001

Astrid’s POV

The rink was freezing, but I barely felt it.

My breath was fogged in front of my face as I leaned forward on the hard bleachers, fingers curled around the edge and eyes locked on the ice like it was the only thing keeping my heart beating.

Reis Blaze, my boyfriend moved like he owned the rink and as always, he was fast, controlled and confident.

Every sharp turn he took and every powerful push of his skates sent a familiar flutter through my chest.

God, he was beautiful.

His dark hair was damp with sweat beneath his helmet with a few strands sticking to his forehead.

His jaw was clenched in concentration and lips pressed into that determined line I knew too well.

I could recognize him anywhere; number seventeen, navy jersey and the boy who had somehow become my whole world.

“Breathe, Astrid,” I murmured to myself, even though I wasn’t sure I was actually breathing.

Moments later, Dawn nudged my arm. “You’re staring again.” She whispered.

“I am not,” I said automatically, not looking away.

“You are,” she insisted. “If you stare any harder, you might actually set him on fire.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” I muttered, digging my nails into my thighs.

She let out a little laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

Maybe I was.

But the truth is, Reis had a way of making me forget everything else ranging from the noise, to the cold and the way my stomach twisted every time the crowd got too loud.

Watching him play felt like watching a storm contained in human form. Strong, unyielding and alive.

It still amazes me sometimes that he was my boyfriend.

We hadn’t started like this; me on the bleachers and him on the ice with everyone knowing our names.

Back then, I was just the quiet girl who kept her head down and counted the seconds until classes ended.

The girl they whispered about in hallways calling her a virgin because she doesn’t go to parties and keeps boys at arms length.

The word had followed me like a curse.

I still remembered that afternoon too clearly. The lockers slamming, the laughter sharp and cruel.

“So what, you’re saving yourself for marriage or something?” one of them sneered.

Another had leaned closer, invading my space. “Maybe no one wants you.”

I was frozen, my heart was pounding and my hands were shaking as humiliation burned my throat.

Just when the bullying was going to take a drastic turn, Reis stepped in.

“Back off,” he had said, voice calm but dangerous. “All of you.”

Instead of doing like he had said, they had laughed, thinking he was going to join them in their so-called fun.

But then his eyes hardened and they realized he wasn’t bluffing.

That was the day everything changed.

He walked me home afterward, his skates slung over his shoulder, asking me about my favorite books like I hadn’t just been humiliated in front of half the school.

By the end of the week, we were inseparable.

By the end of the month, he had kissed me under the bleachers, soft and careful, like I was something precious.

I’d fallen fast, too fast but I was glad I did.

“Astrid!” Dawn suddenly yelled.

The sound snapped me out of my thoughts just in time to see chaos erupt on the ice.

Reis slammed into another player near the boards, hard enough that the impact echoed through the rink.

Sticks clattered and gloves flew the next second.

“No, no, no,” I whispered, standing up.

The crowd roared as fists started swinging.

It was Reis vs Ocean.

Of course it was Ocean.

Ocean Rhett, the team captain, the golden boy with a temper, the one person Reis couldn’t stand and the feeling was painfully mutual.

Even from the stands, I could see the fury in both of them.

Reis shoved Ocean and Ocean shoved back even harder.

“Break it up!” someone yelled.

The referee blew his whistle furiously, skating between them. Ocean said something sharp and mocking because Reis lunged again.

I knew that look.

It was the one that meant Reis was seconds away from losing control and Ocean on the other hand didn’t look much calmer.

Even from here, I could see the scar.

It ran from his left eye down to his lip, a jagged pale line against tanned skin, giving him a dangerous and almost cinematic edge.

He looked like someone straight out of an action movie. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair tousled and eyes burning with challenge.

I hated him.

I hated how arrogant he was, how he smirked like rules didn’t apply to him, how he was always pushing Reis and how he was always trying to prove something.

And, I hated how unfairly attractive he was the most.

Ocean was dragged away by two officials, still shouting something over his shoulder while Reis stood there breathing hard, his chest rising and falling, with wild eyes.

“Number nine is benched!” the referee announced.

The crowd erupted as boos and cheers mixed into a deafening roar.

Ocean ripped off his helmet as he skated toward the bench, his jaw tight. His gaze flicked up briefly, and for a split second our eyes met.

I looked away instantly, my heart pounding as irritation curled in my stomach.

“Arrogant jerk.” I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

The rest of the game passed in a blur.

Reis played harder and angrier, like he was determined to punish the ice itself.

When the final whistle blew and our school won, the rink exploded with celebration.

Reeling with excitement, Dawn grabbed my arm. “Your man is on fire.” She shrieked, forcing my lips to part into a broad smile.

“He always is.” I chuckled.

“Go meet him,” she said, pushing me gently. “I’ll see you later.”

I nodded and made my way down the steps, weaving through excited students and shouting fans.

The air smelled like sweat and cold metal, adrenaline thick enough to taste.

Grinning, I headed toward the players’ corridor. My heart was racing not with nerves, but anticipation.

I wanted to wrap my arms around Reis so I could feel him solid and real after the chaos.

As I turned the corner, I nearly collided with someone and I stopped short.

It was Ocean.

He stood there leaning against the wall, jersey half-unzipped, hair damp, scar stark under the harsh lights.

Up close, he was worse. He was broader and taller, his presence filling the space like he owned it.

“You’re blocking the hallway.” He smirked, looking down on me.

“I’m not,” I snapped, shifting to the side. “And even if I were, you don’t own the place.”

His eyebrow lifted slightly. “Didn’t say I did.”

“You should’ve been kicked out of the game entirely.” I huffed, glaring murderously at him as my glare was my only weapon.

“Tell your boyfriend to keep his hands to himself next time.” He smirked.

“My boyfriend wouldn’t have touched you if you didn’t provoke him.” I challenged him. I wasn't going to back down, not now, not ever.

Amused, Ocean chuckled softly. “You think you know what provokes me?”

“I think you enjoy causing trouble.”

“And I think you enjoy defending him.” He retorted.

Having used up all my words, I scoffed and walked past him without a glance over my shoulder, my heart hammering harder than it should have.

I refused to let him get under my skin.

Behind me, he called out, “Careful who you trust, Astrid.”

I froze for half a second and then slowly I turned to face him.

“How do you know my name?” I shot back but he didn’t answer.

Rolling my eyes, I doubled my pace so I wouldn't have to speak to him again.

The corridor ahead buzzed with laughter and voices which in turn made my heart flutter.

Imagining Reis’s grin when he saw me, I couldn't help but smile to myself.

Then I saw him.

And everything inside me shattered.

Reis stood a few feet ahead, his back half-turned to me with his arm wrapped around a girl.

She was pressed close to him, laughing softly, her hand resting far too comfortably on his chest.

I sucked in a sharp breath as I watched him lean down and then he kissed her.