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Chapter 9: Unfinished Business
publish date:
2026-06-25 00:10:51
Latest chapter
Across The Ice: Falling for my ex’s biggest rival Chapter 10: Mercer Athletics
Things had settled into something that almost resembled stability. Not the kind that erased problems, but enough that I could move through my days without constantly waiting for everything to fall apart. Tuition still loomed like a threat I kept postponing, my life still split awkwardly between Northbridge and Easton, and the internet still treated me like a storyline they could dip into whenever they felt like it. But I had classes, work, and a routine that held together more often than it didn’t. It wasn’t peace, but it was close enough that I stopped questioning it. That should have been my warning. Melissa didn’t knock when she walked in, didn’t hesitate, didn’t ease into anything. She moved like she always did—already halfway through her agenda before anyone else caught up. “I need a favor.” I didn’t bother pretending enthusiasm. I leaned back slightly, watching her over my laptop. “That depends entirely on what kind of favor.” “A media event.” Too simple. Melissa’s version
Across The Ice: Falling for my ex’s biggest rival Chapter 9: Unfinished Business
I almost turned around when I saw him, not in any dramatic way, just a quiet pivot that would have let me disappear back into the flow of campus traffic and pretend I’d forgotten something. It would have been easy—clean, even—but Mason spotted me before I could commit to it, straightening like he’d been waiting for this exact collision. Leaving after that would have been obvious, and I wasn’t interested in giving him the satisfaction of calling it avoidance. “Iris.” I exhaled, already tired of the conversation we hadn’t even started. “Mason.” Seeing him didn’t hit the way it used to. A month ago, his voice alone could derail my entire day, send me spiraling through every word and implication. Now it felt more like an interruption—unwelcome, inconvenient, something I’d rather not deal with but couldn’t ignore. “You’ve been ignoring me.” “I thought I was being subtle,” I said, shifting my bag higher on my shoulder as students streamed past us, laughter and conversation carrying on
Across The Ice: Falling for my ex’s biggest rival Chapter 8: Rumors
By my second day at Easton, I had something that almost resembled a routine. It wasn’t comfortable, not yet, but it had structure—Northbridge during the day, Easton in the evenings, and whatever scraps of energy remained went into assignments and the quiet effort of holding myself together. It worked well enough to keep me moving. What surprised me more was how quickly it stopped feeling strange. A week ago, walking into Easton’s arena with a media badge would have felt like stepping into someone else’s life. Now I nodded at security without hesitation, navigated the hallways without thinking, and slipped into the rhythm of the place as if I’d always belonged there. Life didn’t wait for readiness; it simply adjusted around you until you caught up. “You’re late.” I glanced up from my desk to find Blake leaning against it, arms crossed, wearing the kind of expression that suggested he’d been waiting specifically to say that. “I’m three minutes early.” “Exactly,” he said, pointing as
Across The Ice: Falling for my ex’s biggest rival Chapter 7: First Day
Ava’s reaction came through the phone at full volume, forcing me to pull it away before she could permanently damage my hearing. She didn’t bother easing into it, just launched straight into disbelief and celebration, repeating the news like it might vanish if she didn’t say it enough times. “You got the job? At Easton?” “Yes,” I said, trying—and failing—not to smile as I paced my room. “Lower your voice.” “No.” “Ava.” “No.” Her refusal was immediate and predictable, and somehow that steadiness grounded me more than anything else had in the past few days. She kept going, talking over herself, emphasizing every word like she was announcing it to a stadium instead of one person on the other end of a call. “You got the job. The job. The one that could literally save your degree.” That part landed differently. Not dramatic, just factual in a way that settled into my chest with weight. I dropped onto my bed, pressing my hand into the mattress as if confirming something solid existe
Across The Ice: Falling for my ex’s biggest rival Chapter 6: The Interview
The woman from downstairs introduced herself as Melissa. She led me through a maze of offices, glass-walled meeting rooms, and workspaces packed with people juggling three screens at once. Everywhere I looked, there was polished glass, expensive equipment, and the kind of confidence that came from people who knew exactly what they were doing. The deeper we went into the building, the more aware I became that I was very much the outsider here. “Right this way.” I followed her down another hallway, trying not to stare too obviously at everything around me. This was it—the interview that could decide whether I stayed in school. No pressure or anything. Melissa stopped outside a conference room and pushed open the door. Five people sat around a large table, and the conversation inside died the second I stepped through the doorway. Great. Exactly the kind of attention I was hoping to avoid. “Ms. Bennett.” One of them stood and offered his hand. “Thank you for coming.” “Thank you
Across The Ice: Falling for my ex’s biggest rival Chapter 5: Easton
The interview was scheduled for Thursday, three days after I accepted the opportunity and three days after losing my scholarship. In that short stretch of time, my future had become a spreadsheet of tuition costs, application deadlines, and increasingly desperate backup plans. I spent most of it pretending everything was under control. It was not a convincing performance. “You’re going to wear that?” I looked up from my desk to find Ava leaning against the doorway of my dorm room, coffee in one hand and judgment in the other. I glanced down at my outfit. “What exactly is wrong with this?” “Easton’s sports media department is interviewing you, not appointing you to Congress.” “Black slacks, white blouse, navy blazer. It’s professional.” “You look like you’re running for office.” “It’s an interview.” “It’s a sports media internship.” “At a rival university.” “Okay, yeah. Fair.” I pointed at her. “Exactly.” Ava rolled her eyes, tossed a granola bar onto my bed, and wandered
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