Can't Seem To Hide It

A Surprise Visit

Chapter 20: 

The days following Ice's date with Micah were filled with a newfound excitement. They continued to text and hang out whenever they could, but Ice was careful not to let her growing feelings for Micah interfere with her focus on basketball and her friendships. However, it was clear to everyone around her that she was smitten, and they loved teasing her about it.

One afternoon, after a particularly grueling practice, the team was lounging in the locker room, recovering from their workout. Ice was checking her phone, responding to a text from Micah, when Paige noticed and gave her a knowing look.

"Is that your boy?" Paige asked, her tone playful.

Ice rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Maybe."

"He's probably obsessed with you," Aubrey teased, tossing her towel into her bag. "Can you blame him?"

"Not at all," Kk chimed in, grinning. "But seriously, you guys are cute together. When are we going to meet him properly?"

Ice shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Whenever, I guess. He's been pretty busy with his classes, so we've just been hanging out when we can."

"Well, tell him he better make time for us," Paige said with a smirk. "We need to make sure he's good enough for our girl."

Ice laughed, appreciating how protective her friends were. "I'll let him know."

As they were finishing up in the locker room, Ice's phone buzzed again. She checked the message and saw it was from Micah.

Micah: "Hey, I was thinking...would it be cool if I stopped by and brought you something? Just a little surprise."

Ice felt a flutter of excitement and quickly replied.

Ice: "Yeah, that sounds great! I'm just finishing up practice, so I'll be at the dorm in about 20 minutes."

Micah: "Awesome. See you soon!"

She couldn't help but smile as she put her phone away. The idea of Micah surprising her with something thoughtful made her feel even more connected to him. She quickly gathered her things and headed back to the dorm with the rest of the team.

When they arrived, Ice could feel the anticipation building. She changed into something more comfortable and waited in the common room, trying to focus on the conversation around her but constantly glancing at the door.

It wasn't long before there was a knock. Ice jumped up, her heart racing, and opened the door to find Micah standing there with a small bouquet of flowers in one hand and a takeout bag in the other.

"Hey," he greeted with a warm smile, holding out the flowers. "These are for you. And I brought your favorite takeout."

Ice's face lit up as she accepted the flowers, touched by the sweet gesture. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Micah shrugged, clearly pleased with her reaction. "I try."

She pulled him into a hug, feeling a surge of affection for him. The two of them moved to the kitchen area, where Micah unpacked the takeout. It was clear that he had paid attention to all the little details—everything from her favorite dish to the type of flowers she liked.

As they sat down to eat, the rest of the team filtered into the kitchen, curious about the visitor. Paige, Kk, and Aubrey exchanged glances, silently evaluating Micah as they approached.

"So, you must be Micah," Paige said, sliding into a chair across from him. "We've heard a lot about you."

Micah smiled, looking slightly nervous but doing his best to stay cool. "All good things, I hope?"

"Mostly," Kk teased, sitting down beside Paige. "We just wanted to make sure you know how special Ice is to us."

"I do," Micah replied earnestly, his gaze shifting to Ice. "She's amazing."

The team could tell that Micah was sincere, and their initial protectiveness softened. They spent the next hour chatting, getting to know Micah better, and sharing stories. By the end of it, the girls were clearly impressed.

When the night wound down, and it was time for Micah to leave, he pulled Ice aside, away from the prying eyes of her teammates. "Thanks for letting me come by," he said softly. "I really like spending time with you."

Ice felt her heart skip a beat. "I like spending time with you too."

They shared a lingering kiss before Micah finally said goodbye and left. As Ice watched him walk away, she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. She turned to find her teammates grinning at her from the doorway.

"So, what do you think?" Ice asked, already knowing their answer.

"He's a keeper," Aubrey declared, crossing her arms with a smile.

Paige nodded in agreement. "Definitely. But remember, if he ever messes up, we've got your back."

Kk gave her a thumbs up. "He's cool. And he clearly cares about you."

Ice felt a warm blush spread across her cheeks. "Thanks, guys. I think I really like him."

The girls cheered, wrapping Ice in a group hug. It was a moment of pure joy and camaraderie, solidifying the bond between them even further. And as Ice went to bed that night, she couldn't help but feel that things were only going to get better from here.