LOGINJaxon's POV It's been a very long day and the mood in the car was still cold from the aftermath of the game and Trey’s face-off.I didn't like the way Hazel was looking at me, I hated being an object of pity even if I know she is only concerned of my well-being So I picked up a conversation to cheer her up and lighten the mood.“Have you picked a homecoming dress yet?”The words come out lighter than I feel. My grip tightens briefly on the steering wheel before I force it to relax.Hazel turned, her brows lifting slightly, then shook her head. “No.”“Oh.. let's get you one then.” I said with a wide grin.She watched me for a second, like she’s deciding whether to argue, but the words never come. Finally, she exhales softly and looks ahead, her fingers drifting toward mine before stopping just short. I notice it and I don’t move my hand away.The drive stretches quietly. She keeps glancing out the window, then back at me, catching me looking more than once. I don’t pretend otherwise
Hazel's POV I had barely been standing there for five minutes, but it felt like time had stretched into something eternity.My chest felt too tight, I couldn’t get a full breath in, and I found myself pacing without even realizing it, moving back and forth, back and forth.I trusted Jaxon to handle himself but the look I saw on Trey’s face earlier… it wouldn’t leave my head.Lately, Trey has been erratic and unpredictable and I didn't want Jaxon being a victim of his stupid behaviour so no matter how much I tried to shake it off, I couldn’t.‘BAM’The sound that came from inside the locker room made me flinch.My heart jumped straight into my throat as I rushed toward the door, my hand immediately going for the handle, adrenaline pushing me forward only to stop short when it wouldn’t budge.I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding so loudly in my ears it almost drowned everything else out.But not completely because the voices were getting louder now. I couldn’t make out the exact words,
Jaxon’s POVImmediately the door shut behind Hazel, the tension of the room became more unbearable Trey stepped forward immediately, his eyes locked on me. “What the hell was that out there?”I didn’t move. “What are you talking about?”“Don’t play dumb,” he snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through the room.“Johnson scores and suddenly it’s all about you again.”A few of the guys shifted where they stood but none of them said a word.I leaned back against one of the lockers, arms folded across my chest .“I stood up to support my teammate.”Trey laughed, short and bitter. “Support? That’s what you call it?” He gestured toward the door. “The crowd wasn’t chanting Johnson’s name. They were chanting yours.”I didn’t answer him right away wondering about the point he was trying to prove.Johnson stood a few lockers away, his stick resting against the wall. He looked between us, his muscles tensed, like he didn’t want to be part of this.“That winning goal should’ve been his momen
Hazel's POV After a while, Mr. Edward exhaled slowly, as if letting the thought go.“Strange,” he murmured.Jaxon tilted his head slightly staring at him. “What is the issue?”His eyes returned to me once more.“She reminds me of someone I knew a long time ago. Mostly her eyes.”My throat went drySomeone he used to know? Who?“Your full name, Miss?”“Hazel Pierce”“Pierce…” he repeated under his breath.He said it with so much curiosity like he was weighing it.Comparing it to something only he could see.My stomach twisted.Why did that feel… important?His eyes lifted back to mine, and this time, the intensity was sharper. Then just as quickly, he smiled again waving a hand dismissively putting up a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.Then he turned to Jaxon“You’re a lucky young man. Make sure you remember that.”Jaxon cleared his throat, holding on to my shoulder “Thank you, sir.”He flashed both of us a smile“Well, I look forward to seeing you on the rink soon, boy.” and
Hazel’s POVGame nights always carried a kind of electricity. Right now, the entire campus seemed to move toward the arena like it was the only place that mattered. Every other thing seemed to have been placed on hold— the rumors and interviews, just for tonight.The Ice Hounds still had a season to finish.The problem was… nothing about this game felt like just another match because Jaxon wasn't playing.Trey on the other hand was parading himself as the new captain, he looked like someone who had been waiting his whole life for this moment.Jaxon’s fingers were wrapped around mine as we walked into the arena together. The moment we stepped inside, the shift was instant. Heads turned, conversations cut off mid-sentence, and the weight of their attention settled on my skin like heat. Some stared in admiration while others stared in concern but we didn't stop to look We kept walking until we reached the reserved section near the front close enough to the ice. It was where benched pl
Jaxon’s POV“I was wondering when you’d decide to call, Jaxon.”The man on the other end of the call sounded calm. I started racking my memory to pick any familiarity from his voice but I didn't recognize any.I sat up on my bed, the phone still pressed tighter against my ear. The man sounded calm, like he had been waiting for this moment.“Who is this?” I asked.There was a little silence before he continued.“My name isn’t important. What matters is the opportunity I’m calling about.”That answer didn’t help.“Try again,” I said, my voice sharper. “Who are you?”“I represent a private sports performance group,” he said. “We work with injured athletes who still have strong professional potential.”The words made me pause.‘Professional potential’. Was this the NHL in disguise trying to lure me into giving out my information?That wasn’t a phrase people used casually when they were talking about college players unless they were thinking about the next level.The scouts had been watc
Hazel’s POVThe rest of the day dragged so slowly. Every sound in the house made me almost jump out of my skin —the clock ticking, the fridge humming, even my own heartbeat. I tried watching TV, listening to music, even folding laundry just to keep busy but none of it worked. My brain kept reflect
Hazel's POV “Where are we going?” I asked as Jaxon took a turn down the road. He glanced at me with his eyes glinting under the streetlights. “You’ll see, try not to overthink it.” he winked. Oh, that wink! My stomach did a weird somersault, and I immediately looked out the window before he could
Jaxon's POV "Oh Jaxon, why should I delete the picture? Where’s the fun in that?” She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming in mischief “You should be thanking me. The little edit I made makes you look… irresistible. Half of the girls on campus would kill to be Hazel right now.”“Hazel doesn’t deserv
Hazel’s POV All week, I'd been waiting for a bombshell to drop. I can't count the number of times I skimmed frantically on every blog for a picture of our faces across a headline, but I never found anything. My pulse jumped every time my phone buzzed, even when it was just a weather alert. I did e