SWNOVELS The Faceoff: Chapter 3
After my run-in with Hayden, I’ve been trying to push him from my mind. Thankfully, I don’t have any classes with him this semester, so it’s not hard to avoid him. The only problem is at the ice rink. I just need to make sure that I don’t chance seeing him again, because I know it isn’t going to end well.
I may have been meaner to him than I should have been, but it’s better that way. And what I said wasn’t exactly a lie. I’ve heard the rumors of how Hayden ended up here in the middle of the season last year. He’s your typical playboy. The ones who will play games with your heart and light you on fire just to watch you burn.
He’s no different than Chance. And I swore that after that entire relationship blew up in my face that I would never get involved with a hockey player again. They’re self-centered and selfish assholes. Each of them is here for the same exact thing. To play the best that they can with the hopes of going pro after graduation.
I knew that was Chance’s main goal when I got involved with him, but I fell hard and fast for him. I was blind to what was right in front of my face. He made his empty promises to me and I believed every single one of them. He was a senior, while I was a freshman. He made it clear that he was shooting for the NHL after he graduated.
But he made those goddamn promises. The ones of how he would support my goals and dreams. How we would stay together, even after he ended up being drafted to a team. He promised me that we would find a way to make it work. All of the talks of our future, of getting engaged and married one day.
And then he threw it all away. As soon as he was drafted, he ended things with me like it was just some minor inconvenience. Like our relationship wasn’t what he made me believe it was. I felt stupid, betrayed, and downright heartbroken when he did that to me.
Chance showed his true colors and he opened my eyes to how these guys truly operate. Not only do they think they’re better than the figure skaters, but they don’t see anything past the game they’re playing. And everything else in their lives is just a different game they play. Chance played the fuck out of me and I would never let that happen again.
We had our fun and it can’t happen again.
Winter is already waiting for me at the rink when I get there. The hockey team doesn’t have practice tonight, thankfully, so we have the ice for a few hours to get our practice in. It wasn’t anything scheduled, but our coach had it cleared that it was an open skate. Usually, the hockey guys don’t show up to these things because none of the nets are out, so there’s really no purpose here for them.
Plus, our time to work on our skating is just as important as theirs.
“You ready to teach me how to nail that Lutz?” Winter questions me as we both lace our skates. She’s her typical peppy self and I’m still in a sour mood from my run-in with Hayden a few days ago.
“Yep.” I smile up at her, pushing away the irritation that crawls under my skin. “I’m even going to leave my AirPods in my bag, so no temptation to ignore anyone else who’s skating.”
Winter laughs lightly, rising to her feet as she pulls her gloves over her hands. “I don’t care if you ignore anyone else. I’m the only one who gets your attention today.”
Rising to my feet, I follow her out to the hallway, where it’s already empty. As we walk down the tunnel and to the ice, I see some of the other girls are already skating, working on their different routines. Winter and I both pause at the doorway, pulling off our skate protectors before stepping out onto the ice. I take Winter’s protectors from her and skate over to the boards, where I hang them on the side for when we’re done.
Soft classical music plays through the speakers and I smile over at Millie. She’s one of the other girls I actually get along with and this kind of music is her style. She skates over to me, her skates cutting the ice as she abruptly stops in front of me.
“I hope you don’t mind the music. I know it’s not what you prefer, but it seemed like the best pick for everyone here.” She shrugs, a shy smile on her face.
That’s the thing I like about Millie. She’s always thoughtful toward others, always giving them the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think there’s a mean bone in that girl’s body.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Mill,” I smile at her, skating alongside her. “I’m good with whatever you want to listen to. And if this is what you like, then it’s perfect.”
She offers me a genuine smile before she takes off, stretching out her legs as she moves past two of the other skaters talking to one another. Millie is two years younger, so she’s still one of the newer members on our team. She’s not stuck-up like some of the others. And unlike Hayden’s assumption of me, I don’t fit in with those girls either.
I notice Winter on the other side of the ice, working through her warm-up routine as I continue to skate around. I’m not really here for myself today, although this is really my happy place. The one place in the world that silences my mind and allows me to be free. My skates glide effortlessly across the ice as I break out into my own freestyle routine, working through some of my moves as I wait for Winter.
The sound of the classical music situates itself inside my soul and I close my eyes, letting my body move along to the rhythm as I glide backward. As I open my eyes, I see Winter watching me, waiting for my direction. Pushing off with one leg, I gain some momentum as I bring the other up in front of my body. My legs are in a split, my thigh pressed against my chest as I grab my ankle and the toe of my skate, breaking out into an I-spin.
My body spins for a few moments, time suspended in air as my hair whooshes around me. The cold air prickles my skin and a smile forms on my face as my surroundings spin. Releasing my leg, I drop it down, slowly decreasing my speed before coming to a halt.
I skate across the ice, over to Winter who is stretching her legs once again. “You ready to work on that Lutz?” I ask her, a smile forming on my lips as the peace from skating settles in my soul.
Winter nods eagerly and she’s all ears as I begin to explain the mechanics of the move to her. I break it down in slow motion, as best I can, explaining how I use the edges of my skates for takeoff and the landing. We run through the move a few times. She watches, studying each time I do it, before attempting it herself.
She gets better with each try and manages to stay on her skates the entire time, which is a feat in itself. You wouldn’t believe the amount of strength and precision it takes to land a jump like this one. And we find ourselves landing flat on our asses more times than any of us would like to admit.
Skating in a large circle, I spin around and begin the fluid movement backward as I prepare for takeoff. As I move past Winter, I make sure she sees the way I use the edge of my skate before propelling myself into the air. As I spin, I’m lost in the euphoric rush before hitting the ice with my opposite skate, landing it perfectly as I throw my leg behind me, straightening my spine.
Someone whistles from across the rink, the sound loud enough to hear over the music, and I spin around, skating toward Winter as I see her face scrunch up in distaste. Sliding to a stop in front of her, my eyes search hers and I raise an eyebrow. I know the Lutz I just showed her was perfect, so I’m a little confused by the look on her face.
“What the hell are they doing here?” Winter scoffs, directing her gaze across the ice as she nods her head.
Spinning around on my skates, I follow after her line of sight and see Hayden on the opposite end of the rink. He’s standing there with Simon and Sterling, two other hockey players. They’re not dressed in their gear, but instead wearing hoodies and sweats with just their skates and gloves on. Each of them has a stick in hand and a puck lies on the ice beside them.
Hayden grabs the brim of his baseball cap and flips it around on his head as he begins to skate away from the guys. I watch as he stickhandles the puck, effortlessly moving it across the ice with skill. My jaw tightens, my hands clenching into fists as I stare at them across the ice.
“Just ignore them,” Winter offers as she skates in front of me to block my view. I can still see them across the ice, passing the puck back and forth as they laugh about something.
Hayden glances over in my direction, nodding his head as a smirk forms on his lips, and it sends me over the edge. This is supposed to be our time here, but leave it to them to come and ruin it.
These damn guys think they own the ice? Well, they’re in for a rude awakening.
Winter shakes her head at me, attempting to discourage me from approaching them, but it’s already too late. I skate past her, heading straight toward Hayden. He lifts an eyebrow, coming to a stop as he passes the puck to Simon, and turns to face me. Propping his stick up, he leans against it slightly as his lips tip upward.
Damn him for looking so good right now.
I can’t think about that, though. Right now, he’s invading my space and I need him gone.