On thin ice, p.31
On Thin Ice, page 31
“What are you doing here?” Luca demanded before we’d even made it into the room.
Jack was sprawled across the sofa, fire lit and TV on, with a massive bowl of popcorn on the table. He was watching Bridget Jones’s Diary.
“Hey, honey, I missed you too,” he said sarcastically, pressing pause on the remote and rising to face us.
“We saw you on Sunday.” Luca glanced over his shoulder as he placed the takeaway bags on the kitchen countertop. I grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge and three glasses from the cabinet.
“Five days too long, if you ask me,” Jack said as he jumped up from the sofa and headed toward us, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the takeaway bags. “Can you blame a guy for missing his besties?”
I chuckled at his dramatics. “You’re busier than we are these days,” I added, pouring us a glass of wine each. I slid one across the counter to Jack and passed Luca’s to him with a kiss on the cheek.
“Don’t I get a kiss?” Jack turned his head and offered me his cheek.
Luca narrowed his eyes. “You’re pushing your luck for someone who literally broke into our home.”
“Aww, that’s cute.” Jack shrugged. “But I have a key; it’s not breaking in.”
“How’s camp?” I interjected, taking a sip.
“It’s kicking my arse. Who’d have thought the planning alone would be this stressful?” His throat bobbed as he swallowed a gulp.
“Anyone could have told you it would be stressful,” Luca jibed, then added, “We don’t have enough food for you, by the way. So you can stop eyeing up the bags.”
“Huh. So, being a man of leisure still hasn’t made you agreeable.”
“I’m not a man of leisure. I’m working.”
“Yeah, and I’m a celibate monk who’s never felt the sweet warmth of a wet pus—”
“How’s the planning going?” I interrupted with a laugh and reached for the bags. Luca narrowed his gaze at Jack.
“Meh, finding teachers and guests for temporary work is hard, but we’re getting there. Loads of admin and shit to do, too.”
“Have your parents fully retired yet?”
“They’re still working all the time. I don’t think they’re ready to let go or trust me to handle things.” His mouth stretched into a grin, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
* * *
—
Jack left after a few hours of chatting, eating our food, and drinking our wine. Luca pretended his presence was inconvenient but secretly loved it when he turned up. I think he missed having him around all the time. Hell, I missed him, and I’d only known him for a fraction of the time.
Lying in bed later that evening, I nestled closer to Luca, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath. His gentle strokes on my back matched the soothing rhythm of the rain tapping against the window. In moments like this, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much my life had changed. How much happier I had become since I’d started pursuing what truly mattered to me.
The hand on my back paused, and a finger hooked underneath my chin. I tilted my head up to meet the most beautiful brown eyes.
“I love you, Stevens,” Luca murmured, the familiar words still igniting a warmth that spread through my entire body.
“I love you too, Luca.”
They were the easiest and most honest words I had ever spoken.
If you’ve ever been a people pleaser, you’ll know how easy it is to tie your worth to what you can do for others—how happy you can make them, how much you can give them, how much of yourself you’re willing to sacrifice. Matilda’s journey throughout On Thin Ice is about unlearning this all-consuming behavior. It’s a reminder that if anyone makes you feel like you have to change to be loved, they’re not the right person to give your love to anyway. I hope you’ve finished this book knowing that life’s too short to waste it pleasing other people and forgetting your own needs and desires—and that there’s no better feeling than finding someone who sees the whole you, flaws and all, but loves you anyway.
And that brings me to my first thank-you: my love, Ben. From the day we met, you’ve been the most supportive, patient, and loving partner I could have ever hoped for. This book simply wouldn’t be what it is without you—without our endless plotting on dog walks, the thousands of texts spent ironing out the jokes, and the hours of watching rom-coms (not that you’ve ever really complained about that last one). You treat my heart with such gentleness, and you never hold back from showing or being loud about your love. You make it easy for me to believe in romance—and even easier to write it on the page.
To my family—Mum, Dad, Bill, and George. You’ve supported me in more ways than I can count, and I love you endlessly for it (even when you stop random people in the streets to tell them I’ve written a book). They say you don’t get to choose your family, but even if I could, I’d still choose you guys! And to everyone else in my family who’s cheered me on and shouted about On Thin Ice: You’ve made my heart so full!
And of course, my best friends—Jordan, Brad, Fleur, Alice, and Charlotte. Thank you for putting up with me being pretty absent over the past few years while I wrote this book. I hope my love for you as friends shone through Jack’s and Lily’s characters.
To the Bookstagram community! There are FAR too many of you to thank by name, because so many of you have touched these pages in some way, but I’ll give it a go. My big sister, Jess—no one makes me laugh like you do, and I hope we’ll always have each other to face the editing pits together. Alex, my insanely talented friend and editor, who has selflessly poured as much time into this story as I have. All the chicks: Cat Amy, Becca, Beth, Caroline, Danni, Eloise, Emma, Ilda, Julie, Katy, Reema, Sally, Sarah, Wild Amy (with a special shout-out to Beth for the title!). And my bestie across the globe, V. And to everyone who has already shouted about On Thin Ice before even picking up the book—I see all your comments, shares, and excitement, and words cannot explain how grateful I am for each and every one of you.
A HUGE thank-you to my agent, Maddalena, for believing in On Thin Ice as much as I did. Thank you to Allison for finding On Thin Ice the perfect US home—and, of course, the DHA translation rights team! To my editors, Cara and Sydney, who truly brought this book to life. And to everyone at Transworld and Dell—you’ve been unbelievably kind and supportive throughout the entire process.
And a few quick but important thank-yous: Ruth, for being my kindred soul. Sara, for kickstarting this entire journey on that one Teams call. And to all the authors who have already welcomed me into the author world and helped me navigate this insane journey!
There are hundreds more people I could thank, and it would fill a whole book of its own. I am truly spoilt with the amount of amazing people in my life. So to everyone who has read On Thin Ice and helped make this dream a reality: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
Olivia xx
© Eddie Judd
Olivia Belle, an English Literature graduate, traded the classics for uplifting, swoony romances the moment she tossed her cap in the air—and she hasn’t looked back since. Olivia is passionate about blending laughter, heat, and heart in her stories, and her voice has been shaped by years in the Bookstagram and BookTok communities. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s walking her golden retriever puppy (but probably still listening to an audiobook!).
Instagram: @oliviareadsandwrites
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Olivia Belle, On Thin Ice
