Chapter 1 (Valentina's POV)
"Yes, Watson. I know the first game is tomorrow. I will be there. Like I always am."That's how every winter started for me. With my boss making sure I don't miss the beginning of hockey season.Let me tell you a little secret. I hate hockey.Well, honestly it's not really hockey I hate. It's the hockey players. They are a bunch of arrogant self-entitled idiots who think they are better than the rest of the world.And that's my experience with them for the last 10 years of working in this line of work.So anyone trying to change my mind would need to try really hard. And still, I doubt it would work.Sure they were good eye candy but that's it.And to their defense, I can say they were mostly smart guys actually. But what I don't understand is that they refuse to use that smartness. They rather play the dumb athlete cards.Which is why we never get along well.I refuse to act shy or dumb because I am anything but that. I am smart and am not afraid to show that. One of my best qualities is also that I hardly ever stay without a comeback. So you could pretty much say I don't stay quiet when something disturbs me.Of course, people find me annoying and call me a bitch many times, either to my face or once I turn around. But I don't care.So back to the topic at hand. I had to get myself together before tomorrow night and be on my best behavior for the game.So far I managed to accomplish just that every year, but this year it would be a bit different.The team that was assigned to me for observing and writing about is getting a new player.And new players were never good news for a reporter like me.You see in the winter I had nothing else on my agenda but to follow the Hawks, that's my assigned team. Mostly they were nice to me, so they made my hell a bit more bearable, but seeing them with others especially with the female population immediately ruined what good points they got in my books.So pretty much they were ok to be friends with, but I would never fall in love or into bed with any of them.My first rule was always that my career comes first and I managed to stick to that rule so far perfectly. My dating life was pretty much non-existent and my boyfriend existed only in my dreams.Who would want to date a workaholic after all? Especially during winter seasons when I had to follow around a bunch of guys. A bunch of hot guys to be specific.So no. No dating for me.As I was getting things ready for the next day, meaning my notebook, a bunch of pens in case one fails me, a dictaphone for the interviews afterward…I caught myself wondering what the new player would be like.Yes of course I did thorough research on him already. I am not dumb! But there was no dirt on this man.His name was Nathaniel Madox, he was from Canada, which means he was born with a hockey stick.But why he was coming to Europe was a mystery to me.Well, if I thought about it a bit better it actually made sense. In Europe, good hockey players were hard to find. Sure we had many hockey players and they were not bad players, but neither were they excellent. They were…average. And statistics on this Madox guy were actually amazing. So even if I hated hockey, I could still admire good players when I spotted them. And he was an excellent player judging by his statistics.What was lacking though was a social life. There were no pictures of him in any social events, no girlfriend, no pets, no interviews…nothing!So I was determined to find out as much as I could once I met him.This interview could help me get the job I so desperately wanted for years. I wanted to become a journalist for national television. Even though I liked my job here at this little news station, I always tried to go bigger and better. And I could feel, that this interview would get me what I wanted.So there was no backing down, no quitting, just pure determination to achieve my goal.And yes I do realize I said I hate hockey players, hockey, and everything related to them and that statement still stands, but I also wanted to prove myself and get that job on national television.So I had no other option but to swallow my pride, grit my teeth, and go for it. Still, I couldn't stop thinking about this Madox guy. He was hot even for a hockey player. I was kind of used to being around hot guys since I dealt with them on a daily basis, in summers I even saw more bare-chested men than most women saw on the beach. But something about Nathaniel just pulled me in. And somehow I had a feeling it wasn't just the interview I wanted from him. There was something else.He had the most intense green eyes I have ever seen. If you looked closer, it felt like he was looking into your soul.And I could feel that through pictures, so you can understand I wondered if it felt the same in person.I should probably hate him just on instinct because he was a hockey player, but somehow I couldn't bring myself to hate him like I hated every other player.And I hated myself because I couldn't hate him.Damn you Nataniel Madox! I hope you turn out to be the biggest asshole in the world so I have an excuse to hate you!A girl can hope, right? Nothing wrong with having wishful thoughts.So I convinced myself that yes. He would most likely prove to me that he was just another idiot, who was completely self-centered and egoistic, who didn't think about anything else but playing hockey, partying, and following those puck bunnies around like a lost puppy.You guessed correctly. That was my definition for mostly every hockey player.There were just a few exceptions, and those were good friends of mine and we made a pact to never cross that line.Well, no point in getting a headache because of a dumb hockey player.Better get some sleep and tomorrow will be a new day.A better day.Right?Chapter 2 (Nathaniel's POV)This is it.My last day in Canada and my last practice with my home team just finished.In the evening I would be leaving this place and moving to Europe.More specifically to England.Now I know you must think I am stupid. Since I am a hockey player I should be happy in Canada, where hockey was practically the only sport we knew.But I was not happy. Not even a little.My parents died a few weeks ago in a car accident and suddenly Canada was just full of memories that were slowly suffocating me.Also since in Canada everyone played hockey, there weren't many chances to be a brilliant player.And I was determined to be the best, so right here where I was right now, my chances were close to nonexistent So when I received an offer from England to play in one of their best teams I grabbed the opportunity with both hands.Boys from my team wanted to throw me a party, but since I knew their congratulations were not sincere I turned down the offer.The only team
