Chapter Five > Noah

NOAH

The locker room hallway still smells like ice, sweat, and sharp menthol from the medical kits.

Stefan disappears through the players’ door, leaving me standing there with my heart beating far too fast for absolutely no reason.

I shouldn’t be affected by him.

He’s arrogant.

Provocative.

Completely convinced the world revolves around him.

And yet…

The way he looked at me a moment ago makes my chest feel strangely tight.

I shake the thought away and head toward the medical office.

Work.

Focus on work.

That’s the safest place for me.

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The medical room was quiet when I walk in.

I’m halfway through organizing treatment notes when the door opens again.

Footsteps. Heavy ones.

I glance up— And sigh.

“Please tell me you’re here for actual medical treatment.”

Stefan Kovacs leans against the doorframe, still wearing half his gear.

Helmet gone.

Hair damp.

His practice jersey clings to his broad shoulders and chest.

The man looks like he walked straight out of a hockey magazine cover.

It’s extremely annoying.

“I might be injured,” he says casually.

“From what?”

“Protecting your honor.”

I roll my eyes.

“You bodychecked your teammate, Stefan.”

“He’s not my teammate yet.”

“He joined the team three days ago.”

“Still deciding if I like him.”

“You don’t.”

“Correct.”

I gesture toward the treatment table.

“Sit.”

He does.

The table creaks slightly under his weight.

I grab a pair of latex gloves and pull them on.

“Where does it hurt?”

He flexes his shoulder slowly.

“Here.”

I step closer to examine it.

Up close, the heat of his body is almost distracting.

My fingers press gently against the muscle near his collarbone.

“Does this hurt?”

“No.”

I press lower.

“And this?”

“Not really.”

“You’re wasting my time.”

“Possibly.”

I sigh.

“You’re impossible.”

He grins.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

I continue the exam, rotating his arm carefully.

“Your shoulder is fine.”

“Good.”

“Which means you can stop pretending to be injured.”

“I wasn’t pretending.”

“Yes you were.”

His blue eyes study my face.

“You were worried.”

I pause.

“No, I wasn’t.”

“You came running down to the ice after practice.”

“That’s my job.”

“Sure.”

I remove the gloves and toss them in the trash.

“Session over.”

He doesn’t move.

Instead, he leans back slightly on the table.

Watching me.

“Why do you hate me?”

I blink.

“That’s random.”

“You always look at me like I personally ruined your day.”

“You usually do.”

“What did I do this time?”

“Besides almost starting a fight on the ice?”

“That was strategic.”

“That was childish.”

He shrugs.

“Maybe.”

Silence stretches between us.

Then he asks quietly—

“Did he hurt you that badly?”

The question catches me off guard.

“Who?”

“Luca.”

I stiffen slightly.

“That’s none of your business.”

“You dated him for two years.”

My head snaps up.

“How do you know that?”

Stefan hesitates.

Then sighs.

“Leo told Adrian.”

“Of course he did.”

“Adrian told me.”

I rub my temples.

Fantastic.

My personal life apparently became team gossip.

“He humiliated you,” Stefan continues quietly.

I glare at him.

“You’re really bad at minding your own business.”

He doesn’t react.

“He cheated on you in public.”

“Stop.”

“You deserve better.”

“Stefan.”

“Someone who actually sees you.”

“Stop.”

My voice comes out sharper this time.

The room falls silent.

For a moment neither of us speaks.

Then Stefan sighs and rubs the back of his neck.

“Sorry.”

The apology surprises me.

“You’re very intense,” I mutter.

“So I’ve been told.”

I start cleaning up the medical supplies.

“Try not to kill Luca during the next practice.”

“No promises.”

“Stefan.”

He sighs dramatically.

“Fine. I’ll behave.”

“Good.”

Another silence settles over the room.

Then he says something that makes my heart skip.

“You called me Stefan today.”

I freeze.

“So?”

“You never do that.”

I shrug.

“It slipped.”

His gaze softens slightly.

“I liked it.”

That does something strange to my stomach.

Before I can respond, the medical room door opens again.

Luca walks in.

Perfect timing.

His eyes move between us.

Stefan sitting on the treatment table.

Me standing between his knees.

The scene probably looks… questionable.

Luca raises an eyebrow.

“Well.”

Stefan doesn’t move.

Doesn’t even turn around.

“Do you need something, Vance?”

Luca smiles slightly.

“Actually, yeah.”

His gaze settles on me.

“My shoulder’s hurting again.”

Stefan finally looks at him.

Slowly.

Dangerously.

“You just had therapy.”

Luca shrugs.

“What can I say?”

His eyes flick back to me.

“Noah has magic hands.”

The room temperature drops about ten degrees.

Stefan slides off the treatment table.

Now both men are standing.

Facing each other.

And suddenly I realize something.

They’re almost the same height.

Both broad.

Both competitive.

Both stubborn as hell.

This is not going to end well.

Stefan tilts his head slightly.

“You should probably be careful with that shoulder.”

Luca smirks.

“Why?”

Stefan’s smile is calm.

Too calm.

“Because if you keep bothering my physio…”

His voice lowers.

“…you might get injured for real next time.”

Luca’s eyes narrow.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

Silence crackles in the air.

I step between them quickly.

“Okay. That’s enough.”

Both men look down at me.

Equally annoyed.

Fantastic.

“Luca,” I say firmly, “sit down if you need treatment.”

Then I turn to Stefan.

“And you.”

“What?”

“Leave.”

His eyes widen slightly.

“You’re kicking me out?”

“Yes.”

“But I—”

“Out.”

For a moment he looks like he might argue.

Then he laughs quietly.

“Fine.”

He walks toward the door.

But just before leaving, he stops beside Luca.

And murmurs something only loud enough for both of us to hear.

“Stay away from him.”

Then he leaves.

The door closes behind him.

Luca watches it for a moment.

Then he chuckles softly.

“Well.”

I sigh.

“What now?”

He looks back at me.

“You’ve got the captain wrapped around your finger.”

My stomach flips.

“No, I don’t.”

Luca smirks.

“You really don’t see it, do you?”

“See what?”

He leans back on the therapy table.

“The guy is completely gone for you.”

My heart stutters.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?”

I grab the medical gloves again.

“Shoulder,” I say flatly.

But Luca’s words keep echoing in my head.

Completely gone for you.

And for the first time…

I start to wonder if he might be right.