say I hate it, but I'll never admit that to him though.

The cottage had six bedrooms with three rooms on each floor. There were three master bedrooms and two of them were on the second floor.

I took the one on the first floor at the end of the hall. Jake took one of the masters upstairs which I didn't mind at all since I just bought my little vibe friend Vince.

I didn't need him hearing me if I got loud at all. I've never done anything like that before so I don't wanna take any chances.

That would be embarrassing as f**k.

Liam mentioned that the walls were pretty thick so we'd always have to go to whatever room the other person was in and knock.

Apparently, calling out won't do any good unless your door is open.

By the time I was finished unpacking and organizing, I was exhausted.

I took a quick shower and threw on a pair of shorts and a black T-shirt so that I could hop in bed.

Today was amazing.

I hope tomorrow goes just as well, if not better.