The Collision

Jace’s POVMy lungs burned as I dashed off the face-off dot, I dug my stick blade into the ice, the puck snapped back to me clean. I dropped my shoulders low, and drove hard. I carried it through the neutral zone, faked left, cut right, and ripped a wrist shot that whistled past the goalie’s glove. The net rattled, my teammates banged their sticks against the boards.I didn’t celebrate, I skated back to center ice, my jaw tight, already signaling for the next drill. My shoulders felt heavy under the pads even though practice had barely started. This was my job as the Captain; The one everyone looked to when things got messy, I had to be the example.Mike tapped my shin pad as he lined up beside me. “You’re on another level today, man.”I gave him a quick nod but didn’t answer. Words took energy I didn’t want to waste. Instead, I focused on the cold air biting at my face, the way my skates gripped the ice when I pushed off. Every stride had to be perfect and every decision sharp. Becau

Jace’s POVI sat on the bench in front of my locker, my towel heavy around my neck, hair still dripping cold water down my back. My shoulder throbbed in steady pulses. I kept rolling it slowly, my jaw clenched every time the pain flared.The locker room was loud. “Yo, Captain!” Ryan called out, grinning wide as he waved his phone. “You seeing this shit? That video’s everywhere. #CollisionCouple is actually trending.”I didn’t look up. My eyes stayed glued to the scuffed floor between my feet. I dug my fingers into the edge of the bench.Mike dropped down beside me, elbows on his knees. “For real though, people are eating it up. Comments are all positive for once.”I exhaled hard through my nose and started shoving my gear into my bag, the zipper caught. I yanked it harder. “It was an accident and I barely touched her.”Ryan laughed from across the row. “Accident or not, it’s perfect timing. After Maya’s been dragging your name through the mud for weeks—”“Don’t,” I cut him off sharpl