Chapter 3 (Valentina's POV)What an idiot!Classic hockey idiotic small-brained parasite!But damn he was gorgeous.I was right. Those eyes were pure perfection.And his black hair looked messy in a way "I just got out of bed".He was also tall. And if I am saying that you know it must be true since I am 1, 80 meters tall. He had to be close to 2 meters. And all yummy muscles. Since he only wore a long-sleeved shirt all his muscles were pretty much on display and sadly I must admit it wasn't the worst view.But like it happened with every hockey player it happened with this one as well.He ruined everything the second he opened his mouth.Why the hell would anyone call me princess?Like some on man! I am wearing a not-really-flattering pair of jeans and a hoodie that I'm sure has some spots of dirt on it. Give me a second to check. Yep. I found at least two flecks. So I was the furthest thing from a princess that ever existed. But did mister stupid care? No, he did not.Even though
Chapter 4 (Nathaniel's POV)"So what's your real story? The one behind escaping Canada and traveling across the world to Europe?"Like really woman?Aim for the most painful answers, won't you?But honestly, as much as I wanted to be annoyed with her question, I could hear genuine curiosity behind her words for the first time in the past half an hour.And at first, I just wanted to tell her it was none of her business, but in the end, a nagging feeling inside me won. That feeling was telling me that I should confide in someone. And somehow I felt like even though she was a bitch the whole time, I could trust her.Since I hid my pain behind a dumb hockey player persona, I would bet she was also hiding her real pain behind her bitchy attitude.And maybe, just maybe, I could tell her my side and she would share hers. It was a long shot, but the only one I had at the moment."My parents both died in a car accident a few months back, and ever since I've been practically haunted by memories
Chapter 5 (Valentina's POV)Why? Why does he have to have a soft side?A side that I liked too much I knew it was a mistake to ask about his past.Because once he shared his story with me I kind of felt obligated to tell him a part of my story.It wasn't the most painful part but it was still pretty bad. And hard for me to share. There weren't many people that knew about my past. There was Anabelle, who knew my story because she lived a similar life once we escaped from her parents, and there was couch Irving, who simply didn't want to give up on me since the day we met.And I guess now Nathaniel. Sure he knew just a piece of my past but it was still more than other people. Usually, I just let them see my bitchy side and that's it. I learned a long time ago that people hardly ever feel sympathy on your behalf. More often they would enjoy your pain and misfortune. So it's better to hide behind a bitchy attitude than make myself vulnerable.Guess we had the same idea in mind but chose
Chapter 6 (Nathaniel's POV)The rest of the ride went by uneventfully and I kept turning around throughout the night thinking about the way she changed after I told her she is stunning.It somehow felt like I offended her but I have no idea how.It was time to get ready for training though.But in the back of my mind, all I could think about was if Valentina would be at the practice as well.Yesterday she left me the car we took to get to my house and she practically sprinted away from me afterward.I had to call the coach and he told me that the car was mine to use until I found something else.Well, better get my head back into game mode.We had our first game this week and losing was not an option.As I arrived at the arena the first person to spot me was the coach himself. Thank God for that because I knew no one else but him and Valentina and so far I didn't see her anywhere."Madox! Come here, boy! Let me introduce you to the team."Looks like we are getting down to business rig
Chapter 7 (Valentina's POV)What an idiot!How dare he call me out on my weird behavior? On MYturf? He was here only one day and already he is ruining my reputation with guys.Reputation worked hard to maintain.And yes I do feel bad for shaping him but he deserved it nonetheless.I was shooting daggers at the arrogant bastard while Benjamin and Sean were trying to hold in their laughter and pretending to not be listening to everything."Aw, princess. What was that for?"Really? Does my glare not say enough for him?Well, I guess some people can be dumb sometimes."If you have to ask, you are dumber than I thought! Asshole!"With that said I turned around and walked in the other direction.And their laughter followed me until I rounded the corner.Idiots. All of them.Benjamin and Sean, we're actually those few hockey players that ingot along with.Well, actually they took me under their wing soon after I started working for the team and we hang around even in the summer. So you could
Chapter 8 (Nathaniel's POV)Ok. So we all know I am an asshole, that's nothing new.But as it turns out I am also immature.You see with Valentina it's like I went back to high school or even to elementary school with all the pigtail pulling and so on.The only difference was that I just rolled her up every chance I got. And she never disappoints. She goes off as a ticking bomb and I can't help it. It's kind of my way of satisfaction.Somehow it became our pastime in the last few weeks since we got to know each other.Of course, she is growing on me that's why I'm telling you it's like in school again.I pick on the girl I like each day more and more.But surprisingly we manage to get along just fine on rare occasions.Today was not one of those days."Madox! Are you shitting me right now!? "Judging by the volume of her voice booming around the ice rink I would say she found her notebook with all the stickers and notes in it. And yes the notes or in a way just innuendos.Hey! In my d
Chapter 9 (Valentina's POV)Damn it!How do I find a way out of this situation now?I can't tell him I would kiss even a frog for my notes. That would be a new kind of low even for me.And on the other hand, I also don't really hate the idea of kissing him which is completely messed up I know.I was supposed to hate him from the bottom of my heart simply because he is a hockey player.But in the past few weeks, he kind of grew on me. All those times when the coach sent him to the bench weren't because he was a bad player but because he could observe his teammates on the ice and learn new tactics from another perspective and I have to admit he was a good student.But all those times when he was sent to the bench he rather chose to sit with me and give me some insights on the game that I would usually miss.And all those insights were safely collected in my notebook. The notebook that was now full of innuendos and weird stickers. And in the hands of my enemy.What surprised me was my re