Chapter Four> Noah

NOAH

“Relax your arm.”

Luca exhales slowly as I guide his shoulder through another rotation test.

His muscles are tight under my hands.

Not surprising.

Professional hockey players push their bodies past the breaking point every season.

“Pain?” I ask.

“A little.”

“Sharp or dull?”

“Depends.”

I glance up.

“On what?”

His mouth curves.

“Where you’re touching me.”

My expression goes flat instantly.

There it is.

The Luca Vance I remember.

Charming. Arrogant. Completely inappropriate.

I remove my hands and step back.

“Let’s keep this professional.”

He raises his hands innocently.

“Of course, Doctor Hart.”

I hate when he says my name like that.

Like we’re still something, Like he has the right.

Three years ago, I would’ve melted under that smile.

Three years ago, I thought I loved him.

Then I walked into a party and found him kissing someone else.

In front of half the university.

The humiliation burned for months.

“Your shoulder rotation is limited,” I say, returning to the clipboard. “You’ll need therapy sessions three times a week.”

“That’s convenient.”

I don’t look up.

“Why?”

“Because that means I get to see you three times a week.”

I sigh.

“Luca.”

He chuckles.

“Relax, Noah. I’m joking.”

He leans back on his hands on the therapy table.

For a moment, he actually looks serious.

“I meant what I said in my email.”

I pause.

“You said a lot of things in that email.”

“I’m sorry.”

The words hang in the air.

I didn’t think he’d actually say them.

Not like this.

Not face-to-face.

My chest tightens slightly, but I force my voice to stay steady.

“You embarrassed me.”

“I know.”

“You lied to me.”

“I know.”

“You cheated on me.”

He nods once.

“I know.”

Silence stretches between us.

Part of me expected anger.

Or excuses.

But Luca just looks… tired.

“I was an idiot,” he says quietly. “I was twenty-one and stupid and thought attention meant something.”

I cross my arms.

“So what do you want now?”

He shrugs.

“Nothing.”

That surprises me.

“I just didn’t want to spend an entire season pretending we don’t know each other.”

“We don’t,” I say calmly.

His eyes flicker.

“Fair enough.”

I turn back to my clipboard.

“Session’s over.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

He slides off the therapy table slowly.

For a moment it feels like he might say something else.

But instead he grabs his gym bag.

“See you tomorrow, Noah.”

I nod once.

Then he walks away.

The moment he disappears into the locker room corridor—

A shadow falls across the mat.

“You’re done?”

I don’t need to look up.

Stefan Kovacs.

I sigh.

“Were you spying on us?”

“I was lifting weights.”

“You were staring for forty minutes.”

“Coincidence.”

I look up.

He’s standing there in a sleeveless training shirt, sweat dampening the fabric against his chest.

His dark hair is messy from practice.

And his blue eyes are sharp.

Too sharp.

“You’re glaring,” I say.

“I’m observing.”

“You’re glaring.”

He crosses his arms.

“What did he want?”

“He apologized.”

Stefan scoffs.

“I told you he would.”

“No,” Stefan mutters. “I told you he wanted you back.”

“He didn’t say that.”

“But he will.”

“You’re incredibly paranoid.”

“And you’re incredibly naive.”

My patience snaps.

“I can handle my own life, Kovacs.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t.”

“You act like I need protection.”

“Maybe you do.”

My jaw tightens.

“That’s not your decision.”

We stare at each other.

The tension between us crackles like static electricity.

Finally Stefan exhales and runs a hand through his hair.

“Fine.”

But he doesn’t look convinced.

Not even a little.

<><><><€<><><><><><><><><>

Later — Practice Ice

The arena roars with the sound of blades cutting ice.

I’m standing behind the glass with the rest of the medical staff, watching the team scrimmage.

Coach Ward blows his whistle.

“Line change!”

Luca skates onto the ice.

And unfortunately…

So does Stefan.

I feel the tension instantly.

Even from here.

They circle each other like predators.

The puck drops.

The play explodes into motion.

Luca moves fast.

Really fast.

But Stefan is faster.

He steals the puck mid-pass and drives down the ice.

Luca chases him.

They collide near the boards—

Hard.

The sound echoes through the arena.

Players shout.

The puck flies loose.

But Stefan doesn’t move away.

He leans down slightly, saying something to Luca that I can’t hear.

Luca shoves him.

“Easy!” the referee warns.

But the tension doesn’t break.

Stefan skates away slowly.

Yet every shift after that—

Every single one—

He targets Luca.

Another hit.

Another check.

Another brutal collision against the boards.

By the third one, the entire bench is watching.

My stomach twists.

My colleague nudges me.

“Your captain looks pissed.”

I don’t answer.

Because I know exactly why he’s playing like this.

The final whistle blows.

Practice ends.

Players start skating toward the locker room.

Stefan pulls off his helmet—

And his eyes lock directly on mine through the glass.

The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch.

He skates toward the exit.

Moments later, the locker room door slams open and he steps into the hallway where I’m standing.

Up close, he looks furious.

“Are you insane?” I ask.

“What?”

“You almost killed him out there.”

Stefan grabs a towel and wipes sweat from his neck.

“He’s fine.”

“That wasn’t hockey, Stefan.”

His jaw tightens.

“Yes it was.”

“No, it was jealousy.”

The word hangs between us.

For a second, the entire hallway goes quiet.

Then Stefan laughs.

A deep, disbelieving sound.

“You think I’m jealous?”

“You bodychecked him four times.”

“He deserved it.”

“For what?”

“For breathing near you.”

The words slip out before he can stop them.

We both freeze.

Stefan’s eyes widen slightly.

Like he didn’t mean to say that out loud.

My heart skips.

“You’re ridiculous,” I say quietly.

But my voice doesn’t sound as steady as I hoped.

Stefan looks at me for a long moment.

Then he steps closer.

Too close.

“You should stay away from him.”

“Why?”

His voice drops.

Low.

Dangerous.

“Because I don’t trust him.”

“And that’s your problem.”

“Maybe.”

His gaze drifts to my lips for a split second before returning to my eyes.

“But if he hurts you again…”

His voice becomes very calm.

Very certain.

“I won’t stop at a body check next time.”

My heart is beating too fast.

I step back quickly.

“You’re impossible.”

Stefan smirks slightly.

“Yeah.”

Then he turns and walks into the locker room.

Leaving me standing there…

Trying very hard not to think about the fact that the most dangerous man in the league might actually be protective of me.

And worse—

Part of me might like it.